INTRODUCTION 



Namp: ok the Ceremony 



The ceremony is called Skari by tlie Ku'rahns and by all who have 

 been taught its rites and sacred songs. This word is from ska, hand, 

 ri, manj', and refers not merely to the many hands required for the 

 preiiaration of the sacred articles used in the rites, but also to the 

 culminating ceremony of touching the little child with the hand, which 

 occurs on the morning of the flftli day (sixteenth and seventeenth 

 rituals). 



A peculiar expression is used to characterize the consultation which 

 a man who desires to inaugurate this ceremony has with his kindred 

 in reference to their assistance in the undertaking. This consultation 

 is called "touching them." The Ku'rahns explained this expression 

 as being connected with the meaning of the word Skari, many hands, 

 in its double significauce already noted. 



Although the term Skari is said to be old, its descriptive char- 

 acter seems to be against its acceptance as the original name of the 

 ceremony. 



Among the people at large of the Pawnee tribe the ceremony is 

 spoken of as Ruktaraiwariiis. This composite word can be analyzed 

 as follows: ruk, from rukkis, wood, or a stick of wood; ta, from tita, 

 hung upon; ra, coming; iwariiis, shaking or waving. This descriptive 

 term refers to the two objects peculiar to this ceremony, the two 

 feathered stems which are waved to the rhythm of the songs. The 

 Pawnees who receive those who bring the sacred articles call the cere- 

 mony Haktara. The word is composed of hak, from hakkow, trans- 

 lated below; ta, have; ra, coming: haktara, they who have the 

 bi-eathing mouth of wood are coming. The Osages speak of it as 

 " Bringing the drum," and the Omahas as " To sing with." 



Ilako is a comprehensive term used to designate all the articles 

 which belong to the ceremony. The term is derived from the com- 

 posite word hakkowpirus, meaning drum. Ilakkow is from akow, 

 mouth, with the aspirate prefix h, signifying breath, and the k added 

 to the first syllable represents the word rukkis, wood. Hakkow may 

 then be said to mean a breathing mouth of wood. Pirus means to 

 whip or beat. 



Tliree customs among the Indians can he traced in the composition 

 of this word: first, the peculiarity of pulsating the voice on a note 

 that is sustained over more than one count of the measure, by wliich 

 22 ETH— IT 2—04 2 17 



