FLETCHER] HOW THE RECORD WAS OBTAINED 15 



biiildiiigjs lie said were unfitted to contain the saci-ed sj'mljols of the 

 religion of his ancestors, in the service of which he had spent his 

 long life. He admired at a distance the Washington Monnment, and 

 when he visited it he measured the base, pacing and counting his 

 steps. Then he stood close to the white shaft and looked up, noting 

 its great height. After going inside, he was asked which he would 

 take, the elevator or the stairs, and replied: "I will not go up. The 

 white man likes to pile up stones, and he may go to the top of them; 

 I will not. I have ascended the mountains made by Tira'wa." 

 Equally characteristic was his interview with the Commissioner of 

 Indian Affairs. When introduced, he said: "lam glad to see you 

 and to take you by the hand. Many chiefs of my tribe have done so. 

 I never expected to do it. I came here to talk of the religion of ray 

 fathers, which I follow. You can ask my sister (referring to me) 

 what I have said." 



Tahirussawichi had never been east of the Mississippi river until 

 he came to Washington to engage in the x>reservation of this rite. 

 Of the genuineness of his statements there can be no doubt. Ilis 

 position in the Pawnee tribe is that of a man worthj^ of respect— one 

 versed in a knowledge of serious things, whose life has been devoted 

 to the acquisition and maintenance of cei'tain sacred rites. He is 

 esteemed as a man of truth — one wlio has the favor of Tira'wa. He 

 pos.sesses a knowledge of curative roots, and often attends the sick, 

 using herbs as medicine. He is the keeper of certain old and sacred 

 ob.jects, and leads in their attendant cei'emonies. His great care in 

 observing all the details of the intricate ceremony of the Hako is well 

 known in the tribe, and much good fortune is believed to follow his 

 leadership in this ceremony. His title is Ku'rahus. This term is 

 applied to a man of j'ears who has been instructed in the meaning 

 and use of sacred objects as well as their cei'emonies. The word is 

 sometimes employed as a synonym for a venerable man, one who 

 commands i-espect, but throughout this paper it is used in its official 

 sense — the leader of the ceremony. 



It has taken four years of close friendlj- relations with my kind old 

 friend to obtain this ceremonj- in its entirety. Many of its rituals 

 deal with very sacred subjects, and it has required much patience 

 in the iiresentation of reasons why thej' should be explained to over- 

 come the scruples born of the early training of the Ku'rahus. That 

 he has flnall.v made this record complete, so that the ceremony as 

 known among his people can be preserved, is worthy of commenda- 

 tion. His work as it now stands shows Tahiriissawichi to be broad- 

 minded as well as thoughtful, reverent, and sincere. 



Graphophone records wei-e taken of all the songs belonging to tliis 

 ceremony. The music as here printed has been transcribed from the 

 cylinders l>y Mr Edwin S. Tracy and each transcription has been 

 verified by him from the singing of the Ku'rahus. It is to l)e regi-etted 



