STEVENSON] ORIGIN OF THE FRATEKNITIKS 427 



ledge, and tlicir Imiids arc held in turn l»y the invited fenialr o-iu>sts. 

 In some instances the wife of the fraternity father sits on tiie left of 

 the novice and the elder sister of the fratt'rnity father on the ri^-ht. 

 This custom is also followed by the *Hle'wekwe. 



The closino- ceremonies at sunrise are sul)stiintially the same with 

 all the fraternities havino- the order of Mystery medicine. Boxes or 

 low stools are placed in line near the center of the floor and are covered 

 with l)lankets. The novices are led l»y their fraternity parents and 

 seated upon these l)oxes, facing- east. The wife or sister of each fra- 

 ternity parent stands behind the novice, resting a hand on each shoul- 

 der. A vase of water and a bowl containing yucca root are set befoic 

 each novice, and the makers of the suds stand l)eside them. Kach 

 fraternity parent now takes the gifts for his child fi-om the altai- and 

 stands east of the l»owl and before his child. Each novice receives a 

 mi'li, four ears of corn tied together with yucca ribbon, prayer plumes, 

 of which each mem})er of the order has made two, wrapped together 

 at the ends with corn husks, and two eagle-wing i)lum(>s. one of the 

 plumes having a tlutty eagle feather colored red. emblem of Mysterv 

 medicine, attached to its tip. Before the presentation of each gift it 

 is drawn four times across the left side of tlu* head, four times over 

 the crown of the head, then across the right side, and then befoiv the 

 mouth of the candidate, who inhales the sacred breath of A'wonawil'- 

 ona. The gifts are held in the left arm of the ii()vic(\ and they are 

 about as much as a child can manage. 



After the women prepare the suds they rise, and the fraternity 

 parents, being in line outside of where the makers of the suds stand, 

 pass before them, starting at the south end. and dij)ping their plum«>s 

 into each bowl they deposit the suds on the novices' heads. Then 

 each member of the order of ^NU'stery medicine i-epeats this act, also, 

 passing from the south end, the members of the choir returning t(> 

 their places. The head and hands of each candidate are afterward 

 thoroughly washed by those who prepared the suds, and the hair i- 

 wiped b}" the mother or sister of the fraternity parent. VaicU fia- 

 ternity parent now removes his mi'li from the altar and passes it four 

 times in line downward before th(> mouth of each novice whilt* the 

 sacred breath is drawii. The mi'li is put to the left sid(> of the fact'. 

 to the crowMi of the head, and then to the right side of the face. As 

 the mem])ers do iu)t afterward i-eturn to their i)ositions. the choir 

 l)ecomes gradually reduced, until only one besides the drununei- 

 remains, and his voice and the drum die away when they conu' for- 

 ward with their mi'wachi. The bowl that the head is bathed in is a 

 gift to the novice. The women of the fraternity fathei's family and 

 of the family of the candidate exchange gifts of Hour, cornmeal. etc. " 

 The women of the fraternity and the families of the male nuMubers 

 furnish and prepare the food consumed during the ceremonial day?-. 



"Exceptions to these rules will be mentioned in the description of the ceremonials. 



