This arrangement corresponded closely to the degree of importance of the various officers, or rather to their assumed proximity to the higher powers under whose protection the tribe believed itself to be placed.  The tapop, as chairman of the meeting, occupied the middle, together with the principal religious functionaries,—­the yaya, or mothers of the tribe.  On the outer circumference were placed the nashtio, or fathers, the delegates of the clans.  The Koshare Naua and his colleague of the Cuirana held an intermediate position.  Topanashka, as military head, and the assistant governor, who had neither voice nor vote, sat beside the entrance, guarding it.  A lieutenant of the maseua crouched outside to prevent the approach of eavesdroppers.

As soon as the rustling noise occasioned by so many people taking their seats in a small room had subsided, the Hishtanyi Chayan again seized the two basalt plates and caused them to ring.  When the metallic sound was heard, everybody became very quiet; and not one of the twenty-three men that composed the meeting moved.  All maintained the deepest silence, fastening their eyes on the ground.  The shaman scattered sacred meal to the six regions, then he raised his eyes to the ceiling, and finally turned to the three caciques with the formal greeting, “Guatzena, yaya!” then to the others, with “Guatzena, nashtio!”

Raising both hands upward, he pronounced the following prayer:—­

“Raua P[=a]yatyama our father, Sanatyaya our mother, Maseua, Oyoy[=a]u[=a]!  You all, the Shiuana all, the Kopishtai all,—­all, raua!  Hear what we shall speak, witness all our deeds.  Make wise the heart, cunning the ear, bright the eyes, and strong the arm.  Give us wisdom and goodness, that our hearts may listen ere we say ‘yes,’ ‘no,’ or ‘perhaps.’  Assist your children, help the Zaashtesh, that they may remain united among themselves, wise, far-seeing, and strong.  We call upon you, the Shiuana, the kopishtai; whisper to us good thoughts and guide us to the right.  To you, P[=a]yatyama, Sanatyaya, Maseua,—­to all of you we pray.  Raua, raua!  Ho-[=a], ho-[=a], raua!”

Again the speaker scattered yellow meal in front of the principal penitent, who only bowed in a dignified manner in response.  The remainder of the assembly uttered an affirmative “[=A], [=a],” and one after the other rose and deposited sacrificial meal before the cacique.  When each of them had resumed his seat, the Hishtanyi Chayan turned to the tapop and looked inquiringly.

Hoshkanyi Tihua assumed an air of solemn importance, for he was to play a prominent role.  He glanced around the circle pompously; but when his eye caught the cold gaze of Topanashka he felt almost a chill, and shrank to natural and more modest proportions.  He looked quickly in the direction where Tyope was sitting; but the delegate from Shyuamo hanutsh held his face covered with both hands, and did not notice the pleading look of the little governor.  So the latter began in an unsteady tone,—­