IT 



sTKVENsoN] ma'ke hlannakwe 519 



The morning ceremon}^ beg'in.s about 7 oV-lock, when the 4IlrMu'- 

 niosona, holding- six couples of eagle-wing plumes, representative of 

 the six regions, takes his seat on a stool near the center of the room and 

 not far from the fireplace. The a'kwamosi sits on his wadded blanket 

 to the left, and the deput\^ sits on the right of the 'Hlem'mosona. 

 When the deputy takes his seat he deposits a medicine bowl before the 

 a'kwamosi, and immediatel}^ a female member of the fraternit}' places 

 a vase of water and a gourd near him. The a'kwamosi combines, as 

 before, 3'oung buds of spruce and piiion in one husk. The flutist sits 

 facing the *Hlem'mosona and the warrior stands before the a'kwamosi. 

 The members of the order at large are grouped about the drummer on 

 the southwest side of the chamber. The deputy first dips six gourd- 

 fuls of water from the vase and empties them into the medicine bowl, 

 each time motioning to the six regions; the a'kwamosi then takes a 

 pinch of the spruce and piiion buds from the husk he holds in his 

 left hand and deposits them in the left palm of the deputy, who takes 

 them with his right hand and, motioning to the six regions, drops 

 them' into the medicine bowl. This is repeated six times, each time 

 the a'kwamosi putting the pinch of buds into the deputv's left hand. 

 Six stone fetishes are afterward dropped separatel}- into the bowl, 

 and the deput\' takes his two eagle plumes in his right hand and draws 

 them in the water from each of the four regions to the center, and 

 moves them from the zenith to the center of the bowl and stirs the 

 water for the nadir. The flute is played, the rhombus whirled, and 

 the choir sings to the accompaniment of rattle and drum during the 

 consecration of the water. When this is done the "^Hlem'mosona hands 

 the deputy the six pairs of eagle plumes separateh% whic^h he hws over 

 the bowl, the tips toward the altar. Then the 'Hlem'mosona rises and, 

 carrying a meal basket, advances to the altar, preceded b}" the flutist 

 playing and the warrior whirling the rhombus, and followed by the 

 deputy, with the a'kwamosi and another officer on each side. The 

 other members of the order, the drummer excepted, follow the oflicers. 

 After taking a few steps all halt while one song is sung. Again they 

 advance, with the beginning of a new song, and stand imtil it is finisiied. 

 Again advancing, they halt while a third song is sung; then they pro- 

 ceed to the altar, and the fourth song is sung. The flutist does not 

 halt after reaching the ahar, but proceeds at once to his place l)eiiind 

 it and continues playing on the flute. The warrior stands in front and 

 south of the altar and whirls the rhombus. The song is enlivened with 

 animal-like calls upon the Beast Gods to intercede with the Council of 

 the Gods for rain. When the singing ceases, the deput}' deposits the 

 medicine bowl near the altar, and all sprinkle the altar with meal and 

 then depart, carr3'ing their bedding to their homes. But they soon 

 return to the ceremonial chamber, where the men have their heads 

 washed by the female members of the fraternity, each of whom after- 



