FLETCHER] INCIDENTAL RITUALS 267 



Mrphitidfion hij the Kii'raliiis 



In the first stanza we call upon the woodijeeker, who is busy mak- 

 ing' a noise, tapping upon tlie trees in the I hick woods, and we ask hiiu 

 to remind his father of the promis<' that t lie stoi'iii should not eonie 

 near his nest. 



The woodpecker is witli ns on tlie stem, and the storm is now 

 threatening our nest, the lodge where we are holding the ceremony, 

 so we call on him, the woodpecker, and ask him to remind his father 

 of tlie promise given. 



The second stanza tells us that the four beings at the west speak, 

 for when the thunders sound they all speak. These now answer the 

 woodpecker, who has reminded them of their promise when Tira'wa 

 atius, the father of all things, placed the bird and its nest under their 

 protection. 



If, aftei- we have sung these stanzas, the clouds part, we know that 

 our prayers have been heard. We all return to the lodge, and llie 

 wildcat skin is spread upon the holy place at the west, the crotched 

 stick is put in position, the eagle stems and all the othei- articles are 

 laid at ceremonial rest. When this has been done the chief takes the 

 sacred pipe and, accompanied l)y the i)riest of the shrine containing the 

 objects sacred to the powers of the rain, goes out and makes an offer- 

 ing of smoke. The priest directs the chief where to point the pipe- 

 stem. By this act of offering smoke we give thanks to the powers, 

 who have heard our prayers and averted the storm. 



PRAYER FOR THE GIFT (IP CHILDREN 



Explanation hij the Kii'rahus 



This ceremony is very old and lias now become obsolete. It is a 

 prayer for the power of procreation. It was never x>erformed except 

 at the request of the Son, and was onlj^ in the interesfj of a man to 

 whom children had not been born. It took place either in the early 

 morning or at night, never during the day. 



When the request for the ceremony had been made, the Ku rahus 

 selected a man from among the Fathers whose duly it became to carry 

 the Son and to cai'e for him as a father would care for a little child. 



A white buffalo robe was kept for this particular ceremony. After 

 the Son liad been lifted on the back of tlie Falliei-, this white robe 

 was thrown over the two and was lield together in front by tlie Fatlier, 

 as a person would liold liis robe if he were carrying a child on his 

 back. As the Father, carrying the Sou, moved toward the entrance of 

 the lodge, he was followed by the Ku'rahus and his assistant bearing 

 the feathered stems and the chief with the cat skin and the ear of 

 corn, wiiile the following song was sung. 



The words are: " Heboid ! Your father is walking with his child 1 " 



