with the building, who are probably chosen to preserve order and to allow no intruders.  They are the assistants of the chief.  The invitation to attend was from one of them, and admission was given by the same.  These four wore black vests trimmed with red flannel and shell ornaments.  The chief made no special display on the occasion.  In addition to these four, who were officers of the assembly-chamber, there were an old man and a young woman, who seemed to be priest and priestess.  The young woman was dressed differently from any other, the rest dressing in plain calico dresses.  Her dress was white covered with spots of red flannel, cut in neat figure, ornamented with shells.  It looked gorgeous and denoted some office, the name of which I could not ascertain.  Before the visitors were ready to enter, the older men of the tribe were reclining around the fire smoking and chatting.  As the ceremonies were about to commence, the old man and young woman were summoned, and, standing at the end opposite the entrance, they inaugurated the exercises by a brief service, which seemed to be a dedication of the house to the exercises about to commence.  Each of them spoke a few words, joined in a brief chant, and the house was thrown open for their visitors.  They staid at their post until the visitors entered and were seated on one side of the room.  After the visitors then others were seated, making about 200 in all, though there was plenty of room in the center for the dancing.

Before the dance commented the chief of the visiting tribe made a brief speech in which he no doubt referred to the death of the chief of the Yo-kai-n, and offered the sympathy of his tribe in this loss.  As he spoke, some of the women scarcely refrained from crying out, and with difficulty they suppressed their sobs.  I presume that he proposed a few moments of mourning, for when he stopped the whole assemblage burst forth into a bitter wailing, some screaming as if in agony.  The whole thing created such a din that I was compelled to stop my ears.  The air was rent and pierced with their cries.  This wailing and shedding of tears lasted about three or five minutes, though it seemed to last a half hour.  At a given signal they ceased, wiped their eyes, and quieted down.

Then preparations were made for the dance.  One end of the room was set aside for the dressing-room.  The chief actors wens five men, who were muscular and agile.  They were profusely decorated with paint and feathers, while white and dark stripes covered their bodies.  They were girt about the middle with cloth of bright colors, sometimes with variegated shawls.  A feather mantle hung from the shoulder, reaching below the knee; strings of shells ornamented the neck, while their heads were covered with a crown of eagle feathers.  They had whistles in their months as they danced, swaying their heads, bending and whirling their bodies; every muscle seemed to be exercised, and the feather ornaments quivered