102 



THE SIA. 



Lad nnwrapped bis ya'ya lie prepared the sand painting in front of the 

 altar (PI. xxii/>). The five ya'ya were stood on the line specially made 

 for them and a miniature bow and arrow laid before each ya'ya. The 

 ho'naaite then grouped fetiches of human and animal forms, then the 

 medicine bowl containing water and a basket of sacred meal. He 

 then drew a line of meal which extended from the slat altar to a dis- 

 tance of 3 feet beyond the group of fetiches, his vicar afterwards 

 assisting him with the additional fetiches. Two stone cougars 2 feet in 

 length each were stood up on either side of the group. A cougar 12 

 inches long, with lightning cut in relief on either side, and a concretion, 

 were then deposited before the group. Bearleg skins were piled high 



Fig. 17.- 



iTnlir;il..,l in !'l, \x\ 



on either side of the altar. The cloud bowl and reed were added, 

 the two flat baskets of hii'chamoni and plume offerings shown in the 

 sketch were afterwards deposited upon the backs of the cougars. 

 While this arrangement was in progress the minor members returned 

 the powdered kaolin and black pigment to the ancient i)ottery vafees, 

 from which they had been taken to prepare the sand-painting. 



The ho'naaite consecrated the bowl of water by a prayer, and drop- 

 ping in the six fetiches he dipped his eagle plumes into the water and 

 striking them on the toj) with his rattle, sprinkled the altar; holding 

 the plumes in the left hand and the rattle in the right, he sprinkled 

 the cardinal points. The vicar formed a circle of meal, then sprinkled 



