ainted, and he wore a mountain lion's skin doubled lengthwise and
fastened around the loins at the back, and a silver belt encircled his
waist. Hasjelti wore knee breeches and a shirt of black velvet, ornamented
with silver buttons. His face and hands were covered with white kaolin.
Hostjoghon's body was painted white, and he wore a red silk scarf around
the loins, caught on with a silver belt. The two men personating the
goddesses had their limbs painted white; one wore a black sash around his
loins, held by a silver belt. The other had a red woolen scarf and silver
belt; gray foxskins hung from the back of the belts. The masks were
fastened to their heads before leaving the lodge by means of a string and
a lock of their hair, and they were then thrown back from the head. After
a little indulgence in their hoots they all left the lodge. The invalid
entered the lodge and, stepping upon a piece of white cotton which had
been laid diagonally across the rug to the northeast and southwest, took
off his clothing. The lodge had now become very crowded. The fire, which
had burned brightly during the day, was mere coals. The attendant at the
left of the song priest opened the choir with the rattle. The invalid sat
upon the cotton cloth. Hasjelti, entering with his favorite hoot amidst
rattle and song, placed the square (representing the concentrated winds)
four times over the head of the invalid and ran out of the lodge. He
entered again and received from the theurgist one of the twelve white
sticks which during the forenoon had been placed in the basket. The white
stick farthest from the white reed was handed him. This Hasjelti placed to
the soles of the feet, knees, palms, etc., of the invalid, amid hoots and
antics, after which he dashed out and hurled the stick to the east. One of
the Hostjoboard entered and received the next white stick, and after the
same ceremony ran out and cast it to the east. Hostjobokon returned and
the theurgist handed him the next white stick, when he repeated the
ceremony, hurried from the lodge, and threw the stick to the east.
Hostjoboard again entered, received a stick, repeated the ceremony, and
ran out and threw it to the east; and thus Hostjobokon and Hostjoboard
alternated until all the white sticks were disposed of, when Hasjelti
reappeared and received from the song priest the white reed (cigarette)
and carried it from the lodge. When he returned the theurgist handed him
one of the blue stic