STEVENSON] ma'''ke '^hl an'n A kw e 503 



the quills to his nude breast to receive the charm of the medicine, 

 when he becomes extravaoant in his beast-like performances and 

 dancing. He raises tirst one foot then the other as hioh as possil)le, 

 each time stampino- firmly upon the floor; leaps about in the wildest 

 manner; throws himself upon the floor, maintaining- the most graceful 

 attitudes; then suddenly rising, dances before the altar. Aftei- some' 

 minutes he runs into the back of his belt the two eagle-wing plumes he 

 carries, and dashing forward to the fireplace takes a large coal and, 

 dancing about with it first in one hand and then in the other a moment 

 or two, puts it into his mouth, where it remains thirty seconds, during 

 which time he indulges in extravaganza. He is soon joined by other 

 men and by women, whose dusky forms, moving beast-like in light 

 or shadow, according to the uncertain light of the embers in the flre- 

 place, their eyes almost as In-ight as the coals in their mouths, which 

 scintillate with every breath, c-arry one in imagination to the regions 

 of Pluto. The longest time a coal is held in the mouth is one minute; 

 the shortest, thirty seconds. There is considerable rivalry at such 

 times, each one aiming to outdo the other, yet all are HUed with the 

 spirit of good nature. When the coal is removed from the mouth it 

 is tossed into the fireplace with a peculiar quick and graceful motion. 

 After a time the theurgist who came first to the floor dips the feather 

 ends of his eagle plumes into the medicine water and places them to 

 his mouth, then resumes his seat in the choir. Again the theurgists 

 come forward two or three at a time and pelt the members of the choir 

 with live coals, and then lighting large bunches of corn husks, shower 

 the choir with the sparks, and each one runs the burning mass into his 



mouth. . 



When these men return to the choir the women begin dancing, but 

 they are not long on the floor when a young man of the Fi'anni'hle 

 (Sword) order appears wearing a war pouch; a wand is attached to the 

 l)ack of his head and a flufiy eagle plume tied to the forelock. He 

 advances to the altar, and dipping the feather ends of his eagle-wing 

 plumes into the medicine water, places them to his lips and rubs them 

 over his nude body. After dancing wildly about the room for a short 

 time he secures a sword of his order from behind the altar, and, 

 dancing before the altar and facing it, he gracefully throws his bcdy 

 forward, twisting and turning in beast-like motions. After a time he 

 turns and faces the east, and dropping on one knee swallows the 

 sword When this rite has been repeated three times he places the 

 sword by the altar. His movements are the perfection of grace am 

 the picture presented is most pleasing. The flutist, who sits b.-hind 

 the altar, pufls smoke each side of it at intervals. The healing ..t the 

 sick begins soon after the sword swallowing, and the sword swallmver 

 and two girls conclude the dance at midnight. The remainder ot the 

 ceremonial corresponds with the one previously described. 



