_ī´dam ke._--Little could be learned of the ī´dam dance, except that it was danced by men, with women participating in the singing. One unique feature was that while it was in progress no one in the village might keep water in his house. Also if any one ate meat during a ceremony in which this dance was used he would become insane and could be cured only through the ministrations of the chief dancer of the ī´dam. While no further evidence was obtained in substantiation, these facts point to the existence of an esoteric society connected with this dance. One informant maintained that the last man who knew the details of this dance died some years ago. _xo ke._--The xo ke, or fire dance, was held at any desired time during a ceremony. It usually followed the feast of welcome, as it may be called, which was tendered the guests immediately after their arrival. It required no special paraphernalia. In fact, it amounted to little more than a regular sweat-bath, such as was taken in the sudatory,[26] except that it was on a larger and more elaborate scale. _xahlū´īgak ke._--See under Ghost Ceremony, above. _gū´ksū ke._--See under Gū´ksū Ceremony, above. DANCES IN WHICH ONLY WOMEN PERFORMED Two dances are still remembered which come under this heading. They are the ma´_t_a and the lo´le. _ma´ta ke._--One man acted as master of ceremonies and another sang to the accompaniment of a cocoon rattle. The dancers painted the cheeks and lower part of the face black and then scratched vertical lines in the paint. The only headdress worn was the yellowhammer-feather forehead-band. In each hand was held a small green branch. The arms hung down, but with a flexure at the elbow which brought these green sprigs directly in front of the dancer. The dancers formed a line and danced back and forth sidewise over a short, straight course. This is one of the very few dances which may yet be seen, though in a modernized form, at Fourth of July celebrations. _lo´le ke._--As before, a man acted as master of ceremonies and another man sang, accompanying himself with the cocoon rattle. The informant was not certain just what kind of costume was worn, but knew that no paint was employed. ADDITIONAL DANCES The names of several other dances are remembered, but nothing in regard to detail. These are mo´mīmomī, _toto_, ta´ūgū, badjū´ca, and sīta´iya. The last of these was said by one informant to make up, along with the gī´lak and hō´hō and dūtū´ka dances, a special ceremony, about which nothing further is known. FOOTNOTES: [24] Any dance formula such as this was called _bakū´mhwakil_ (E). [25] The general term xe´ dakōik (E), signifying anything held in the hand while dancing, is applied to this staff. [26] See the article on "Pomo Buildings," in the _Holmes Anniversary Volume_, mentioned above. THE MESSIAH CULT