FLETCHBR] THE FEATHERED STEMS 21 



is consecrated to the powers; it soars near their abode and is a medium 

 of communication between them and man. 



The woodjieeker's head was fastened near the mouthi^iece end of the 

 featliered stem, the upper mandible turned bacli over tlie i-ed crest 

 and painted blue. This treatment of the upper mandible had a double 

 significance. The red crest, which rises when the bird is angrj", was 

 here held down; it must not rise. The blue paint represented the 

 clear, cloudless sky. The woodpecker has the favor of the storm gods 

 and can avert from man the disaster of tempest and of lightning. 

 The owl feathers were tied near the middle of the feathered stem. 

 This bird has power to help and protect during the night. Soft blue 

 feathers were fastened around the niouthj)iece end. These blue 

 feathers sj'mbolized the clear sky, and it is this end which was always 

 upward toward tlie abode of the jjowers. 



The other end of the stem was thrust through the breast, neck, and 

 mandibles of the duck. It was b.y this end that the feathered stem 

 was held. The duck is familiar with the pathless air and water and 

 is also at home on the land, knowing its streams and springs. It is 

 the unerring guide. 



The red and white streamers represented the sun and the moon, 

 day and night. These were made of red cloth and dyed horsehaii;and 

 white cotton cord, but it is said that formerlj- soft deerskin strips 

 painted red and twisted hair from the white rabbit were used. 



The other feathered stem, Rahak'takaru (plate Lxxxvii, page 4(i), 

 differed from the first feathered stem already described in two par- 

 ticulars, namely, it was painted green, to symbolize the earth, and 

 the fan-shaped pendant was made of seven tail feathers from the 

 white eagle (the young brown or golden eagle; see page 288). This 

 eagle was not consecrated. It represented the male, the father, the 

 warrior, and the defender. This feathered stem was carried by the 

 Ku'rahus's assistant, and it was never allowed to be next to the Chil- 

 dren; its i^lace was always on the outside. There, it was explained, 

 it could do no harm, could rouse no contention, but would serve to 

 protect and defend. 



I have many times remarked tlie reverence felt toward the feathered 

 stems. Their sacred character seemed always to be remembered and 

 they were never handled carelessly. During the entire time that I 

 was engaged with Tahiriissawichi on this ceremony he never allowed 

 the feathered stems to be placed on tlie floor or laid on a chair; thej' 

 were always carefully deposited on the wildcat skin with a decorum 

 that was not once abated. I have seen manifested among the tribes 

 not only reverence toward these sacred symbols, but an affection that 

 was not displaj^ed toward any other objects. Few persons ever spoke 

 to me of them without a brightening of the eyes. "They make us 

 hapijy," was a common saying. 



They were jjreserved intact and passed from tribe to tribe as long 

 as they held together, and they were sometimes freshened and 



