LAFLESCHB] KITE OF VIGIL FREE TRANSLATION, 53 



N 



w 



Tsi'-zhu Great Division 



Skv 



Ho"'-ga Great Division 

 Wa-zha'-zhe Subdivision Hoo'-ga Svibdivision 

 Water Eartli 



S 



Early in the morning of the day set for the beginning of the initia- 

 tory ceremonies the No"'-ho"-zhi"-ga go to the house of the candidate 

 to jDerform a ceremony called No'^-ni' A-tha-sho-dse, which, freely 

 translated, is, "The Smoking." This title means that tobacco smoke 

 is ceremonially blown by the No°'-ho°-zhi"-ga upon the seven animal 

 skins procured bj" the candidate to be used as symbols (see p. 46). 

 While the house in which the ceremony is to take place may not 

 have been built with reference to the cardinal points it was, for cere- 

 monial purposes, treated as though it had been oriented. The end 

 of the long house at the left of its entrance is regarded as the east 

 and the opposite end as the west. The initiating gens enter the 

 house first, the members taking their places at tlie east end of the 

 lodge. The candidate, his Xo'-ka, the A'-ki-ho" Xo'-ka, and the 

 chosen singers occupy the middle space and all sit facing the west. 

 Then follow the other No"'-ho"-zhi°-ga by divisions and gentes, 

 those of the Ho°'-ga (earth) division taking their prescribed places 

 at the south side of the lodge, and those of the Tsi'-zhu (sky) division, 

 the north side (see diagram) . Thus the house, together with the No°'- 

 ho''-zhi°-ga, seated in groups according to divisions and gentes, 

 becomes symbolic of the visible universe, for the ceremony to be 

 perfonned is largely a dramatization of the movements of the great 

 life-giving power, the Sun, through the heavens and over the earth. 

 The initiating gens personate the sun, the Tsi'-zhu division, the sky, 

 with its celestial bodies, and the Ho°'-ga division, the earth, with its 

 water and all terrestrial life. 



Carrying Pipe and Wailing by Candidate. 



When the No°'-ho"-zhi"-ga have taken their places in the order 

 above described, and ordinary conversation among the members has 

 ceased, the candidate rises in response to a signal given by the 

 A'-ki-ho° Xo'-ka, who now conducts the ceremonies, and receives 

 from him a little pipe. This marks the beginning of the initiatory 

 ceremonies. 



The first act is in three parts, which are performed simultaneously. 

 This act is called "Wa'-i" Xa-ge," wliich, freely translated, means 



