STEVENSON] "^hle'wekwe 453 



The womeu and children bathe from large bowls on the roof of the 

 chamber between 9 and 10 oY-lock in the morning. The songs con- 

 tinue each night until the rising of the morning star. 



When the men bathers return from the river they drink the emetic, 

 and after vomiting take the morning meal. The food is brought 

 to the hatchway by relatives of the memljcrs of the fraternity. Con- 

 tinence must be observed throughout the ceremonial and for four days 

 following it, and all sweets, beans, s(iuash, dried peaches, and coflee 

 must be abstained from during the ceremonies." Prayers are agaui 

 offered on the roof between 9 and 10 o'clock in the mornmg. 



No member of the fraternity must touch persons not mem})ers or 

 be touched by anyone until after sunset of the fifth day. The women 

 as well as the men, therefore, sleep in the ceremonial chamber. Ihe 

 women, however, go to their homes during the day. principally to pre- 

 pare food for the fraternity. Even the children understand that they 

 uuist keep at a proper distance at this time. 



On the first morning the male members prepare te'likmawe after 

 their morning meal, each one making six, one to the 'lile'et'tone and 

 one to the mu'et'tone, the two being joined together, three to the 

 deceased members of the fraternity, and one to Kok'ko A'wan (Coun- 

 cil of the Gods). These offerings are carried on the same afternoon 

 by two men of the fraternity and deposited in the sprmg at the black 

 rocks into which the original ^Hlem'mosona is supposed to have dis- 

 appeared, with prayers for snows and cold rains. 



The west wall of the ceremonial chamber is decorated with the sun 

 and moon symbols, A'chiyala'topa (the being with tail and wmgs of 

 knives), the Beast and Snake Gods, the Pleiades, and Orion A chi- 

 vala'topa and the animals are painted on paper and afterward cut out 

 and pasted upon the wall. The snakes and stars are painted directly 

 on the wall, and a cloud svmbol of meal is made on the fioor. 



After the earlv morning dance on the second day there is no more 

 dancing until sunset, the time being consumed in preparing te'lilvinawe 

 After the sunset dance the time is spent in eating, smoking, and chat- 

 tino- until about 10 o'clock, when the dance is resumed to the music of 

 the'rattle and drum. After the morning meal on the third day each one 

 makes five praver plumes to the deceascnl members of the tratermty. 

 Dancing occuri during the day and night. The »Hle'wekwe dance on 

 the third and fourth nights in the house where the Mu'waiye rehearse. 

 On the fourth morning the male members again make prayer plumes 

 and dance as before, and a woman of th(> fraternity makes a ha kwan. 

 (a number of cotton loops syml)olic of a mi'ha, sacred white blanket). 

 The ^Hlcm'mosona, the warrior, and six members at large, includu^ 



fraternity over the northern route to Shi'papolima they subsisted on game, as ,t « as t<K, 

 fruits of the earth. 



