50 THE HAKO, A PAWNEE CEREMONY [eth. akn. 22 



Because of the sacred and binding cliaracler of this relationship, 

 and tlie gifts brought by it to the Son, namely, long life and many 

 children to make his familj- strong, the selection of a man to be made 

 a Son is regarded as a serious and important act, one in -which the 

 chiefs and the leading men of the Fatlier's tribe must have a voice. 



The Son shoiild be a chief or a man who has the respect of the lead- 

 ing men of his tribe, and whom the Father's tribe would be glad to 

 have l)ound to them by the tie of Son. 



While the Father lias been gathering the materials necessary for 

 this ceremony, which may have taken him a year or more, he has had 

 some particular person in his mind whom he desii-ed to make a Son. 

 When everything is ready he mentions this particular person to the 

 chiefs and leading men, and when we are gathered together to sing 

 this song we think of this chosen man and we ask the assistance of 

 ]Mother Corn, and if he is the right person she will lead us to him. 



The selection of the Son takes place soon after the preparation of 

 the sacred objects, frsqnently on the night of the same day. It must 

 always be in the night time, because the spirits can travel best at night. 

 Tiie spirit of the corn and tlie spirits of the people present in the 

 lodge at tliis time are to decide who shall be the Son, and Mother 

 Corn is to lead us to him. The same persons are present at tliis 

 ceremony that were present at the preparation of the Ilako. 



In I lie west of the lodge, facing the east, sit the Ku'rahus, his assist- 

 ant, and the Father. Before them are the sacred objects arranged as 

 at ceremonial rest. A little way in front of the crotched stick stands 

 the ear of corn which has been painted in tlie .sacred manner (see 

 figure 172). It is held in position by one of the sticks to which it is 

 tied being thrust into the ground. This ear of corn is the mother, 

 and upon her everyone present must fix his mind. 



The singing of the following stanzas occupies most of the night; 

 they do not follow eacli other quickly, for we must pause after each 

 one. 



SONG 



IVonl.'} (1)1(1 Mii.'iic 



M. M. ^N = t32. 



• = Pulsation of the voice. Transcribed bv Edwin S. Tracv. 



&fM§m^m^M^Mm 



Ha-a-a-a! H'A-ti - ra ha-ri, li'A-ti - ra lia-ri! He! C'bix-u ti 

 Drum, m » 'f m « « it f t m a ^<««i « '* r if 



vlii-ti-lja ha-ril H' Ati- ra ha-ri! II'A-ti- ra ha-ri, h".\-ti-ra. Ha! 



f * f * f ' ^ ' tj t—' L—' i— * L.* p " 1 i 



