EDSSBLLl LEGERDEMAIN 259 



slipped from tlie long coils of hair at the operator's shoulders and shown 

 to the awe-stricken spectators as a fully developetl plant. 



A favorite trick was to have young men chew mescjuite leaves, 

 which on being ejected from the mouth were seen to be wheat or corn. 



During the rain ceremonies, when the Makai were at the height of 

 their glory, one of their most impressive acts was to pour dry earth out 

 of a reed until it was half empty ami then it would be seen that the 

 remainder was filled with water. "Then it rained right away." 

 If the Makai j)ut one of the magic slates in a cup of water. at the time 

 the rain songs were being sung antl also dug a shallow trench to 

 show the rivulets how they should cut their way, it would rain in 

 four days. 



Another device of the Makai was to conceal reeds filled with 

 water and then wliile standing on a house top to direct the singers 

 to stand in a close circle arountl below him. Exhibiting a handfid 

 of eagle down or eagle tail feathers and throwing tlust on them to 

 show how dry they were, he would then sweep his hanil about and 

 scatter water over the spectators and singers, apparently from 

 feathers but in reality from the reeds. 



During the season when rain is especially needed any one may 

 petition for it by means of the small gray fly that has a large head. 

 Rubbing soot from the roof or chimney in the fly's eyes the person 

 must say", "Go quickly, little fly, tell your grandmother to send the 

 rain." 



Some Si'atcokam arouse the wonder and ailmiration of their fellows 

 by placing hot coals in their mouths (where they hold them between 

 the teeth), or by holding them in their hands (taking care to have a 

 thin layer of ash or mud beneath them). 



When the exigencies of the case demand it, the Si'atcokam sink small 

 pointed pieces of wood, an inch in length and flat at the larger end, 

 into the flesh of their patients. The bits of wood are "twisted back 

 and forth between the thumb and forefinger as one would twist a 

 thread until the wooil disappears." The great grandmother of 

 Jacob Ij. Roberts, a young man of Apache-Maricopa and Pima- 

 Kwahadk lineage, thus treated him during a temporary attack of 

 sickness in his infancy. She sank two pieces of creosote bush into 

 liis breast and j)redicted that he would not be ill as would other 

 cliildren. She also said that she would die within the year — and 

 she did. Strange to say, Jacob also escaped the epitlcmic di.seases 

 that alHicteil his playmates. 



The Si'atcokam jjrize certain crystals very highly and claim to obtain 

 them in the following manner: The person possessing the necessary 

 power may be going along in some quiet place when all of a sudilen 

 a man will be seen approaching. The stranger never reaches him 

 but will be seen to disappear; then if the Si'atcokam searches about 



