100 THE HAKO, A PAWNEE CEREMONY [eth. Ann. 22 



face the open entrance way and flirt the wings toward the opening, as 

 thougli bi-nshing out something from the lodge. These motions mean 

 that Kawas has now cleared the lodge of all that is bad, of all disease 

 and trouble, and made the place readj^ for the coming ceremony. 



Then the doctors join the Ku'rahus, his assistant, and the chief. 



At the west, back of the fire, a space is now set apart and made 

 sacred. Here the wildcat skin is spread and at its head the crotched 

 stick is thru.st into the ground; one end of the feathered stems is laid 

 against the crotch, the other upon the skin, and the rattles are placed 

 under the eagle pendants. The wings are laid on the edge of thei 

 skin. Ill front of the wildcat the ear of corn is held in an upright 

 position by one of the sticks to which it is ti(^d being thrust into the 

 ground. The sacred objects are always laid at rest in this position, 

 and are never left alone or unguarded. 



The members of the Ilako party now enter and place the packs 

 containing the ceremonial gifts at the north side of the lodge. Mean- 

 while the women of the party are bu.sy pitching tents, for, as onlj' a 

 few of the Hako party remain and live within the lodge, all the other 

 men must camp with their families in a place .set apart for them. 



The Ku'rahus at this time appoints certain men to attend to special 

 duties. 



Some are to bring wood and water aii<l attend to the cooking. 

 They divide them.selves into dilfei-ent groups, one for each daj' of 

 the ceremony, so that the work will be evenly distributed and there 

 will be no confusion or delays. 



Othei's ai'e appointed to fill the pipes for the Children to smoke. 

 To attend to this duty they are required to be always jiresent in the 

 lodge. 



Some eight or ten men are chosen to be in readiness to do any 

 work that may be demanded of them. For instance, if the crops of 

 the Children are being planted or gathered, these men are to attend 

 to this work, so that the Children can at all times be present at the 

 ceremony and .suffer no loss. 



A man is selected to notch a stick as a recor<l of the number of 

 ponies presented to the Fathers and to wiioin each pony is given. 



In this way the labor attendant upon the long ceremony is planned 

 nm\ divideil so that nothing will l)e neglected and there will be no 

 dispute or confusion. 



"While these appointments are being made the Son disijatches 

 runners to notify the people that the Hako party has arrived and to 

 bid his relatives come to the lodge. 



