Fletcher] 



EIGHTH RITUAL 



111 



The feathered stems represent the eagle; the holy place, where the 

 stems are laid to rest, represents the eagle's nest. A nest is made for 

 the .young; the making of a nest in the lodge of the Son by Ka- 

 was presages the fulfilment of the proniise of ehildi'en to the Son, as 

 well as the establishment of a close bond, like that of father and son, 

 between the members of two unrelated clans or tribes. 



The cat skin lies next to the ground on the holy place; it protects 

 !)}'■ its skill the nest and all that the nest represents. 



Whenever we laj' the feathered stems down, after they have been 

 carried four times around the lodge and waved ovei- the heads of the 

 people, they are moved in a way to represent the eagle hovering over 

 her nest and then alighting ou her young. These songs and these 

 movements are a pra.yer for the gift of children, and that the bond 

 between the Father and the Son may be true and strong. 



There are four songs for the ceremony of lajingdown the feathered 

 stems. Each song has two stanzas. We sing two of these songs every 

 time we lay these objects to rest. We sway the stems over the cat 

 skin, dropping them lower and lower, then suddenly we raise them 

 again and finally let them gently down on the nest. The eagle acts' in 

 this manner when going to her nest. She does not at once settle 

 down; she flies over it, sweeping lower and lower, then rises to see if 

 all is well, and slowly descends to drop lightly on the nest. 



When the young eagles see the mother coming and hear her call, 

 thej^ answer back, they are glad. We are like the young birds in the 

 nest, so we cry "Hiril" expressing our gratitude to Kawas, who is 

 making her nest with us. We pray in our hearts as we sing. 



SONGS FOE LAYING DOWN THE TEATHERED STEMS 



SONG 



Worth (i)id Music 



M. M. ^.= 69. 



• = Pulsation of the voice. 



Transcribed bv Edwin S. TracT. 



He-e-e-e! Wlie ri 



rtr. 



a; wlie ri - a - a; 



rhe ri 



a. Hi 



I>rum. f (r 

 Rattles. ' 



