WHITK] CEREMONIES AND CEREMONIALISM 113 



event; the relatives of the initiates grmd corn, make flour, bread, etc., 

 which will be given to the medicine men. 



The ceremonies of initiation are concluded with a public exhibition 

 held in the chamber of the society. Four daj^s before this night the 

 no\nces ^\t11 be taken to the house of the society. There they aie 

 kept for four days and nights. No one except medicme men know 

 what goes on during this time. Nonmedicine men seem to think, 

 however, that the candidates are subjected to very tiying and even 

 painful ordeals. It is thought that they are given some filthy, nasty, 

 or otherwise unpleasant medicme to drinlv. But, imfortiuiately, 

 these conjectures must remain conjectures imtil data can be secured 

 from the medicine men themselves. It is not to be doubted, though, 

 I believe, that the candidates are instructed in many things, such as 

 prayers, songs, medicines, paraphernalia, and feats of magic, for 

 young doctors often display great skill and proficiency soon after their 

 initiation. 



After the four days and nights of seclusion the society holds a 

 public ceremony in their chamber. It commences after supper, just 

 after dark. Anyone may attend. Those who are especially eager 

 (such as friends and relatives of the candidates) come early, as the 

 chamber will hold only 30 or 40 persons. When they come in they 

 find the altar of the society set up, with the customary paraphernalia 

 (the corn-ear fetishes, honani, the medicine bowls, fUnts, bear paws, 

 stone figures of the animal spirits, etc.) laid on the floor in front. 

 The medicine men are dressed as for a curing ceremony: naked save 

 for a breechcloth, faces painted with the horizontal black band, their 

 hair tied up with a com husk, two turkej' feathers at each temple, 

 etc. On the four walls are painted an eagle, a bear, cloud and rain 

 symbols, a water snake, a koshare, etc. (q. v.). Each doctor carries 

 a rattle in the right hand and two eagle plumes in the left (the boj' 

 candidates have them too, but the girls are empty handed). (Pis. 

 11, 12.) 



All of the doctors except two sit behind the altar and sing. The 

 two remaining in front dance. When they have finished they take 

 their places behind the altar and two others dance. All of the doctors 

 dance, by twos; the headman and the candidates dance last. When 

 they have finished the candidate goes about the chamber demon- 

 strating his newly acquired powers. He goes to the pictures on the 

 walls and gathers from them, between his two palms, seeds of various 

 kinds, which he distributes to the people present. Then he goes 

 around the chamber "curing" people. Having selected some pei"son, 

 he will ^^^thdraw from the body a pebble, stick, or string, with his 

 eagle plumes. Or, he may massage some part of his body and then 

 suck some object out. 



