Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 1, 2025
The entrance of the invalid into the lodge was a signal for the song-priest to open the chant with the rattle. Hasjelti and Hostjoghon bounded into the lodge hooting wildly. Hostjoghon carried a turkey wand in each hand, and these he waved over the invalid’s head and hooted; this was repeated four times, and each time the gods ran out of the lodge.
These were placed in a basket half filled with meal; the basket stood in the niche behind the song-priest. Two men personated Naiyenesgony and Tobaidischinni. Tobaidischinni had his body painted with the scalp knot in white in relative positions to the bows on Naiyenesgony.
At the conclusion of the chant the song-priest passed his rattle to one of the choir and stirred the mixture in the bowl with his forefinger, and after a few remarks to the invalid, who was still in the sweat house, he threw some of the mixture in upon the hot rocks. This was repeated four times, when the song-priest returned to his former position.
At early dawn the buffalo robe at the entrance of the lodge was slightly dropped from the doorway to admit the rays of approaching day. The masks which had been sung and prayed over all night were laid away in the niche behind the song-priest.
After the song the invalid with meal basket in hand passed hurriedly down the line of gods and sprinkled each one with meal, passing it from the right hand up to the right arm, to the head then down the left arm to the hand, placing a pinch in the palm of the left hand. The invalid then returned and stood to the north side of Hasjelti who was to the left of the song-priest.
A blue feather was dipped in water, then in pollen, and rubbed twice over these feathers; an attendant folded the parcel and the song-priest received it and touched it to the soles of the feet, knees, palms, breast, and back and mouth of the invalid; he then put a pinch of the pollen into the invalid’s mouth, and a pinch on the top of the head; he placed the folded husk in the invalid’s hand, and stood in front of him and whispered a long prayer which the invalid repeated after him.
Many had been the objections to our sketching and writing, but throughout the nine days the song-priest stood steadfastly by us. One chief in particular denounced the theurgist for allowing the medicine to be put on paper and carried to Washington. But his words availed nothing. We were treated with every consideration.
They were richly dressed in Navajo blankets, coral necklaces, etc., and they remained perfectly quiet. The theurgist and his attendants talked together in an undertone, and if the inmates of the lodge spoke at all their voices were scarcely audible. After a time the choir opened, led by the song-priest with his rattle. During the singing the rattle was passed from one to the other.
The invalid proceeded to the medicine lodge followed by the song-priest uttering a low chant.
Some of the dancers dropped out from weariness, which caused diminution in some of the sets. The last dance closed at the first light of day. The song-priest had preceded the last dancers to the green room and awaited their arrival to obtain the masks, which were his special property. The first three worlds were neither good nor healthful. They moved all the time and made the people dizzy.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking