Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-02-11

gain their name. They can take
sweat bath in the sweat house and
then step out and enjoy plunge in
the delicious waters of the flowing
stream.
Twice have been privileged to
take part in this ceremony. On the
first occasion I was invited to the
home of the shaman, or medicine
man, and there, with the Indians who
We're to participate in the ceremony,
I was invited to repast of green
made from green corn with which l
am acquainted. The corn in the milk
is ground and then thrown into hot
water until it becomes thick. When
we'll cooked it is seasoned, poured
into basket bowls and served. | had
two old Indians, one on each side of
me, when the basket of mush was
handed to me by my hostess. To re-
fuse to eat would have been an of
Tense against the laws of hospitality,
and to refuse to allow the Indians by
my side to partake of that which was
offered to me would have been dis
courteous. Yet we did not have
spoons, and I knew that as soon as
my friends were ready they would
dip their pot-too-clean fingers into
the savory mesa. Il babe them wait
awhile, and then, calling to my host
ess, asked her for spoon, which I
knew she had somewhere in her
stores. When she brought it she
washed it seven different times, so
that 1 might be quite assured of its
cleanliness. When took the spoon
l described q half circle in the mush
in the front of the basket. Then,
calling the attention of my friend
on the right, l pointed out to him
that all the mush on the right of the
half circle was his, and to my friend
on the left that all on the left be-
longed to him. Respectfully waiting
until began to eat it was not until
after had eaten several mopthfuls
that they dipned their fingers into
the dainty dish and scooped up into
their mouths the food they so much
enjoy,
After our repast we hurried down
to the side of the Havasu, where a
wicker frame as shown in figure one
was constructed. One of the men
speedily lined the inside on the
ground with newly-cnt willows. 9th
ers built a honfre into which num-
her OF large rocks were placed. Still
others brought blankets and covered
the frame work so as to make it
steam proof.
When everything was ready, I, as
the guest of honor, was invited to
disrpbs and enter first. AS / did so
the shaman and one other Indian fol-
lowed me. One Of the attendants
then put In couple of red-hot rocks,
the flap was let dawn and immedi-
ately we we're in the darkness of the
sweat house, or toholwa, as the Hava-
supai terms it. Immediately the
shaman began to sing, and as well as
l could joined In the song. 1t was
prayer of Thanksgiving to Tochops,
their good god, for having given
them the sweat bath and many other
good things. By the time the song
WIS 0A0SN llc Pldco was P1SVVy NV
and I Thought we had about hud
enough, but when the fHp WEB
opened more hot rocks wers put In,
the flap let down, and another song
commenced. BEFORE long the sweat
was rolling down my body in a num-
Der of little streams and l was quite
hot when the song ended. Instead,
however, of being allowed to go out
when the flap was opened, the attend
ant fiend put in more hot rocks and
basket bowl full OF water. was
just reaching for the water, when
the flap was let down and the sha-
mans attendant poured the liquid
luTsa ~ rd-Ass svsAe. y ans1saa