SHIELD AND FETICH OF THE PRIESTHOOD OF THE BOW.
These fetiches—more usually of the Mountain Lion than of the others; very rarely of the Knife-feathered Demon—are constantly carried by the warriors when abroad in pouches like those of the Hunters, and in a similar manner. They are, however, not returned to the headquarters of the society when not in use; but, being regarded, with the other paraphernalia of their possessor, as parts of his Sá-wa-ni-k'ia, are always kept near him.
RESEMBLANCE TO THE PREY GODS OF THE HUNT.
The perfect fetich of this order differs but little from those of the Hunters, save that it is more elaborate and is sometimes supplied with a minute heart of turkois bound to the side of the figure with sinew of the Mountain Lion, with which, also, the arrow-point is invariably attached, usually to the back or belly. The precious beads of shell, turkois, coral, or black stone, varied occasionally with small univalves from the ocean, are bound over all with a cotton cord. These univalves, theoliva (tsu-i-ke-i-nan-ne=heartshell), are, above all other shells, sacred; and each is emblematic of a god of the order. The wrist badges of the members are also made of these shells, strung on a thong of buckskin taken from the enemy. The arrow-point, when placed on the back of the fetich, is emblematic of the Knife of War (Sá-wa-ni-k'ia ä′-tchi-ën-né), and is supposed, through the power of Sá-wa-ni-k'ia or the "magic medicine of war" (?) to protect the wearer from the enemy from behind or from other unexpected quarters. When placed "under the feet" or belly, it is, through the same power, considered capable of effacing the tracks of the wearer, that his trail may not be followed by the enemy.
THE RITES OF THEIR WORSHIP.
The ceremonial observed by a Priest of the Bow, when traveling alone in a country where danger is to be apprehended from the enemy, may be taken as most illustrative of the regard in which the fetiches of his order are held.
Under such circumstances the warrior takes out his fetich from the pouch, and, scattering a pinch or two of sacred flour toward each of the four quarters with his right hand, holds it in his left hand over his breast, and kneels or squats on the ground while uttering the accompanying prayer:
| Si! | Lú-k'ia | yät-ton-né, | hom | a-tä-tchú | K'ia-pin-á-hâ-i | lé-we | í-na-kwe | pó-ti-tap-té | hom | ton | té-hi-a-na-wé. | Ethl | tel-i-kwën-te | thlothl |
| Si! | This | day, | my | Fathers, | Animal Beings, | (all) thus much | (by) enemies | filled through | me | ye | precious render (all do). | Not | that (in any) way unexpected | soever |
| tchu-a | í-na-kwe | hom | kwa'-hothl | a-k'iá | a-tsu-ma-na-wam-i-k'ia-ná. | Lú-k'ia | yät-ton-né | hom | to | lé'-na |
| whom (of the) | enemy | my | whatsoever | with | daring (existence) (pl.) shall. | This | day | to me | ye | thus |