The sacrifice was made to the morning star, “O-pir-i-kut,” which, with the Ski-di, especially, was an object of superstitious veneration.  It was always about corn-planting time, and the design of the bloody ordeal was to conciliate that being and secure a good crop; hence it has been supposed that the morning star was regarded by them as presiding over agriculture, but it was not so.  They sacrificed to that star simply because they feared it, imagining that it exerted a malign influence if not well disposed.  The sacrifice, however, was not an annual one; it was only made when special occurrences were interpreted as calling for it.  The victim was usually a girl, or young woman, taken from their enemies.  The more beautiful the unfortunate was, the more acceptable the offering.  When it had been determined in a council of the band to make the sacrifice, the person was selected, if possible, some months beforehand, and placed in charge of the medicine-men, who treated her with the utmost kindness.  She was fed plentifully that she might become fleshy, and kept in entire ignorance of her impending doom.  During this time she was made to eat alone, lest having by chance eaten with any one of the band, she would by the law of hospitality become that person’s guest, and he be bound to protect her.  On the morning of the day finally fixed for the ordeal, she was led from lodge to lodge throughout the village, begging wood and paint, not knowing that these articles were for her own immolation.  Whenever a stick of wood or portion of red or black paint was given her, it was taken by the medicine-men attending, and sent to the spot selected for the final rite.  A sufficient quantity of these materials having been collected, the ceremony was begun by a solemn conclave of all the medicine-men.  Smoking the great medicine pipe, displaying the contents of the medicine bundle, dancing, praying, etc., were repeated at different stages of the proceedings.  A framework of two posts, about four and a half feet apart, was set in the ground, and to them two horizontal crosspieces, at a height of two and seven feet, were firmly fastened.  Between the posts a slow fire was built.  At nightfall the victim was disrobed and the torture began.  After the sickening sight had continued long enough, an old man, previously appointed, discharged an arrow at the heart of the unfortunate, and freed her from further torture.  The medicine-men forthwith cut open the chest, took out the heart, and burned it.  The smoke rising from the fire in which it was burning was supposed to possess wonderful virtues, and implements of war, hunting, and agriculture were passed through it to insure success in their use.  The flesh was hacked from the body, buried in the corn patches, thrown to the dogs, or disposed of in any way that caprice might direct.  The skeleton was allowed to remain in position till, loosened by decay, it fell to the ground.[44]