fletcher] twentieth kttual 361 



Fourth Division. Presentation of the Hako 



twentieth ritual 



Part I. Blessing the Child 



At the close of the dance and the reception of gifts by tlie Fathers, 

 tlie little child was again taken to the holy place and once more 

 touched with the Hako upon all sides, from tlie east, the south, the 

 west, and the nortli. 



The song accompanying these movements was "'a prayer to call 

 down the breath of Tira'wa '' uixni t In- chi Id that had been consecrated. 



SONG 1 



Diagram of Time 



Bi/tliiiiic Rendition 



Breathe on him I 



Breathe on him I 



Life thoii alone canst give to him. 



Long life, we pray. Oh Father, give unto him! 



Part II. Presextino the Hako to the Sox axl> Thaxks to the Children 



The Father (the chief) then removed the emblems from the face of 

 the child, using for the i:)urpose the fur of the wildcat, and took the 

 covering and the symbols from its head. These with the Hako he 

 rolled together within the wildcat skin and placed the l>undle in tlie 

 arms of the child. 



The Hako, which had been tlie medium of Ijringing the promises, 

 was carried l\v the recipient of these promises, the little child, to its 

 father, the Son, who received them from the hands of his offspring. 



The tie had now been formed, and tlie little child was relea.sed from 

 its syml)olic duties and ran out into the sunlight to join its playmates. 

 Within the lodge the Fathers thjinked the Children, and the people 

 departed to their daih' avocations. 



While the various articles of the Hako were generally scattered at 

 the close of the ceremony, the two feathered .stems were preserved 

 intact and frequently passed from tribe to tribe as long as they held 

 together. Sometimes the Son was unwilling to part witli those pre- 

 sented him, so, when he inaugurated a party, he had a new set made 

 with the i^roper ceremony. At all times and under all conditions tlie 

 feathered steins were never handled carelessly, but were treated with 

 respeetand their sacred characterwas remembered. During the entire 

 time Tahi'riissawichi was engaged upon this ceremony he never allowed 



a Music on p. 2.iT 



