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Offering the Skin of a Stag to the Sun

Every year, just before spring, Chief Outina's subjects take the skin of the largest stag, with its horns still on, and stuff it with the choicest roots that grow there. On its horns, neck, and body they hang long garlands of the best fruits. Thus decorated, it is carried with music and song to an open, level place and hung on a high tree with its head and breast towards the sunrise.

They then pray to the sun that such good things as these offered may grow on their lands. The chief, with his sorcerer, stands near the tree and offers the prayer, while the common people, some distance away, make the responses. After the prayer they salute the sun and depart, leaving the deer's hide on the tree until the next year.

Monday, 15-May-95 14:17:42 PDT