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NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



flute-song is played during the second and third sections. At 

 the close of the ceremony a pig's head is passed and pieces of 

 the boiled meat are torn from the head with the teeth, the mem- 

 bers cawing in imitation of crows. In early times a bear's head 

 was eaten. The food is then distributed, and the meeting or 



Fig. 3 The medicine outfit, husk tray, medicine bundle, rattle and flute 



''sitting-" is concluded. The ceremony commences at about ii 

 o'clock p. m. and is adjourned at daybreak. The sun " must not 

 see the rites." The business of the society is all conducted before 

 the ceremony commences : reports of the officers are given and the 

 treasurer's report read. The paraphernalia of this society consist 

 of the medicine bundles, the flute, gourd rattles for each singer, the 

 sacred tobacco basket and a bark dipper. The necessary furnish- 

 ings are a table and a fireplace, these being the " altars," and a lamp. 

 The '' medicine " is not used in the ceremonies : it is simply " sung 

 for." Its power is conserved for use by the medicine people in heal- 

 ing ceremonies. The singing of the ritual is conducted in total 

 darkness, the liglits being brought in onlv during the intermissions. 



