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7 and then put the meat on the fire. Now if the meat burnt quickly, without popping, all would be well, but if it popped, throwing pieces of meat toward the people, just so many of them would die, during the year.
The sacrifice being ended, the priest then consulted his u lu sa ta (or, oo, lu sa ta, u, in the second syllable nasal) i.e. "light", and as many as were to die during the year, appeared lying in that stone. The meat which had been distributed before noon had been cooked and was now called for by the speaker. This boiled?, corn bread, beans, potatoes and whatever of ripe fruit as food they might have, was now brought forward, and placed on long benches in the yard. The priest then prayed, and directed all to eat. The multitude then all ate at the same moment. The seven men and women designated to fast, could not eat till after dark, while the priest and his right hand man, must defer eating till late at night. On this night all kept awake, and the women danced the friendship dance all night. On the second day the seven whippers went through the town as on the preceeding day, distributed the meat, then common people might eat, at their own houses during the day, yet the priest, his right hand man, his seven counsellors, and the seven fasting women, could not eat only as they did the day before. A little before sunset victuals was brought as on the first day, and all ate as at that time. But on this day the yowa, was not sung. The third day passed in all respects as the second; and the fourth as the first. - The yowa was sung three times, the whippers proceeded as usual - meat was distributed - all
parted till near sunset - all bathed at river - plunging seven times as before, sacrifice was offered, and then oracle, u lu sa ta, consulted, - victuals brought and served as on the first day, & as on that day, the priest, his assistant, - seven counsellors & the seven women could not eat till late Thus the above sixteen persons fasted ten days successively, eating only once in twenty four hours & then a little after sunset.
On this night none might sleep. The whole night was devoted to wakefulness. The women danced as on the first night and on the next morning the sacrifice was offered, and all the people went home joyful & with a merry heart, considering themselves pure from all moral defilements. The priest who officiated at these feasts was called U li stu ti, which signifies one who has head covered This feast was annually about the first of autumn, but during the year, if any dangerous sickness, as fever, &c was feared, this feast was celebrated and the yowa sung. A feast something similar was celebrated in the spring.