164 THE YOKAIA, ETC. 
it was about fifty feet in diameter and four or five feet deep, and it was 
so heavily roofed with earth that the interior was damp and somber as a 
tomb. It looked like a low tumulus, and was provided with a tunnel-like 
entrance about ten feet long and four feet high, and leading down to a level 
with the floor of the pit. The mouth of the tunnel was closed with brush, 
_and the venerable sexton would not remove it until he had slowly and de- 
voutly paced several times to and fro before the entrance. Passing in I 
found the massive roof supported by a number of peeled poles painted 
white and ringed with black, and ornamented with rude devices. The floor 
was covered thick and green with sprouting wheat which had been scat- 
tered to feed the spirit of the captain of the tribe lately deceased. 
Not long afterward a deputation of the Se-nel’ came up to condole with 
the Yokaia on the loss of their chief, and a dance, or series of dances was 
held which lasted three days. During this time of course the Senel were 
the guests of the Yokaia, and the latter were subjected to a considerable 
expense. I was prevented by other engagements from being present and 
shall be obliged to depend on the description of an eye-witness, Mr. John 
Tenney, whose account is here given with a few changes : 
There are four officials connected with the building, who are proba- 
bly chosen to preserve order, and to allow no intruders. They are the 
assistants of the chief. The invitation to attend was from one of them, and 
admission was given by the same. These four wore black vests trimmed 
with red flannel and shell ornaments. The chief made no special display 
onthe occasion. In addition to these four, who were officers of theassembly- 
chamber, there was an old man and a young woman who seemed to be priest 
and priestess. The young woman was dressed differently from any other, 
the rest dressing in plain calico dresses. Her dress was white, covered 
with spots of red flannel, cut in neat figures, ornamented with shells. It 
looked gorgeous, and denoted some office, the name of which I could not 
ascertain. 
Before the visitors were ready to enter, the older men of the tribe 
were reclining around the fire smoking and chatting. As the ceremonies 
were about to commence, the old man and young woman were summoned, 
and standing at the end opposite the entrance they inaugurated the exer- 
