HOFFMAN J 



CEREMONIAL HATON AND FEAST 



73 



L 



admit of being' easily thrust in tlie ground. The baton is ornamented 

 by having cuts made around it near the top, the shavings being allowed 

 to remain attached at one end but projecting- slightly from the stick so 

 as to resemble miniature plumes. About G inches below the top cluster 

 is another, as also farther down the baton, until three or lour clusters 

 have been made. At the base of each cluster of cuts 

 a band of vermilion an inch wide, encircles the stick. 

 Figure G represents the general form of the baton. 



Shu'uien, after taking the baton at the sharpened 

 end, struck the grave box with the other end, and spoke 

 as follows : 



"There were two brothers, Ma'nabush and aSTa'qpote, 

 the Wolf. Ma'nabush lived to mourn for Na'qpote, 

 who was destroyed by the evil underground beings, 

 but who now abides in Tshi'paia'qki, the final resting 

 place, where he awaits the arrival of the shades of the 

 dead. The dance to be held at the bottom of the hill is 

 held for Na'qpote, that he may return and transport the 

 shade of this dead one to the mita'wiko'rnik, where 

 we shall have our ceremonies this night. AH the aged 

 whiteheads are invited to it. While Ma'nabush was 

 still on this earth he said that he should build a fire in 

 the northwest, at which the Indians would always be 

 enabled to obtain warmth for themselves, their children, 

 and their successors. He said that afterward he should 

 go to the place of the rising sun, there to abide always 

 and to watch over the welfare of the Indians. He said 

 if the Indians desired to hold a meeting of the Mitii'wit, 

 that they must first have a feast at the head of the grave. 

 We will now sit and eat." 



The mita' v women, assisted by relatives of the deceased, 

 then spread a tablecloth upon the ground, and deposited 

 thereon various kinds of meats, vegetables, bread, and 

 pastry — quite a contrast to the primitive method pur- 

 sued before the adoption of linen tablecloths, china, 

 and silver-plated knives, forks, and spoons. All the 

 invited guests partook of the food placed before them, 

 but nothing was so eagerly sought alter as the green 

 cucumbers, which were peeled and eaten raw. 



After the feast, Shu'uien, the chief priest and master 

 of ceremonies, again took the ceremonial baton, and handing it to one 

 of his assistants, requested him to make an address. The speaker 

 first struck the grave box, and during the time of his remarks frequently 

 struck the box, as if to emphasize his words. The addresses made by 

 him and his three successors related to exploits performed by them at 

 various times, particularly during the civil war, when most of them had 



Fig. 6 — Ceremonial 

 baton. 



