FLETCHER] TWp:LFTH AND THIRTEENTH RITUALS Kil 



lodge in clinrge of the Ilako go to their tents. Soon all is quiet witiiin 

 tlie lodge, the tire l)uriis down to coals and every one sleeps except 

 the man on guard, lie must watch through tlie night and give warn- 

 ing of the first sign of a change in the appearance of the east. As 

 soon as this is seen the skins that liang over the doors of the lodge 

 are lifted and the Ku'rahus makes ready to rejjeat the songs to the 

 Dawn (tenth ritual). We sing these sacred songs at the dawn of the 

 second day, the day when we chant to our father the Sun, and we 

 sing them again at the dawn of the third day, when we sing 1o our 

 mother the ICarth. 



THIRTEENTH RITUAL (THIRD DAY). THE FEMALE ELEMENT INVOKED 



Part I. Thk Sacred Feast of Corn 



Explanation by the Ku'rahufi 



With the morning sun the Children gather at the lodge to receive 

 their morning meal given them by the Fathers. Soon afterward the 

 sacred feast of the Corn takes place. For this feast the Children pre- 

 pare the food in the manner our fathers did. The.y pound tlie dried 

 corn in a wooden mortar and boil tlie coarse meal until it is thoroughly 

 cooked. They do this in their own homes and then carry the food 

 in the kettles in which it has been cooked to the lodge where the 

 ceremonj- is l)eing performed, and set them near the fireplace toward 

 the southeast, where wooden bowls and horn spoons have been pro- 

 vided for the occasion. 



When all the companj- have been seated the Fathers ladle out the 

 food into the Ixjwls. The Ku'rahus takes up a little of the food on 

 the tip of a spoon, offers it toward the east, flipping a particle toward 

 the horizon line. He then passes to the north, drops a bit on the rim 

 of the fireplace, and goes to the west, wliere, facing the east, he lifts 

 the spoon toward the zenith, pauses, waves it to the four quarters and 

 slowly lowers it to the earth and drops a bit on the rim of the fire- 

 place. After this ceremony of offering thanks the filled bowls are 

 placed before the people. Two or more persons take a few spoonfuls 

 from the same bowl, then, hanging the spoons on the edge to prevent 

 their falling into the food, they pass the boM'l on to the next group 

 at the left. In this way all tlie people partake of a common feast. 



Part II. Song to thk Earth 



JExplanati(Jii Inj the Ku'rahus 



On the third day of the ceremonj- it is the duty of the Ku'rahus to 

 teach tlie Children concerning h'Uraru, Mother Earth, and of those 

 22 ETH— PT 2—04 11 



