.MTA1Mg.NzA0Njk

From Newberry Transcribe
Jump to navigation Jump to search
p. 43  140     142

the priest then selected several men to clear the way to the stream prepare seats for the people, and a table for himself to spread his deer skin on. During the time this was going on, the priest retired alone to a mountain to sing and pray. On his return, as soon as he could determine that it was a little past noon, (which he did by means of a perpendicular stake) he again collected the people into the house, placing them, standing in rows, with their faces toward the east. He then prayed with them, but in so low a tone as not to be word scratched out understood. Two deer skins, one of a buck, and the other of a doe, were then spread on the table, with the flesh side up. The priest then took a piece of new cloth, such as had been given for the occasion, and ..lding, put it on the deer skins. He then laid on the buck skin seven strands of beads, about six inches long, one for each clan. Then all the women in the house, having each a string about six inches long with three beads on it, one red, one white, & one black, wet the beads with spittle and put them on the doe skin. Lined out: The skins were then folded, so that the hair only would be seen. The males also did the same, putting theirs on the buck skin. The skins were then folded, so that the hair only would be seen. The two right hand men then took the deer skins, then the people all left the house, going directly to the stream. No one must look behind or to the right or left, just his eyes directly forward, till being out of the house, then the right hand men followed with the deer skins, while the priest made up the rear.

 On arriving at the river (or creek) the people must not look about them, as usual, but still keep their eyes on the water. 
 The two right hand men went to the table prepared for the purpose, unfolded and spread their deer skins on it, as they had been spread at the house. They also unfolded the cloth, exposing the beads to full view. The strings with three beads each were then placed according age, i.e. a cloth being spread on each deer skin, string for the oldest man, or men, first, on the buckskin, then for the next aged etc. and so for the females on the doe skin. The right hand men then got a great number of sticks, about six inches long, -- put one end to the edge of the water -- measured the length back, and then stuck them in the sand, short distances from each other, along the shore or bank, as far as word scratched out was occupied by the people, when seated near each other. The priest having seated the people along the edge of the water, charges them to take notice of what comes out of the water; and the particular actions of those waters. Now if bugs, worms, or word omitted? crawled up from near the edge of the water, and began to fight the person opposite in the row, was to die soon or be greatly distressed, but if nothing came up, all would be well.
 The priest then commenced with the beads, of which there were three on a string. Beginning with that for the oldest man, he took two beads, one between each thumb & forefinger, one to