.MTA1Mg.NzA0ODg
173 175
standard. This man marched behind. But the council selected seven men, one from each clan to have kind of direction in each company. These had a sp?e?, whose official name was Alu wo ni gu li. Thus marched next to the chief officers except one, who carried the war dress of the four leaders, and one chief speaker to make known the orders of the chief warriors on any emergency. Sometimes the four companies marched abreast of each other in four lines. The priest who carried the holy fire, the ark and other holy
things, and his right hand man, marched with the first company.
Whether I have described the ceremonies attending to consecrations, or induction into office of the A ska yu gu ste ga, or chief warrior I am not certain, but they should be passed over without notice, I will state? them briefly in this place. Warriors were discharged from service at fifty, or some say, at sixty years of age when therefore a ch? warrior had arrived at that age, it became necessary that a younger
man should take his place. The candidate was nominated by the young warriors, and if the nomination was approved by the war department i.e. war chiefs, the candidate was notified of the appointment, and requested to accept the office. On his expressing a willingness to accept the charge, if nothing special rendered his induction immediately necessary, it was appointed on the next feast of green fruit. But if that feast would not occur for a number of months, and war was expected soon, his consecration was deferred only twenty days. Previous to the time however, his predecessor in office, appointed four men who had been distinguished officers, but now laid aside on account of their age, to wait on the candidate, and conduct him to his seat prepared in the council house. These men washed themselves all over and put on their distinguishing dress, and went to his house. The candidate had previously bathed and washed himself entirely. The above waiters conducted him to the council house in the following order viz. One walked at his right hand carrying a handful of paint. One walked at his left hand carrying an eagle feather, and one behind. On arriving at the council house, they marched entirely? round it once, and then entered, and placed the candidate