ri^ETCHER] B^RST RITUAL 287 



VIII 



We heed as unto thee we call; 

 Oh, send to us thy potent aid! 

 Help lis, h'Akaru, abode of life! 

 We heed as unto thee we call. 



IX 



We heed as unto thee we call; 

 Oh, send to us thy potent aid! 

 Help lis, Keharn, wall of defense! 

 We lieed as uTito thee we call. 



X 



We heed as unto thee we call; 

 Oh, send to us tliy potent aid! 

 Help us, Kataharu, center within! 

 We heed as unto thee we call, 



XI 



We heed as unto thee we call, 

 (_>h. send to us thy potent aid! 

 Help us, Kekaru, promise of fire! 

 We heed as unto thee we call, 



XII 



We heed as unto thee we call; 

 Oh, send to tis thy potent aid! 

 Help us, Koritu, word of the fire! 

 We heed as unto thee we call, 



XIII 



We heed as unto thee we call; 

 Oh, send to lis thy potent aid! 

 Help us, Hiwaturu. emblem of days! 

 We heed as unto thee we call. 



Part II. Preparin(4 the Feathered Stems 



The first thing to be made is the feathered stein cai-ried by the 

 Ku'rahu.s. It represents the female element ; it leads in the ceremony. 

 Other sacred rites among the Pawnees explain this leadership as based 

 upon the belief that life first took foi'm through the female; "She 

 was the fir.st and the leader." 



The stem is painted blue witli blue clay mixed with running water. 

 The running water, we are told, represents the continuation of life b}^ 

 generation following generation. The color is the sj'mbol of the sky, 

 the dwelling i^lace of the powers. 



The song which accompanies the act of ijainting is in five musical 

 phrases, suggesting the five; motions symbolic of tlie four directions 

 and the above. The exclamation he! (a part of i'hare! give heed!), 

 at the close of each phrase, bears out this interpretation. 



The iterated words h'areri (h', breath; areri, a particulai- phice) 

 tell that tlie thoughts of tlie singers are fixed on the giving of life by 



