SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION—BUREAU OF ETHNOLOGY. THE SIA. BY MATILDA COXE STEVENSON. CONTENTS. Page. Introduction 9 Cosmogony 26 Cult societies 69 Theurgistic rites 73 Rain ceremonial of the Snake society 76 Rain ceremonial of the Giant society 91 Four-night ceremonial of the Giant society for the healing of a sick boy 97 Rain ceremonial of the Knife society 101 Society of the Quer´ränna 112 Rain ceremonial of the Quer´ränna society 113 Other societies 116 Society of the cougar 118 Society of Warriors 121 Songs 123 A rain song of the Shū´wi Chai´än (Snake society) A song of the Shū´wi Chai´än (Snake society) for healing the sick 125 A rain song of the Sko´yo Chai´än (Giant society) 126 A song of the Sko´yo Chai´än (Giant society) for healing the sick 127 A rain song of the His´tiän Chai´än (Knife society) 128 Portion of a rain song of the His´tiän Chai´än (Knife society) 129 A rain song of the Quer´ränna Chai´än 130 Prayer for sick infant 130 Childbirth 132 Mortuary customs and beliefs 143 Myths 146 The Coyote encounters disappointment 147 The Coyote and the Cougar 154 The Coyote and the Rattlesnake 156 The Skatona 157 ILLUSTRATIONS. Page. PL. I. A view of Sia, showing a portion of village in ruins 8 II. Plaza, Sia 10