or
eyes and mouth. The sticks to the north were colored black; six of them
had the beveled parts colored blue with a yellow jaw, and three spots for
eyes and mouth; the six sticks that were not beveled had their flat tops
painted blue. All these sticks were laid on the rug with their flat ends
outward. The attendants who prepared the reeds, each reed being colored
for a cardinal point, filled them with balls of humming-bird feathers and
tobacco and lighted them with a crystal, when they were touched with corn
pollen. The reed for the east was white, the one for the south blue, that
for the west yellow, and that for the north black. Each reed was placed at
its appropriate point in line with the sticks. (See Pl. CXVIII.) The
theurgist then advanced, carrying a basket half filled with corn meal.
This he placed in the center of the rug; when kneeling on the edge of the
rug and beginning with the white sticks, he placed first the white reed in
the east side of the basket, and passing from this point around to the
right he placed the six offerings to the gods, then the six to the
goddesses. Next taking the blue tube at the south end he placed it to the
left of the white line of sticks, leaving sufficient space for the sticks
between it and the white tube; all the blue ones were placed in position
corresponding to the white. The yellow followed next, and then the black.
All were placed with their flat ends or heads pointed to the rim of the
basket. The theurgist deposited the basket in the niche on a pile of
turkey feather wands, the wands resting upon a large medicine bag. The
sticks and scraps left after making the tubes were carried out and
deposited without ceremony.

[Illustration]

FIFTH CEREMONY.

The rug which was spread in front of the song priest was composed of two
blankets whose edges met, and upon this rug there were two lines of masks
running north and south; the tops of the masks were to the east. There
were sixteen masks; those representing the gods cover the head, and those
representing goddesses cover the face only. They were decorated with
ribbons, plumes, etc. During the forenoon prayers were said over them and
meal sprinkled upon them.

SIXTH CEREMONY.

Just after dark those who were to take part in the ceremony prepared to
personate one of the Hostjobokon and two of the Hostjoboard
(goddesses)--Hostjoghon and Hasjelti. Hostjobokon's body and limbs were
p