.MTA1Mg.NzA0Nzg

155 157 unclear Ceremonies for keeping off any dangerous sickness, as fever & When any such sickness was generally feared, the people assembled in the Town House and requested the seven counsellors of the priest to make arrangements for prevented it. They accordingly notified the priest by one of their number. They then appointed a man to sing the yo wa (probably a contraction for yi ho wa?) another to dress and undress him, — seven men to hunt, seven to whip the houses, — seven women to lead the dance, — one musician and sometimes Two, and one to direct? respecting the feast on the evening of the seventh day. The priest also commenced looking for the requisite herbs, roots and? The hearth being cleaned, dry, rotten wood, having no worms in it, was placed on the hearth in a circular form, and seven strings of? white beads for the seven clans, placed round it thus circle with seven spokes--image each pointing to the wood. Fire made by rubbing sticks together, was kindled in this wood. Then this fire and wood was taken from the hearth and put? away to kindle the fire for boiling the leaves? Fire was then made on the hearth with seven kinds of wood, the same as in the case of the small pox. That is, the fire was kindled and kept burning with the lower dry limbs, broken from those trees. None must be taken from the ground. A little before sunset, the people having assembled, the priest put on the white pot, as in case of the small pox, filled with spring water, + the herbs he had brought, and directly over the pot was put a Buzzards? feather. The hunters having returned gave the priest a buck skin, a doe skin, + fawn skin which he folded + laid down by the fire, and then prayed, having his face toward the setting sun. After this the seven counsellors alternately watched the fire, night and day. The company were then all seated, and the musician took his stand, and raising his voice, the seven women appointed to lead the dance, came forward, and with a loud? step moved round the fire in single file, followed by all the other women, and they by the girls, forming a large circle. the musician accompanied his voice with the beat of a drum. This first dance having ended, and all having taken their seats, the person appointed to dress the man (i.e.? the priest, as he must be who was to sing the yo wa, called him from his seat, went to the holy post, took his white dress, — put it on him, and gave him a rattling goard. (a small shell with pebbles, fastened on a stick) this man, which having his dress put on stood with his face toward the east. Moving unclear the rattling goard, he stood a moment in the same position, then shaking his goard, he commenced singing īe (giving that vowel its proper long sound) as he walked round the fire, and to the door. He then changed his note i (i, sounded long as in pique) and ascended the roof? not