FLETCHER] FIFTEENTH RITUAL, PART I 185 



ExpJaiKition luj the Ku'rahus 



In the early sprintf the birds hiy their eggs in their nests, in the 

 Slimmer thej' rear their yonng, in the fail all the young ones are grown, 

 the nests are deserted and the birds fly in flocks over the country. 

 One can hear the fluttering of a startled flock, the birds suddenly rise 

 and their wings make a noise like distant thiindei-. Everywhere the 

 flocks are flying. In the fall it seems as tliough new life were put into 

 the people as well as into tlic birds; there is niucli activity in coming 

 and going. 



This song tells of the flocking of birds. We do not use the drum as 

 we sing it, but we blow the whistle. The whistle is made from the 

 wing bone of an eagle. In this song we are singing of the eagle and 

 the other birds, so we use the whistle. 



When the eggs are hatched and the young are grown, the birds flock ; 

 the pi-omise of young has been fulfilled. In this song, which we sing 

 toward the close of the ceremony, we are thinking of the fulfilling of 

 the promise given by the llako, that children will be granted to the 

 people, so that they may be many and strong, and we sing that the 

 great flocks are coming. 



Traiishition iif Sefond Stanza 



901 Ho-o-o-o! An introductory exclamation. 



902 Wera kosha hoshta wiki rira. 



wera, they yonder; ra gives the idea that the flock is at a 



distance, 

 kosha, flock, 

 lioshta, the noise made by tlie birds in flying an<l in alighting; 



hosh, the noise; ta, to alight, 

 wiki, descrijitive of the manner of flight. See translation of 



the word in the first stanza, line 897. 

 rira, coming. 



903 See line 902. 



90-1 Kosha hoshta wiki rira. See line 902. 

 905 See line 902. 



Explanation hy the Ku'rahus 



As we sing the second stanza we are thinking of the great flocks 

 of birds. The noise of their wings is a mighty noi.se. As they flj' 

 from one tree to another they shake the branches as thej' alight, and 

 the tree quivers as they rise. The flocks are many and powerful; so, 

 through the promi.ses of the Ilako, the people will become many and 

 powerful. 



