&2 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



After one has intoned this message or announcement the other 

 pokes up the ashes with a basswood paddle and sings a song. 



The first day is spent in this way, formal announcements being 

 given by the officers. 



On the morning of the second day all the lodges are visited by 

 officers called Hadeiyayo\ Later, say 9 a. m., clan officers, known 

 as Hana'sishe, begin their round of visits. Two men and two 

 women are chosen from the phratries and going in couples to the 

 various houses conduct a thanks or praise service. The burden of 

 their words is a thanksgiving to God for the blessings that have 

 been received by that house during the past year. 



When this ceremony is over these officers throw up a paddle 

 ( YYadigusa'wea) signifying that the ceremony is over. At this 

 time a chief makes a long thanksgiving speech in the council house. 



At noon the " big feather " dancers visit every lodge and dance 

 the sacred dance. Two women at least must participate. On enter- 

 ing a lodge the leader of the feather dancers must say : 



One n ''diq' hodo"issoin'yunde sedwa'a/wuk gao n 'ya'ge' 

 honon'ge'. Nekho"nai' hodo'issho n go n oindi ne" ha\vo n n'. 

 Hodawisa'se' Osto'wagowa. 



One n "diq'dji'wiisnowat ne" gissa 11 aye n origwe Osto'- 

 wagowa. GagwegoV one a " diq,' djiwiisnowat heniyo 11 ' 

 swao'iwayando 11 ' ! 



Da'neho" ! 



At about 2 p. m. public dances begin in the " long house." 



The Society of Bears, which during the early afternoon had been 

 holding a session in the house of some member, enter the long house 

 and dance publicly. The same is true of the False Face Company. 



Other dances are the Pigeon song dance (Tca'kowa) and the 

 Gada'ciot. The only dance in which physical contact is permitted 

 is the Yendonissonta' or " dance of the beans.'' Dancers hold each 

 other's hands as they circle around the singers. This is to repre- 

 sent the bean vine as it clings to a sapling or corn stalk. 



On the morning of the third day the priest arises before daylight 

 and standing at the door of the council house begins his song of 

 thanks. The song is sung until dawn appears and then the priest 

 ceases. Should a fierce wind be blowing it is believed that when 

 the words of the song float upward the Great Spirit will say, 

 " Cease your movements, Oh wind, I am listening to the song of 

 my children." 



