MATTHEWS. ] CEREMONIES: PREPARING COURIERS. 425 
grant fumes of some vegetable powder scattered on a live coal, which, 
as usual, was “ put out,” in a double sense, when the fumigation was 
over. Then the young men were dressed and adorned to look like 
Dsilyi‘ Neyani after his toilet in the house of the butterflies. (Paragraph 
44.) Their legs and forearms were painted black, to represent the storm 
cloud. The outer aspects of these members were decorated with white 
zigzag streaks, to indicate the white lightning. Their faces were painted 
partly white and small white spots were scattered over their bodies. 
Downy eagle feathers were fastened to their hair; necklaces of shell and 
coral were hung @round their necks, and over these were laid collars of 
beaver skin, with whistles attached, which had lain in front of the lodge 
the day before, near the plumed wands. (Paragraph 93, Fig. 51.) Small 
objects to represent wings were tied to their arms. Each was given 
one of the fawn skin bags (paragraph 90) with corn meal in it. In the 
hand of the akaninili who was to go to the south was placed one of the 
cobolea, or plumed wands, whose stem was painted black, the color of 
the north, as a sign to all he might meet that he was a duly authorized 
messenger from a medicine lodge in the north. In the hand of the 
other akaninili was placed a blue shafted wand, to show that he came 
from the south. Thus equipped they were all ready for the journey. 
(Fig. 52.) 
102. The chanter gave them his messages, telling them where to go, 
what places they were to visit, what other chanters they were to see, 
what dancers they were to invite, and what gifts they were authorized 
to offer to the visiting performers for their trouble. Having given 
these special instructions, he closed with the general instructions, which 
are always given to the akaninili, as follows: 
These [pointing to the eagle feathers on the head] will make for you a means of ris- 
Ing as you progress. 
These [pointing to the wing symbols on the arm] will bear you onward. 
This [pointing to the collar of beaver skin] will be a means of recognition for you. 
For this reason it hangs around your neck. 
Sprinkle meal across a little valley, across a big arroyo. 
Across the roots of a tree sprinkle meal and then you may step over. 
Sprinkle meal across a flat rock. 
Then the plumed wand. -For this purpose you carry it, that they will recognize 
you as coming from a holy place. 
103. The akaninili on his journey scatters meal before him as directed 
in these charges. He also scatters it on the medicine men whom he 
visits, and for this reason he is called akaninili, which signifies meal 
sprinkler. 
104. When the last word of the instructions was uttered, the couriers 
departed, oue to the north and one to the south. It was not later than 
7 o'clock when they left. As soon as they were gone, the work of paint- 
ing the picture appropriate to the day was begun. It was much more 
elaborate than the painting of the previous day. Although a dozen 
men worked on it, it was not finished until two o’clock. About the time 
