48 THE HAKO, A PAWNEK CEKEMONY [eth. ann. 23 



glad Mother Corn is here leading- us, and the wildcat goes with the 

 Ilako." But the man who killed it said: "Xo, this skin will not go 

 with the Ilako I I am going to take it to the priest for sacrifice that 

 I inny learn some of the mysteries." But he did wrong and suffered 

 for it, because that wildcat belonged with the Hake, for it was killed 

 while Ave were being led by Mother Corn. 



Tlie sacred articles having been completed are now laid at cere- 

 monial rest. The wildcat skin is spread ujion the earth in the holy 

 jjlace, which is in the west part of the lodge opposite the entrance, a 

 little way back from the fireplace. The head of the skin is placed 

 toward the east; the crotched plum-tree stick is thrust into the ground 

 close to the head; the two feathered stems are laid in the crotch, the 

 brown-eagle stem first, then the white-eagle stem on the top or outside. 

 The eagle builds its nest in the crotch of a tree, .so the.se eagle-feathered 

 stems are laid in the crotch of the plum-tree stick. The ends which 

 are thrust through the duck's head rest upon the wildcat, and under 

 the wing-like pendants the gourd rattles are placed. Directly in 

 front of the crotched stick stands Mother Corn. 



Part IV. Dffebincj of Smoke 

 Exphtniifioii III/ tlie Kii'riilius 



The time hai^ now come for t he olfering of smoke to Tira'wa. 



Ilie priest of the Rain shi'ine must be present with the pipe belong- 

 ing to that shrine and lu' must conduct the ceremony. After he has 

 filled tli(* pipe with natixe tobacco the Ku'rahus tells the people that 

 the time has come to offer smoke to Tira'wa, the father and the giver 

 of all Ihiiigs. He selec^ts froin the company a man to act as pipe 

 bearer during the ceremony of offei'ing smoke. The pipe bearer must 

 be one who has made sacrifices at the saci-ed tents where the shrines 

 are kejjt and has been annointed, and who in conseciuence has been 

 prospered in his undertakings. The prayers of such a man are 

 thought to be more acceptable to the powers than those of a man who 

 has never made sacrifices. 



In old times men did not smoke for pleasure as they do now, but 

 only in religious ceremonies. The white peoijle have taiight the 

 Pawnees to profane the use of tobacco. 



Each of the sacred shrines of the tribe has a pipe, and its priest 

 knows the proper order in which the pipe should be offered to Tira - 

 wahut. I am not a priest, so I do not know the order in which the 

 Rain iiipe is offered, noi- can I tell you the ceremony; the knowledge 

 of that belongs to its priest and not to me. 



Up to this point (the conclusion of the ceremony of smoking) all 

 the people present have been obliged to remain quiet in their places; 

 now they are at liberty to move about or to leave the lodge. 



