208 THE KABINAPEK. 
and pops in the flames, the spectators shout the loudest, believing that 
his spirit is enjoying a happy release. 
The Kabinapek have a vague conception of a Supreme Being, whom 
they call Kin’-tash-i; but, as usual, he is a wholly negative person who 
takes no part or interest in mundane affairs—evidently a foreign graft upon 
their cosmogony. 
AN INDIAN REVIVAL. 
From time immemorial it has been the custom of the Clear Lake In- 
dians to celebrate a large harvest of acorns, or a heavy run of fish in the 
spring, with a season of dancing, protracted for two or three weeks, an 
occasion in which the religious element manifestly mingled. For some 
years there had been neither one, hence no opportunity for the great dance; 
and the assembly chambers wherein they were held have partly been 
burned by accident, partly fallen into disuse at the instance of the Ameri- 
cans. In the autumn of 1871 the acorns were plenty, and the next spring 
the fish ascended the creeks in unprecedented numbers ; and now there was 
double occasion for the long-neglected festival. The old Indians, who still 
clung tenaciously to the ancient traditions had often upbraided the younger 
generation for their impiety, and now they renewed with redoubled force 
their exhortations to them to rebuild the fallen assembly-houses, the edes 
labentes deorum, and return to the pious and time-honored usages of their 
ancestors. 
It was done. With all the ardor of the Israelites rebuilding the temple 
of Solomon the young men fell to cutting and peeling timbers, excavating 
pits, timbering them up, ete. As above recorded, a commission was sent 
out to study the best models. Ina short time the new assembly-houses 
were completed and then they fell to dancing all around the lake with 
great enthusiasm. Night after night the assembly-houses sounded to the 
songs of the singers and the monotonous clacking of the sticks. Though 
the old Indians had persisted that their neglect of the dance was bringing 
on them the displeasure of the spirits, yet they had been healthy all these 
vears; but now they began to cough and wheeze withal. When they went 
naked, these sweat-house heats were undoubtedly good, but after they had 
learned to wear clothes they were injurious. The Kabinapek danced so 
