OPENIN(i OF RAIN CEREMONY" 



Explanation 



When mill is desired one of the leadiuj^- uien who understands the 

 ceremony will notify the medicine-men, the orator or reciter, and the 

 sino-er. These agree upon beginning the ceremony at the end of four 

 days. On the third day they send one or more men as criers to 

 announce to the people of the adjoining villages that the ceremony 

 will be held on the morrow. 



When all have assembled in the evening the leader calls out the 

 names one bj' one of the medicine-men, who take their position behind 

 the tire, facing toward the east. Then the names of those who will 

 sing are called. The leading singer sits behind the medicine-men and 

 his assistants place themselves on either side of him and around the 

 tire. Then the orator is named and takes his place with the medicine- 

 men. When the leader announces that it is time for the ceremony to 

 begin, the orator recites the following: 



Translation 



Is it in this condition that we are sitting here, understanding the 

 advice of our forefathers? There is an unknown house in which lies 

 the magic brand; toward this we point the ceremonial cigarette and 

 smoke, thus accjuiring an insight that shall enable us to speak wiselj'. 



When the earth was new it was shaking and rough.'' As you know, 

 Black Mocking Bird lives in the west. I had considered my relation- 



Na Hums hapa tcoik' kotcs huk utu tathaktc' haps ma-ate 



Not like this condition that for in sitting in therefore nnderstand 



haitco a-ak. Kavawot qetai' ki, huk uta amkatc' huk'' kotck' 



thing counsel. It was (?) house, for in lays brand 



vi-ituk. Oatciki' tan huk woi amukuk kotc hukap hawaktc hap 



remnant. CiKarette knee that one standing that which inhaling there. 



fore 



samatc haitco ak. Kota tcuwuj humoi utcu amuta haintc katc 



know thing counsel. Then earth new was made in moving lay 



amuta tcotcoaktc' katc. Ava im hojinyik takio kus tcok 



in inserted and lay. As you toward west direction kind of black 



projecting * know 



rso-ok kontak hap tcoikam mamatcuk tip imuk' I'sarsoa kotap 



mocking I had therelorc that class guessing my weep because 



bird visible 



oThe so-called Tcrtc kita, make rain. 



?>It shook because it was wet and spongy at that time, "like the wet bank of the river." 



oAm=a prelix denoting certainty. 



dConnective inserted for euphony. 



eimfik — "My (brother or other relative)," a form of entreaty. 



347 



