STEVENSON] ma'^ke '^hlan'nakwe 515 



the latter express indignation at the burlesquing of the sacred circle 

 dance: After a time the chisped hands are extended outw ard while 

 they dance. When the Arrow order leaves the plaza the musicians 

 change their song to melodious strains, and the circle dance is per- 

 formed previous to the appearance of the *IIle'wekwe. This frater- 

 nity, the Great Fire, and the circle dancers alternate in dancing in 

 the plaza throughout the day. With each repetition of the latter the 

 numbers are increased. When the Great Fire fraternity return to 

 the ceremonial chamber for the last time the swords are handed over 

 to the •'Hlem'mosona, who places them for the time being by the 

 altar. The fraternitv father gives the novice four prayer plumes, 

 four ears of corn, and enough calico for a shirt The head and hands 

 of the novice are bathed by the wife of his fraternity father at the 

 wife's house, and he enjoys a meal with him and others of the family, 

 after which the wife of the fraternity father accompanies the novice to 

 his house, carrying a bowl of food and the bowl his head was washed 

 in as gifts from his fraternity father. 



PO'*SIKISHI^ — DIVISION OF THE SPRUCE TREE 



At the present time this order has hut two female members, and 

 the trees handled by them are smaller than the others. While the 

 celebration of the tree swallowing occurs only at initiation in the 

 'Hle'wekwe fraternity, it is not dependent upon this rite with the 

 Great Fire fraternity- This festival is synchronous with the two 

 fraternities. 



The day the order convenes the member and novices each make three 

 prayer plumes to Na'ke'e. The officers make, in addition to these, 

 one to each of the Beast Gods of the six regions. Each man reserves 

 two of his prayer plumes and gives one to the deputy director, 

 who gathers all into a kia'etchine (a group of prayer plumes wrapped 

 together at the base), which he places in a basket. The other 

 prayer plumes are also placed in baskets, each man tying together 

 the two he retains. The eight a'mosi (directors of the different 

 orders) sit in the middle of the room around the baskets of plumes, 

 while the others of the order, including the women, sit together 

 and sing to Na'ke'e to the accompaniment of the wooden drum, 

 no rattles })eing used. They begin thus: "We are to swallow the 

 tree; we ask that our throats may not be made ill.'' The baskets of 

 plumes are now placed on the ledge in the west end of the room, and 

 they adjourn to their homes for the remainder of the night. The 

 following morning about 1» o'clock they return to the chamber and sing 

 six songs, one to the Beast God of each of the six regions, to intercede 

 with the rain-makers for cold rains and snows. After these songs/the 

 deputy *Hlem'mosona followed by a warrior whirling the rhombus, 



