Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 7 1889.djvu/101

Rh When the collectors had gathered enough corn, honey, etc., they returned to the pryavt, who gave the parindyaits the sacred vats, and ordered them to brew the puré (beer). When he had fixed upon the three posanbunaveds, he gave them the money that had been collected to purchase a bull, sheep, goose, etc., for sacrifice, as the case might be.

The vosatya usually remained several years in office, as he had to know the ceremonial very accurately, and to repeat the prayers by heart, without mistake. While the preparations were being made he did not show himself in the street, and on the night before the festival went quietly to the Keremet, climbed up the sacred tree, and concealed himself among its foliage.

On the day of the festival the parindyaits set the vats in front of the sacred oak or lime tree, and poured puré (beer) into them. Two or three small barrels of beer were placed under the tree, beside the seat eventually occupied by the vosatya during the course of the ceremonies. The same persons also laid out on the ground baked bread, salt, and sometimes omelets. The Kashangorods fried the "parish omelets," and suspended them to the bars attached to the branches of the tree.

The people flocked to the place of sacrifice, the men, women, and girls keeping separate. The pryavt entered the Keremet first, and stationed himself in front of the vats. The people followed, the men placing themselves on the right, the women on the left, and behind them the girls. The women brought with them in frying-pans ready- made omelets and pies of millet groats.

All stood facing the west. The posanbunaveds led in the animals for sacrifice by the east gate, and tied them up to the three posts there. Then they led them across the Keremet and fastened them to the yuba posts, where they were slaughtered by the posanbunaveds, and the blood allowed to run into the pit below the stones. The hides were hung up to the ter shigat, or posts on the east side. While the animals were being flayed the yanbeds, bearing the sacred vats,