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65 The proper age for war was from 25 to 50, or as some say 60 years. The under 25 were called boys. When war officers were past age, others were appointed to fill their places. Thus when the great chief A ska yu gu sta? a is underlined ega was past age, the warriors nominated his successor. This nomination was sent to the great civil priest image of a cross and if he and his counsellors approved of the nomination, the candidate was duly set apart to the office. His consecration was generally at the first feast of green fruits after his nomination, but in case of emergency in twenty after, if the above feast would not arrive in some time. The time appointed for his consecration having arrived his predecessor in office directed the ceremonies. Persons were appointed to prepare his seat. This was something like a stool, having a back extending up about four feet high, & all painted red. Others were appointed to wash the candidate all over, from head to foot, others to dress him in his official robes, and four of the war officers, of high rank but superannuated were appointed to conduct him to his seat. These walked as follows, one before the candidate with a war club painted red, one at his right hand, with a handful of red paint, one at his left hand with an eagle feather painted red, and the others walked behind with his official dress. The day & night previous, and the day of his consecration, the candidate and the four assistants above mentioned neither ate nor slept nor could they do either till after midnight of the following night. The dress of the candidate and of the four above mentioned was entirely red. image of a cross

  • Having placed the candidate on his appropriate seat

in the council house, directly before the white seat of the Uku? Includes a short vertical dash below the u, facing the east, the attendant who walked before, stepped up and put the war club in his right hand. Then that assistant who walked on his left hand, put the eagle feather on his head. The quill of the feather had been inserted into a small cane two inches long, painted red, and this cane was so fastened to the hair on the crown, as to cause the feather to stand erect on his head. Then the man who walked on his right hand, having the paint, stepped up to the candidate, and with the fore finger of his right hand, made seven stripes, red and black alternately, across his face, and his breast. Then taking red paint on the same finger as before, put it on the thumb nail of his right hand and drew it up to his breast, and then to the thumb nail of his left hand. He then put the paint in the same manner, on the great toe nail of his