58 THK HAKO, A PAWNEE CEREMONY [eth. axn. 23 



tobacei) aud the messengeivs will l)e told to retnrii and say to the 

 Father, "I am ready!" 



The messengers start back immediately, aud when they are insight 

 of their village the news of their arrival is proclaimed. Then all the 

 men of the Father's party hasten to his lodge. The Ku'rahus, his 

 assistant, and the Father put on their buffalo robes in the ceremonial 

 manner, with the hair outside, and take their places back of the Ilako. 

 The other members of tlie party range themselves against the wall of 

 the lodge, (HI either side, and all await the coming of the messengers. 



As the four men enter the lodge the people cry, "Xawairi!" 

 ("Thanks!") while the Kurahus lifts his hands, palms upward, and 

 then brings them down slowly. This movement means thanks, and 

 the calling down of help from above. 



The lea<l»'rof tlie messengers, addressing the Kurahus, delivers the 

 words .sent by the Sou, "I am ready!" This closes the ceremony. 



FOURTH RITUAL 



Part I. Vivifying the Sacred Objects 



E.rpl(uiaiiuii hij the Ku' rahus 



When the messengers return from the Son with the words, '"I am 

 ready," there is rejoicing in the lodge. 



The young men of the Father's party rise and dance. From these 

 dancers two are selected, by the Ku rahus and the chief, to perform 

 the final dance, which takes place on the morning of the fifth day of 

 the ceremony. The choice of these two dancers is signified by tying 

 on their hair a downy white eagle's feather (see plate xli). Mean- 

 while the other members of the party are bu.sy with their final prepa- 

 rations. They tie in packs, ready for transportation, tlie gifts thej- 

 ai-e to carry to the Children. The singers nuike ready the drum, while 

 outside the women are engaged preparing food and other necessaries 

 for the long journey. 



The Ku'rahus orders a straight tent pole to be selected and brought 

 to the lodge of the Fatlier. 



On the morning of the day the journey is to begin the Ku rahus 

 rises from his place in the lodge behind the Hake and goes outside. 

 There he 1 ies the sacred objects on the selected tent pole. He puts 

 the two feathered stems near the top — the brown eagle toward the 

 north and the white eagle touaid the south — and he spreads out their 

 feather pendants. Below tliese he fastens the ear of corn, and under- 

 neath it the two rattles and, lastly, the wildcat skin. These objects 

 must face the east when the pole is raised. Behind them, so as to 

 face the west, the right and left wing of an eagle are fastened and 

 spread out. 



The rope of buffalo hair is used to lie these sacred objects to the 

 pole, which is then set up at the entrance of the lodge. Here it 

 stands where the wind of the dawn may breathe upon the Hako and 

 the lirst rays of the sun strike the sacred objects and give them life. 



