Chapter II: PRESCRIBED DUTIES OF THE BANDS.—The duties of the

host, who is known as x’okera,[2] and whose band is called Minañk‘ara-k‘oñañgire′ra,[3] are as follows:

1. To rehearse the songs and rituals with his band four nights previous to the ceremony proper. At this rehearsal the candidate (haⁿbirok‘aragu′-inera, literally “the one for whom they seek life”) is always present, and instructed in the ceremony.

2. To send out invitation-sticks and tobacco to the leaders of the other four bands. The messengers are always his sisters’ sons.

3. To begin the Four Nights’ Ceremony preceding the ceremony proper.

4. To receive the leaders and assistants of the other four bands before the sweat-lodge ritual, and to begin the same.

5. To begin the ceremony proper.

6. To take part in the following portion of the ceremony proper.

(_a_) To welcome the four bands.

(_b_) To lead the candidate to the secret brush and instruct him in certain precepts.

(_c_) To act as preceptor of the candidate before he is shot with the sacred shell.

(_d_) To turn the candidate over to the charge of the leaders of the East and North Bands.

(_e_) To relate certain of the myths.

(_f_) To deliver certain speeches and to perform certain actions that constitute the basic ritual of the ceremony proper. This will be discussed later.

The East Band is known as Tconi mina′ñgera (Those-who-sit-first), Hanⁿp‘ogu homina′ñgere (Where-the-day-comes-from), Wiayephuregi (Where-the-sun-rises). All these terms are used frequently. The duties of the leader are—

1. To assist the ancestor-host in passing upon the eligibility of a candidate.

2. To take part in the following portions of the ceremony proper.

(_a_) Accompanied by his two assistants, to take part in the brush ritual.

(_b_) To take charge of the candidate after he has been handed over to him by the ancestor-host.

(_c_) To shoot the sacred shell into the candidate’s body.

(_d_) To relate certain of the myths.

(_e_) To perform the basic ritual.

The North Band is known as Siniwagu mina′ñgera (Where-the-cold-comes-from). The leader has the same duties as those of the East leader. The myths recited are of course different.

The West Band is known as Wioi′rê mina′ñgera (Where-the-sun-goes-down). The leader has the duty of reciting certain myths and performing the basic ritual.

The South Band is known as Nañgŭojedjaⁿ minañgera (He-who-sits-at-the-end-of-the-road) or Horotcû′ñdjeregi (Where-the-sun-straightens). The duties of the leader are the same as those of the leader of the West Band, except that the myths he recites are different.

The distribution of the gifts to the different bands is the following:

The leader of the East Band receives one-half of the number of blankets, the upper half of the new suit worn by the candidate, and one-quarter of the food.

The leader of the North Band receives one-half of the blankets, the lower half of the suit, the moccasins, and one-quarter of the food.

The leaders of the West and South Bands receive each three yards and a half of calico and a fourth of the food.

The ancestor-host receives various gifts of food and tobacco from the leaders of the other bands. He receives his payment from the candidate before the ceremony proper.

The candidate is present at the Four Nights’ Ceremony of the ancestor-host’s band preliminary to the ceremony proper. At the latter ceremony he sits to the right of the ancestor-host’s band. He is not dressed in his new suit until after the secret ceremonies in the brush.

There are facial decorations distinctive of the different bands. The host’s band and the candidate paint a blue circle on each cheek, but its significance is unknown to me.

The regalia used are simple and few. They consist of eagle, hawk, squirrel, weasel, beaver, and otter skin bags, a drum, gourd rattles, and invitation-sticks. The otter-skin bags are always beaded and contain the sacred shell and various medicines. A few red feathers are always inserted in the mouth of the otter-skin bag. The gourds contain buck-shot at the present day. They are painted with blue finger-marks.