74 THE SIA. 



over which these beings pass, temporarily abiding in the stone images 

 of themselves which stand before the altar. These beings are exhorted 

 to use their mystic powers with the cloud people to water the mother 

 earth, that she may become pregnant and bear to the people of Ha'arts 

 (the earth) the fruits of her being. 



In order to obtain their services the Sia compensate them. The. 

 hii'chamoni (notched stick), whicli is deposited to convey the message, 

 invariably has plumes attached to it, these plume offerings being actual 

 compensation for that which is desired. Other offerings are matle, 

 among which are gaming blocks, hoops for the cloud people to ride 

 upon, and cigarettes filled with the down of humming birds, corn pollen, 

 and bits of precious beads. (See Plate xi). 



Eagles are kept caged, and turkeys are domesticated for the purpose 

 of obtaining illumes for these offerings. 



It is the prerogative of the ti'iimoni to specify the time for the 

 meetings of the cult societies, excepting ceremonials for the healing of 

 the sick by the request of the patient or his friend. These meetings 

 being entirely under the jurisdiction of the theurgist, who does not 

 possess within himself the power of healing, he is simply the agent 

 acting under the influence of those beings who are present in the stone 

 images. 



The gala time is the beginning of the new year in December, when 

 the cult societies hold syuchronal ceremonials extending through a 

 period of four days and nights, at which time the fetich medicines are 

 prepared; and those possessing real or imaginary disease gather in 

 the chamber of the society of which they are members, when the the- 

 urgists and their followers elaborate their practices of mysticism upon 

 their subjects. 



The cult societies have two ways of retaining their complement of 

 members. An adult or child joins a society after being restored to 

 health by a theurgist, and a parent may enter a child into a society,, or 

 a boy or girl having arrived at years of discretion, may declare a de- 

 sire to join a society. 



In the case of a young child the paternal or maternal parent calls 

 upon the theiugist and, making known his wish, presents him with a 

 handful of shell mixtiire,' saying, ''I wish my child to become a mem- 

 ber of your society that his mind and heart may be strong." In the 

 case of an elder boy or girl the clan is first notified, and the applicant 

 then calls upon the theiu-gist and, ijresenting him a handful of the 

 shell mixture, makes known his wish. 



Most of the societies are divided into two or more orders, the more 

 important order being that in which the members are endowed with 

 the anagogics of medicine, except in the Snake Society, when the snake 



'The sacred meal, or sbcll mixture as it is often railed by the Sia, may he prepared by au adult of 

 either sex; it is composed of coarsely ground meal, powilered sliells, and turkis. 



