ADMINISTRATIVE EEPOBT. 17 



The literal translation of the name, Wa-sha-be Athi", is 

 Wa-sha-be, a dark object; A-thi°, to have in one's possession, 

 to carry. The word "Wa-sha-be" is here used as a trope 

 for the charcoal that symbolizes the merciless fire. The 

 making of the symbolic charcoal forms an important part 

 of the great ceremony and each warrior is required to carry 

 with him a piece of this charcoal tied up in a little buckskin 

 pouch. When he is about to attack the enemy he must 

 blacken his face with this charcoal. If he happens to 

 neglect this, he will not be permitted to recount the strokes 

 he may deliver the enemy in the attack and to count his war 

 honors. 



Originally there was only one "Wa-sha-be A-thi°" cere- 

 mony, and this ceremony pertained strictly to defensive 

 and aggressive warfare. Later this ceremony was employed 

 for organizing a war party to be sent out to slay some mem- 

 ber of an enemy tribe in order to send the spirit of the slain 

 man to overtake and accompany the spirit of the deceased 

 member of the tribe and to be his companion to the realm 

 of spirits. 



The original ceremony was described by Wa-xthi-zhi, who 

 belongs to the great division of the tribe which represents 

 the earth and is called Ho°-ga. The ceremony, when it is 

 used as a mourning rite, was described by Xu-tha-wa-to°-i", 

 a member of the great division representing the sky, and 

 called Tsi-zhu. 



The account of these two ceremonies, the text, the songs, 

 with their music, the recited parts of the ritual, and the 

 illustrations and diagrams cover 253 pages. 



It required much time as well as the exercise of patience 

 to seciH"e the details of these war ceremonies. Particularly 

 was this true of the wi-gi-es (the recited parts), which relate 

 to the traditions of the people, on account of their religious 

 character and the superstitious awe with which the men and 

 women of the tribe regarded them. Deaths have occurred 

 during the study of these rites, and these deaths have been 

 by the people attributed to the reciting of the rituals without 

 regard to the traditional and prescribed rules. 



3594°— 25t^— 2 



