STEVENSON] NIGHT CEREMONIES OF COTTNCIL OF THE GODS 249 



little while the woman repeats in a most impressive manner: '"Athln"' 

 (amen). The grace is repeated over the food on the south side of the 

 room, and, addressing- the people, the two saj^: " I'tonawe " (eat). The 

 Shu'laawi'si, taking from one of the bowls a piece of he'we as big as 

 his two hands, places upon it a bit of food from each vessel and disap- 

 pears through the hatchway in the roof, followed by Sa'yatiisha and 

 Hu'tutu. The large asseml)lage now revels in the feast. 



Shu'laawi'si deposits the food in the excavation under the ladder 

 before the house, Sa'yatiisha plants plumes in the opening and scatters 

 meal, and Hu'tutu stamps upon the meal a>)out the excavation. The 

 prayers offered by the gods at this time are uttered in tones so low- 

 that it is impossible to hear a word. The excavation is afterward 

 covered with a slab and with earth until no evidence of it remains. 



The three gods return to the chamber and join in the feast. After 

 all the food is consumed, the empty vessels are removed. The person- 

 ators of the Council of the (iods having donned their masks, Sa'yatiisha 

 and Hu'tutu stride up and down the floor until the rising of the morn- 

 ing star, after which Sa'yatiisha and the pe'kwin proceed to the roof, 

 where they remain half an hour, chanting a prayer. 



Returning to the room, they approach the altar side by side. The 

 pe'kwin carries a meal basket and throws meal before them as the}' 

 proceed up the room. Sa'yatiisha carries his l)ow and arrows in his 

 left hand and a rattle of deer scapula in his right. On reaching the 

 altar the two sprinkle it with meal and, turning about, slowly retrace 

 their steps, repeating the prayer they chanted on the house top as they 

 stride up and down the long room three times, Sa'3'atiisha with ever}- 

 step waving the scapulae downward. Thev halt midway for some 

 thirty minutes until the close of the praj-er, when Sa'yatiisha places 

 his right foot forward, facing east, and extends his right hand toward 

 the eastern heavens and his left backward and toward the earth; 

 at the same time he sprinkles meal from both hands. This motion is 

 repeated l^y the pe'kwin, and then Sa'yatiisha turns to the choir, 

 repeats a pra3^er, and, going to the altar, offers a short praver, wiiicli 

 concludes the all-night ceremonial. 



The mask is removed by an attendant and placed on the deerskins 

 by the altar. A morning repast similar to the one spread during the 

 night is enjoyed, and the personators of the gods rest and sleep until 

 nearly 10 o'clock in the morning, wdien the ceremonies are resumed. 



It has been stated that the Sha'liiko are met on the opposite side of 

 the river by the first body of A'shiwanni, the Ko'mosona. and the 

 Ko'pekwin, who pray and sprinkle meal upon the gods. Each Sha'liiko 

 goes to the house he is to dedicate. 



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