dinal 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: Plate CXVIII.
BLANKET RUG AND MEDICINE TUBES AND STICKS.]

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
painted, 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