Every night the usual program is repeated until the ninth. On this night a new fire is kindled with the sacred pump-drill called _tuⁿdaʹi wäheⁿʹji manĭʹtowŭk_ or “Fire maker of the Manĭʹtos” (fig. 8), and the ashes of the old are carried out through the west door of the Big House, which is used only for this purpose (among the Unami), and is usually kept closed. The new fire seems to symbolize a fresh start in all the affairs of life. USE OF CARVED DRUMSTICKS Also on the ninth night, before the singing begins, they bring out the two ancient drumsticks (_pa kŭⁿdiʹgŭn_) carved with tiny human heads, one male and one female (fig. 11), to use in place of the cruder sticks used before, which are marked only with a rude cross (fig. 12, _a_). At this time, also, twelve prayersticks (_ma‛tehiʹgun_) are distributed—six plain and six striped ones (fig. 12, _b_)—by two of the male attendants, each with six, one man starting from each end of the Big House and proceeding in a trot to distribute the sticks while the drum is beaten, and the people, holding up their hands, cry the prayer word “_Ho-o-o!_” [Illustration: FIG. 11.—Sacred drumsticks, used at the Annual Ceremony in Oklahoma. (Length of _a_, 18.6 in.) FIG. 12.—_a_, Plain drumstick used at the Annual Ceremony; _b_, Prayerstick. (Length of _b_, 18.9 in.)] Both drumsticks and prayersticks are used every night from this time on. If it so happens that the plain sticks do not fall opposite each other (or on opposite sides of the house), they must all be picked up again and redistributed. After this, those who have received a stick raise that instead of their hand, when they repeat the prayer word “_Ho-o-o!_” and carry it when they dance. TURTLE RATTLES At this time, too, all who own turtle rattles such as are used in singing the visions (fig. 9), are requested to bring them in to the meeting, when they are placed in a row on the north side, in front of the man who, as the Indians phrase it, “brought on the meeting.” The backs of the turtleshells are all measured with strings of wampum, which are cut off in lengths corresponding with the lengths of the backs. Then the owners are called to get their turtles and wampum, which is supposed to be their pay for bringing them to the meeting. As each takes up his turtle, he shakes it, and if it does not sound well, then the people laugh, and the owner, abashed, takes his property out of sight as soon as possible. PHRATRY PRAYERS Then they call up six men, two from each of the three phratries—Turtle, Turkey, and Wolf. Each goes outside and cries the prayer word “_Ho-o-o!_” twelve times, holding up his left hand. When the first one returns, he is given one yard of wampum, and divides it with the other five. This is done each night until the end. WOMEN’S NIGHT [Illustration: FIG. 13.—Paint-dish of bark, used at the Annual Ceremony. (Length, 2.2 in.)]