114 MYTHS OF THE IROQUOIS. 



orated with wampum, ribbons, Indian tobacco, strips of buckskin, small 

 baskets, silver broodies, &c. 



The four winning clans then form in a circle around the dog and the 

 four leading chiefs. The first chief chants around the dog; the second 

 puts it upon his back ; the third carries an extra basket trimmed with 

 beads, brooches, and ribbons, and filled with Indian tobacco; the fourth 

 chief, bareheaded and scantily clothed, follows as they pass in Indian 

 file to the other Council House, where the defeated division makes an 

 offering, which is accepted by the fourth chief All then proceed to- 

 gether to the appointed place for the dog roasting. While the fire is 

 being lighted the chiefs chant and praise the Great Spirit, after which, 

 while the warriors are shooting up at the sun, the dog is thrown into 

 the fire, which ceremony unites all the clans. This is followed by chants. 

 The leading chief then gives notice of the dance for the following day. 

 At this first day of rejoicing or dancing the "feather dance" is repeated, 

 and a chant is sung which embraces almost the entire language of the 

 Protestant Jipisco])a\ cauticlG, Benedicite omnia opera Bomini ; but the 

 translation, in place of commanding the works of God to render him 

 praise, praises the works themselves. Instead of " O ye angels of the 

 Lord," that passage is rendered, " O ye four persons who made us and 

 have charge of us, we praise thee," &c. 



The feast then follows, consisting of meats garnished with sunflower 

 oil, &c. The third day of dancing is devoted to the war dance, which 

 is dedicated to the sun, moon, stars, and thunder. The feather dance 

 is again introduced, the women this time participating in it. In itself 

 the dance is very monotonous, except for the variety introduced by 

 whooping, beating the floor with the war clubs, occasional speeches, and 

 offerings to the dancers. 



At the conclusion of the feather dance the Si-ti-gS,-ni-ai, or shuffle 

 dance, follows. This is executed solely by the women, who do not lift 

 their feet from the floor. The men keep time by drumming and using the 

 rattles. Then succeeds the guide dance, performed as follows: Two or 

 four men stand inside a circle and sing a dance song, while all the -peo- 

 ple join in the dance in jjairs, the couples facing each other. Conse- 

 quently, two out of each four have to go backwards, but at a signal in 

 the music all change places. This is invariably the closing dance of 

 the new year's festival, but it is then arranged that seven days later 

 the medicine men shall all reappear, and for a day and a night go about 

 in the houses and chase away all diseases, «&c. This closes by all re- 

 pairing to the Council House, where a large kettle of burnt corn, sweet- 

 ened with maple sugar, is prepared for the medicine men, who eat it 

 from the kettle. From this Council House fire the medicine men throw 

 the ashes upon the assembled people for the purpose of dispelling 

 witf.hes and disease. This concludes the new year's festival ceremonies 

 after a duration of three weeks. 



