THEIR CUSTODIAN.
Although these fetiches are thus often individual property, members of the Sá-ni-a-k'ia-kwe, and of the Eagle and Coyote gentes, as well as priests included in the Prey God Brotherhood, are required to deposit their fetiches, when not in use, with the "Keeper of the Medicine of the Deer" (Nál-e-ton í-lo-na), who is usually, if not always, the head member of the Eagle gens.
It rests with these memberships and these alone to perfect the fetiches when found, and to carry on at stated intervals the ceremonials and worship connected with them.
When not in use, either for such ceremonials or for the hunt, these tribal fetiches are kept in a very ancient vessel of wicker-work, in the House of the Deer Medicine (Nál-e-ton ín-kwïn), which is usually the dwelling place of the keeper.
THE RITES OF THEIR WORSHIP.
THE DAY OF THE COUNCIL OF THE FETICHES.
The principal ceremonial connected with the worship of the Prey Beings takes place either a little before or after the winter solstice or national New Year.
This is due to the fact that many of the members of the above-mentioned associations also belong to other societies, and are required on the exact night of the New Year to perform other religious duties than those connected with the fetich worship. Hence, the fetiches or gods of prey have their special New Year's day, called Wé-ma-a-wa ú-pu-k'ia té-wa-ne ("The day of the council of the fetiches").
On this occasion is held the grand council of the fetiches. They are all taken from their place of deposit and arranged, according to species and color, in front of a symbolic slat altar on the floor of the council chamber in a way I have attempted to indicate, as far as possible, by the arrangement of the figures on the plates, the quadrupeds being placed upright, while the Eagles and other winged fetiches are suspended from the rafters by means of cotton cords. Busily engaged in observing other ceremonials and debarred from actual entrance, until my recent initiation into the Priesthood of the Bow, I have unfortunately never witnessed any part of this ceremonial save by stealth, and cannot describe it as a whole. I reserve the right, therefore, to correct any details of the following at some future day.