was
provided with a tunnel-like entrance about 10 feet long and 4 feet
high, and leading down to a level with the floor of the pit. The
mouth of the tunnel was closed with brush, and the venerable sexton
would not remove it until he had slowly and devoutly paced several
times to and fro before the entrance.

Passing in I found the massive roof supported by a number of peeled
poles painted white and ringed with black and ornamented with rude
devices. The floor was covered thick and green with sprouting wheat,
which had been scattered to feed the spirit of the captain of the
tribe, lately deceased. Not long afterwards a deputation of the
Senel come up to condole with the Yo-kai-a on the loss of their
chief, and a dance or series of dances was held which lasted three
days. During this time of course the Senel were the guests of the
Yo-kai-a, and the latter were subjected to a considerable expense.
I was prevented by other engagements from being present, and shall
be obliged to depend on the description of an eye-witness, Mr. John
Tenney, whose account is here given with a few changes:

There are four officials connected with the building, who are
probably chosen to preserve order and to allow no intruders. They
are the assistants of the chief. The invitation to attend was from
one of them, and admission was given by the same. These four wore
black vests trimmed with red flannel and shell ornaments. The chief
made no special display on the occasion. In addition to these four,
who were officers of the assembly-chamber, there were an old man and
a young woman, who seemed to be priest and priestess. The young
woman was dressed differently from any other, the rest dressing in
plain calico dresses. Her dress was white covered with spots of red
flannel, cut in neat figure, ornamented with shells. It looked
gorgeous and denoted some office, the name of which I could not
ascertain. Before the visitors were ready to enter, the older men of
the tribe were reclining around the fire smoking and chatting. As
the ceremonies were about to commence, the old man and young woman
were summoned, and, standing at the end opposite the entrance, they
inaugurated the exercises by a brief service, which seemed to be a
dedication of the house to the exercises about to commence. Each of
them spoke a few words, joined in a brief chant, and the house was
thrown open for their