THE TEACHINGS OF WOANNOMIH. 297 
Thus for two nights they taught the Konkau, and the heart of Piu- 
chunnuh was full of joy continually so that he could not utter it. But on 
the third night, before the old Indians had come together, there crept into 
the assembly-house two wicked boys, whose hearts were black and full of 
mischief. Standing outside of the house they had overheard some of 
Woannomih’s words, and they said one to another, ‘Let us get in and take 
some pitch-pine and make a light in the night; then we can see these old 
men and see what they look like.” Thus they wickedly devised in their 
hearts and so did they. Secretly they crept into the house and carried 
with them some pitch-pine. 
In the night when Woannomih was talking these boys raked open the 
fire and threw on the pitch-pine, when suddenly the house was filled with 
a strong light, and the old men stood out plain in the sight of all. They 
had on their heads woven nets (b0-noang'-wi-ka) covered all over with bits 
of abalone-shell shining like the sun; they wore long mantles (ww’-shim- 
chi) of black eagle’s feathers reaching below the knees, with acorns around the 
edges; shell-spangled breech-cloths; tight leggings of buckskin; and low 
moccasins (sho’-loh) covered with red woodpecker’s scalps and pieces of 
abalone-shell. Their flesh was salmon in one place; in another, grasshop- 
per; in another, deer; in another, antelope, etc. They stood revealed 
in clear, bright colors, and they shone like fine obsidian. 
Near Piuchunnuh there was standing a harlequin or herald (pe'-i-peh) ; 
it was his office to stand on top of the assembly-house in the evening and pro- 
claim the approaching dance to the villagers. Also, when his chief made a 
speech, he stood behind him and repeated all his words to the people. 
When he saw the two boys making the light, he grasped them in his hands 
and flung them to the ground; but it was too late, the light flamed up in 
the house. Piuchunnuh covered his face with his hands, so as not to behold 
Woannomih, and he groaned aloud a groan of bitter despair. But Woanno- 
mih spoke quietly on a moment more: ‘“ Keep the sacred dance-house, as 
I have told you, while the world endures. Never neglect my rites and my 
honors. Keep the sacred rattle and the dances. Worship me in the night, 
and not in the daylight. In the daytime I will none of it. Then shall your 
hills be full of acorns and, nuts; your valleys shall yield plenty of grass- - 
