bAFLESCHE] RITE OF VIGIL FREE TRANSLATION. 89 



the Shrine. These songs are accompanied by certain ceremonial acts 

 wliich must be performed by the Xo'-iia himself. 



The title of the first of these songs is Wa-xo'-be Ga-xi Wa-tho", 

 Songs of Awakening the Wa-xo'-be. The name Wa-xo'-be in the 

 title of this song refers directly to the Sacred Hawk kept within the 

 portable shrine. All the words of the six stanzas of this song, being 

 archaic, are untranslatable except one word, which occurs in the 

 third line of each stanza. These words are as follows: first stanza, 

 fi, feet; second stanza, hi, legs; third stanza, zhu, body; fourth 

 stanza, a, arms; fifth stanza, pa, head; sixth stanza, i, mouth. These 

 words refer to the parts of the body of a man, a man perfect in his 

 physical structm-e, and in complete control of all its various parts. 

 Tliis imaginary sjnubolic man not only personifies the military organ- 

 ization of the people for defensive or offensive warfare, but he rep- 

 resents the warrior of the tribe, strongly endowed physically, gifted 

 with courage and power of decisive action, ciualities necessary for 

 the valiant man who must be ever ready to meet the foe. To the 

 Hawk, the emblem of these qualities, is given the name Wa-xo'-be, 

 A Thing Sacred, now to be awakened with song and ceremonial acts 

 and to be brought forth from the recesses of its inner shrine, that 

 symbolizes the starry heavens and the verdant earth. 



As the A'-ki-ho'^ Xo'-ka begins to sing the song the Xo'-ka places 

 his hands upon the shrine, one hand at each end, and in this attitude 

 he waits. At the closing line of the first stanza he raises his right 

 hand and lets it fall gently on the shrine. The singing continues 

 without pause and at the last line of the second stanza the Xo'-ka 

 raises his left hand and lets it drop on the shrine. This alternate 

 lifting of the hands by the Xo'-ka and letting them fall softly upon 

 the shrine to awaken the Wa-xo'-be continues to the close of the song. 



