. Bulletin. Ethnology. 242 BURKAU 0¥ AMKTUCAN KTHNdLOClY ,. 7S. The dance or assemlily house, A-e, keimine or hiuja shane^ literally " singing lodge '' or '" ceremony lodge," was earth-covered and 40 to 60 feet in diameter. A large center post was surrounded by a polygon of eight smaller ones connected by stringers. Across these stringers radiating rafters Avere laid and fastened with grai:)evine or withes, and on the rafters four circles of poles. Then followed successive layers of interwoven sticks placed horizontally, another radiating, mats of rushes, dried grass, mud,
. Bulletin. Ethnology. 242 BURKAU 0¥ AMKTUCAN KTHNdLOClY ,. 7S. The dance or assemlily house, A-e, keimine or hiuja shane^ literally " singing lodge '' or '" ceremony lodge," was earth-covered and 40 to 60 feet in diameter. A large center post was surrounded by a polygon of eight smaller ones connected by stringers. Across these stringers radiating rafters Avere laid and fastened with grai:)evine or withes, and on the rafters four circles of poles. Then followed successive layers of interwoven sticks placed horizontally, another radiating, mats of rushes, dried grass, mud, and earth that had been taken from the exca- vation. One entrance Avas at the south end, through a long, descending tunnel; another, probably used only in certain ceremonies, was the smoke hole directly over the fire. At the rear the wall was prepared so that it could be readily pushed out to furnish an emergency exit. The posts were often crudely painted. (Fig. 19.) ... It is likely that important ceremonies, such as the ghost rite and Kuksu initia- tion, w^ere made in any one locality only at terms of some years, and were marked by the erection of a new dance house for the occasion. In the intervals, the community visited the performances of its neighbors and took part in them. "WHiether any fixed and accepted rotation ever grew out of this custom can not be atated. The practice of erecting new dance houses ac- counts for the number of pits on some village sites; lower Shanel shoAved five in 1873. Before a dance house was erected the dakoi^ or mourners of the year, were placated. The village chief received contributions of shell money for this purpose and added what he thought would make ;in appropriate total. After delay appropriate to the solemnity, the mourners were asked to assemble and formal presentation of the gift was made to the spokesman of the loudly wailing gathering. Each woman danced with the strings of beads, Avhich Avere then put aside to be offered to
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectethnolo, bookyear1901
