FLETCHER] FOURTEENTH AND FIFTEENTH RITUALS 183 



There is a very general scattering of the gifts, and songs of thanks 

 are sung by tliose who receive them. When this ceremony of distri- 

 bution and acknowledgment is over, the Children return to their 

 several lodges. By this time the afternoon is well advanced. 



The Fathers now enter the empty lodge and begin preparations for 

 the last night of the ceremony and for the following morning. At 

 this time the.y partake of their last meal before the close of the cere- 

 mony at abont noon the next day. 



The best dancers in the party are chosen to perform the final dance, 

 which occurs on the morning of the fifth day. The songs which 

 accompany this dance are rehearsed and everything necessary for 

 the closing acts of the ceremony is put in readiness. 



If a tent has been used for the ceremony, the Fathers on this aftei-- 

 noon must build around the tent at a little distance from it a wall 

 of saplings and brush, to keep oif outsiders and prevent anyone from 

 looking in. If the ceremony takes place in an earth lodge, then both 

 the outer and inner doors are closed, for on this last night no one is 

 allowed to be present but the Fathers, the Son, and his near relatives. 



On this night a sixth man is added to the five who carry the sacred 

 ob,iects — the two feathered stems, the ear of Corn wrapped in the wild 

 cat skin, and the two eagle wings. The sixth man has a whistle, 

 made from the wing bone of the eagle, which he blows in rhythm of 

 the songs. The whistle imitates the scream of the eagle over its 

 young. 



Second Division. The Secret Ceremonies 

 fifteenth ritual (fourth night) 



P.\RT I. THK FljOCKINCi OF THE BlRDS 



Explanation, hij flir Kn'ralvus 



At sunset the Fathers call the Children to the lodge. When all 

 have been seated, the Children on the south side, the Fathers on the 

 north, the Ku'rahus, who sits at the west, back of the holy place 

 where the Hako are at i-est, addresses the Children in the name of 

 the Fathers. lie explains the meaning of the ceremony about to take 

 place, for on this last night and the following morning everything 

 that is done refers to the nest and to the direct promise of Children 

 to the Son, who is also to be bound by a symbolic tie to the Father. 



