FLETCHER] THIRD RITUAL 57 



Transhttioii uf First Stanza 



164 Ha-a-a! An iiitrodTictoi'y exclamation. 



165 Kasha ■whako-o : Ha-al IFars wita-a! 



kasha, a form of command, referring to an act to be performed 



at a futui'e time, 

 whako-o; whako, tell or say; o, vowel prolongation, 

 ha-a! ha I behold! a, vowel prolongation, 

 h', a contraction of ha, your, 

 ars, a contraction of atius, father. 

 wita-a! wita, he coming; a, vowel prolongation. 

 160, 167 See line 165. 



ExphiiKttidii by the Ku'mhus 



This stanza is a command to the messengers to say, when they hand 

 the tobacco to the Son, "Behold! Your father is coming!" ("Ha! 

 H'ars wita!") 



The stanza is sung four times. At the fourth time the Ku'rahus 

 puts the tobacco into the hand of the leader of the four messengers, 

 who at once leave the lodge and start upon their journey. 



Translation of Second Stanza 



168 See line 164. 



169 Kusha whako-o: ITa-a ! IFars wita-a. 



kusha, they will; that is, those that have been commanded 



will do as they have been directed, 

 whako-o; whako, tell, say; o, vowel prolongation, 

 ha-a! ha! behold! a, vowel prolongation, 

 h', a contraction of ha, your, 

 ars, a contraction of atius, father, 

 wita-a, wita, he coming; a, vowel prolongation. 

 170, 171 See line 169. 



Explanation by the Ku'rahus 



When the messengers are out of sight of the village the Ku'rahus 

 sings the second stanza. It is addressed to the members of the 

 Father's party, who are still sitting in his lodge. It is an authoritative 

 assurance that the messengers will (kusha) fulfil their mission and 

 deliver to the Son the message, "Behold! Your father is coming!" 



After the Ku'rahus has sung this second stanza four times, the 

 people disperse to await the return of the messengers, while he and 

 his assistant, or two persons designated by him, must sit with the 

 sacred objects until the four men come back from the Son. 



As the Son hears the words of the mes.sengers he will be reminded 

 of his dream, in which Mother Corn touched him. And as he looks 

 at the men he will recognize the tribe from which they have come and 

 will know who has chosen him to be the Son. Then he will call 

 together his relatives and they will talk over the matter. If it is 

 decided to accept the ceremony they will keep the little bundle of 



