294 THE HAKO, A PAWNEE CEREMONY [eth. ann, 22 



V 



Mother Corn. Oh hear I Open onr way! 



Lo! Our jonrney's end now is near, we look 



.O'er the strange land. 



Seeking Children therel Mother Com. hear! 



VI 

 Mother Corn. Oh hear! Open our way! 

 Lo! Our eyes behold where they dwell. In their 

 Village we walk. 

 Seeking there the Son. Mother Corn, hear! 



VII 

 Mother Corn, Oh hear! Open our way! 

 Lo! His lodge we find, through the door we pass. 

 Sleeping he lies, 

 Knows not we are there. Mother Corn, hear! 



VIII 

 Mother Corn, Oh hear! Open our way! 

 Lo! Now at her touch comes a dream: then a 

 Birdcalls, "My Son!" 

 While his soul resjionds. Mother Corn, hear! 



THIRD KITUAL. SENDING THE MESSENGERS 



The four messengers were selected informally l)y the Father from 

 among his near relatives. Thej' were generally young men, lithe and 

 strong of limb, and able to make a long journey quickly. The dis- 

 tance to be traveled varied from a few miles to a hundred or more, 

 and as they must carry all tlieir provisions, it became necessary for 

 them to get over the ground as rajjidly as possible. 



The formal appointment of these messengers took place in the lodge 

 of the Father, in the presence of the sacred objects spread at cere- 

 monial rest. 



When the messengers arrived at the lodge of the Son, he sent for his 

 kindred and consulted witli them. <Jnly a recent death in his family 

 or some catasti'ophe which deprived him of his property would be 

 accepted as sufficient excuse for his not receiving the Hako party. 

 If he accepted the tobacco he would bid the messengers return to the 

 Father and say, "I am ready." In either case he must make gifts 

 to the messengers in recognition of the proffered honor. 



The homeward journey was made as quickly as possible, for during 

 the absence of the messengers nothing could be done. As soon, how- 

 ever, as the returning young men were discerned on the prairie the 

 village was astir, and the men of the Father's party, with the Ku'ra- 

 hus, assembled at his lodge to receive them ceremonially and to hear 

 their tidings. 



The messenger dispatched on such errands was called Rawiska'- 

 rarahoru. One who walks carrying the tobacco. 



The music of the song of this ritual is in three phrases. Like other 

 songs in this ceremony having the same number, it accompanies acts 



