The evening times., 1900-06-28
= RUMCHUSDA WAIST.


the people vel That is what / want you
TO do. That IS why take care OF you. why
l offe- s-ot tte tobacco and the food which
Ti-ra-wa has given to you and me
After a palse he continued, I have re-
ceived = cents (the horses which / orna-
ment YOU With. but now do not let your
spirit touch NY spirit to hurt me. for I am
about to return to this young man the
hOrses which Le in good faith brought as
an Offering l want him to be remembered.
and I desire that We have a long life to-
gether.
4 Prayer To Ti-ra-NYa.
Then the old priest turned TO the young
man and said: Ny nephew, you see how
very painstaking I am in caring for and
preserving this skull. and how often you
fnd me in this lodge alone with it. think
of those people whose WORDS are
standing in front Of US, although hose
who spoke them are dead and are no long
er here: TO whom the buffalo made known
the I'eSi i-As which descended to lie. and
whi'l 2 AVE given to your wife ana child.
W. gifts were brought to these old men
in TIE past they gave thanks 10 the sA,Il.
and blser prayer 10 Ti-Ta-wa for long life
they sometimes returned the gifts 10 the
peso. who had been cured OF sickness and
whc h ID brought them 10 show their thank
fulncss- Sometimes the old men kept these
gifts as given 70 Ti-ra-wa- Such were
their ways CT doing. and l desire TO do as
they did
once more addressing the skull the
priest said. Do not let your spirit touch
my spirit 20 DO me harm. because I re-
turn the gifts made in good faith 10 you
You have looked upon me and upon them
addressing the young man. he said. 7
h 90
Then he took his seat at the south Of the
skull.
The young man arose. placed his
hands upon the skull. str0let its sides UD-
ward TO tie tips OF the horns. then h.
stood binding over and with his hands
lightly .oucning II lie said Father. I de-
sire that you remember our family. and
that TIE medicine continue TO be SCOd
have learned from this venerable man
that thare was cnce a man who stood upon
a hill praying. and that Ti-ra-wa gave you
power to make known N teries to this
man, and that this knOE.fdge has been
handed down until now my uncle has
charge OF you l have often been around
and about you. and have the feeling that
you are set apart and holy.
The Sacred Food.
When the ceremonies we're concluded
all present again gave the word of thanks.
'Na-ya-i-ri.' The young man stepped in
front Of the old priest. grasped his hands.
then strOked his arms. ard silently took
his seat.
Meanwhile the women entered the
lodge They were the mother and child
who had been sick and the VIE OF the
priest The priest ladled the mush from
the ksttle into two wooden bowls. putting
t.ro lufalO horn spoons into each bowl:
but bcfJre setting the bowls q 'rcnt Of the
men and women he offered a spoonful Of
the ntush to the east and at the north
poured a little on the ridge OF the fireplace.
He then bowed his head, raised the spoon
to Tira-ga. and placed some before the
skull Two persons ate at enc time from
the bowls one Of which was placed before
the men and the othor before the women:
but before partakinG of the corn each
placed some OF the mush on the rim of the
fireplace. Finally the bowls were passed
around the circle, and TO the little child,
for whose recOyeTey. as well as that OF her
mother the thanksgiving ceremony was
held. her parents gave the sacred food
Then the dishes were gathered up and tax
en- out by the wife of the priest. The
priest reccunted the help that he had re-
ceived from the ceremonies connected with
the buffalo cult, then gathered up the ar
ticles again into a bundle, arose and went
out CT the lodge, followed by the people
Miss Fletcher explained the meaning OF
the various symbolic rites connected with
the ceremony, and showed that the scene
Of which she had been a witness threw
light upon the cause Of the Indian belief
IN the medicine man.