of the Western Clouds.  It was not large, but the many singular ceremonial objects, of all shapes and colours, accumulated within it, made a strange impression upon me.  There were great numbers of ceremonial arrows, many with diminutive deer-snares attached, to pray for luck in hunting; as well as votive bowls, gods’ eyes, and many other articles by which prayers are expressed.  In one corner was a heap of deer-heads, brought for the same purpose.  As my companion entered, a rat disappeared in the twilight of the cave.

I wanted to take some samples of the articles, but he begged me not to do it, as the poor fellows who had sacrificed the things might be cheated out of the benefits they had expected from them.  He had, however, no objection to nay taking a small rectangular piece of textile fabric, with beautifully colored figures on it.  “This is a back shield,” he said, “and the Huichols do not do right by those things.  They place them in the trails leading out of their country, to prevent the rain from coming to us.  Lions and other ferocious animals are often represented on them, and they frighten the rain back.”

On our return to the dancing-place I found the man who had been deputed to make the god’s eye lying in a small cave in quite an exhausted condition, having fasted for many days.  The ceremonial object had already been made, under incantations.  It was very pretty, white and blue, and had a wad of cotton attached to each corner.  Its efficacy was, however, lost as far as I was concerned, as I had not been sitting beside the man while he made it, praying for what I wanted.  This is a necessary condition if the Morning Star is to be made to understand clearly what the supplicant needs.

On the altar, beside the sacred bowl of the community, had been placed food and many ceremonial objects, not omitting the five ears of seed-corn to be used in raising the corn required for the feasts.  In the ground immediately in front of the altar were four bunches of the beautiful tail-feathers of the bluejay.

Opposite to this, on the west side of the place, was another altar, a smaller one, on which had been put some boiled pinole in potsherds, with tortillas and a basket of cherries.  This was for the dead, who if dissatisfied might disturb the feast.  Afterward the pinole is thrown on the ground, while the people eat the rest of the food.

The fasting shaman came forth on our arrival and took his position opposite the main altar, talking to the gods for half an hour.  The newly made god’s eye had been stuck into the ground in front of him.  On his left side stood the little girl, and behind her the old woman, her guardian, and a man, who was smoking tobacco.  Two young men, one at the right, the other at the left, held in their hands sticks with which they woke up people who fell asleep during the night while the dance was going on.