20 THE HAKO, A PAWNEE CEREMONY [eth. ann. 33 



brown, or black; tn=ruru, moving, the change of the r to t being for 

 enpliony. The translation of the whole word would be, the breath- 

 ing mouth of wood with the dark moving feathers. The other stem 

 was named Rahak'takaru, from ra, the, this one; hak, from liakkow, 

 breathing mouth of wood; taka, white; ru, fi-om ruru, moving or 

 swaying. The translation of lh(^ whole word wonld be, the bi-eath- 

 ing mouth of wood with the Mhite moving or waving feathers. 



Associated with these two feathered stems, and sharing with them 

 the prominent place in the rites, was an ear of white corn. In addi- 

 tion there were required two small, round, straight sticks from the 

 plum ti'ee; a crotched stick, also of t,he plum tree; feathers from the 

 tail of an owl and from the wings and tail of an eagle; two entire wings 

 of an eagle; the heads of two woodpeckers; the head, neck, and breast 

 of two ducks; a wildcat skin; a shell; two wooden bowls; a braid of 

 buffalo hair; a braid of sweet grass; blue, green, and red clay; fat 

 from a deer or buffalo, the animal having been consecrated; the 

 nest of an oi'iole. 



The clays, the fat, and the oriole's nest were furnished by the 

 Ku'rahus. The nest was kept in secret and not allowed to be seen. 

 All the articles except those furnished Ijy the Ku'rahus were provided 

 by the Father. Besides these he had to secure robes, ornamented 

 garments, and regalia for the ceremonial clothing of the Son, his mes- 

 senger, and his little child ; also gifts tf) be l)estowed on the entire partj' 

 of the Children. He was assisted by contributions from the relatives 

 and friends who had agreed to share with him the responsibilities and 

 the rewards attending this ceremony. Food for the entertainment of 

 tile Children ;is well as for the maintenance of the Fathers during 

 their absence from home had also to be ijrovided. 



It was the dnty of the Son, the leader of the group called the Chil- 

 dren, to provide a spacious lodge wherein the ceremony could take 

 place, and also a proper camping site for all who accompanied the 

 Fathers. He had also to secure the requisite return gifts to be made 

 to the Fathers. 



Each of the articles nsed in the ceremony had a general symbolism 

 well known to the people, but their special significance was peculiar 

 to these rites. 



The feathered stem Rahakatittu (plate Lxxxvi, page ;>S) was painted 

 blue to symbolize the sky, the abode of Tira'wahut, the circle of the 

 lesser powers. A long straight groove running its length was painted 

 red, the symbol of life. The red groove was the path along which 

 the siDirits of the various birds traveled on their way to bring help. 



Three split featliers from an eagle's wing were fastened to the stem 

 as to an arrow, to give sure flight to the symbol-freighted stem. On 

 it was tied the fan-shaped pendant of ten feathers fi-ora the mature 

 l)rown or golden eagle. This eagle was called Kawas in the Hako 

 ceremony. It represented the mother and led in certain of the rites. 

 It is this feathered stem that was carried bv the Ku'rahus. This eagle 



