18 THE HAKO, A PAWNEE CEREMONY [eth. ann. 22 



a beatiiiif effect is x^roduced ; second, the (uistum of waving tlie liand 

 to and from the mouth or beating the lips, so as to lireak a continu- 

 ous note or call into a series of sounds or beats; third, the making of 

 the drum from a section of a tree, hollowed otit, with a skin stretched 

 over the open end. From this analysis of the word hakkowpirus we 

 discern that the pulsating voice and the beaten lips were the first 

 means employed to produce an effect which was afterward empha- 

 sized in an instrument, the drum (hakkowpirus, the jireathing mouth 

 of wood), which was made to give forth a series of sounds by the 

 same device of whipping by the hand. 



In Indian music the rhythm of tlie drum always folloMS closely the 

 emotion expressed in the song; it is like a great pulsating voice. 



In the term Hako the k of the first syllable in hakkow is dropped 

 for the sake of euphony, and for the same reason the roiigh sound ow 

 is clianged to o. The word llako carries the idea of the breath- 

 ing, vibrating tones from the wooden mouth. It is applied to all the 

 articles used in the ceremony, because, according to the explanations 

 of the Ku'rahus, "everj'thing speaks; the eagle, Kawas, speaks; 

 the corn speaks; so we say Hako — the voice of all these things." 



In the preparation of the record of the different rites, rituals, and 

 songs of this ceremony it became necessarj' to adopt a convenient 

 term which should apply to the ceremony as a wliole, including the 

 party inaugurating the ceremony, the rites, the rituals, and the arti- 

 cles used. The term "Hako" has been chosen as best fitted for the 

 purpose. Three considerations influenced the choice: first, the 

 fact that Hako is the native name bj^ which the articles used in the 

 ceremony are spoken of collectively; second, the meaning of the term 

 Hako, as revealed by an analysis of the word and by the explana- 

 tion given by the Ku'rahus; third, the ease with wliich this word can 

 be spoken and remembered by the English reader. 



Personnel of the Ceremony 



Two distinct groups of persons were essential to the performance of 

 this ceremony. These two groups could not belong to tlie same clan 

 or gens of a tribe, and they were often of different tribes. One group, 

 called the Fathers, was composed of the kindred of the man who had 

 taken the initiative in organizing a party for the performance of the 

 ceremony. This man was called the Father. His party comprised 

 from 20 to 100 persons, and rej)resented the well-to-do class in the 

 tribe, the reqiiisites for the ceremony lieing of such a character that 

 only skillful liunters and thrifty households could supply them. The 

 second group, called the Children, was made up of the relatives of the 

 man chosen by the Father to receive the visiting party of the Fathers. 

 The leader of this group of Children was called the Son. Eacli of 

 the two groups, as well as the leaders of each group, had peculiar 



