FLETCHER] EIGHTEENTH AND NINETEENTH RITUALS 247 



The chief, the Fatliei- of the Ilako party, now takes tlie little child 

 in his arms and, going outside of the lodge, sits down near the door, 

 where he remains during the final dance and the presentation of gifts 

 by the children. 



Third Division. The Dance of Thanks 



nineteenth rituai. 



Part I. The Call to the Children 



ExjilaiKiiiou hij ihe Ku'ralius 



Before the entrance t()t]i(> lodge mats are spread, on which sit those 

 who are to take part in the coming ceremony. 



The Kn'rahus and his assistant are directty before the door. At 

 the left of them are two doctors who have not heretofoi-e taken part. 

 They carry their large rattles, and have lent two similar ones to the 

 Ku'ralius and his assistant. They have also lent for this occasion 

 their peculiar drums to the singers. These drums are made of the 

 section of a tree hollowed out by fire, over the open end of which a 

 skin has been stretched and securely tied. The singers are seated in 

 a semicircle about each of the two drums (see figure 180). In front of 

 the Ku'rahus and the singers sits the chief, and before him is the little 

 child. The doctors with the eagle wings are on either side, the one 

 with the left wing toward the north, the one with the right wing toward 

 the south. In front of them are the two dancers. The space within 

 which they are to dance is inclosed on the south by a line of i)romi- 

 nent men from the Son's party, and on the north by a line from the 

 Father's. These lines beginning at the lodge end each with a warrior 

 selected hy the Ku'iahus for his valorous record. These warriors 

 wear buffalo robes with the hair side out and are girded about the 

 waist with a hair lariat, which is to be used in leading the horses 

 brought as gifts to the Fathers. Beyond these lines of prominent 

 men, who are seated, are gathered the people, those belonging to the 

 tribe of the Son on the south and those of the Ilako party on the 

 north. 



The Ku'rahus gives a small tuft of white down to a man whose 

 hands have not been painted with sacred ointment, and direi^ts him 

 where to place it on the head of the chief. The place is on the spot 

 where a baby's skull is open, and you can see it breathe. 1'he white 

 down represents the white clouds which lie near the abode of Tira'wa 

 atius, whence he sends down tlie breath of life to man. Chiefs were 

 appointed by Tira'wa through the North Star. The tuft of down also 

 signifies that the chief's office is from above. 



The two feathered stems, the rattles, the wildcat skin, and the ear 

 of corn are given to the chief to hold. 



The two young men who have been selected to dance are strijjped 

 to the breechcloth, and red circles are made with the sacred jiaint on 

 their backs and breasts. The circles are outlined faintly, so as not to 



