No Klamath or Modoc sweat-lodge can be properly called a
sweat-_house_, as is the custom throughout the West. One kind of these
lodges, intended for the use of mourners only, are solid structures,
almost underground; three of them are now in existence, all believed
to be the gift of the principal national deity. Sudatories of the
other kind are found near every Indian lodge, and consist of a few
willow-rods stuck into the ground, both ends being bent over. The
process gone through while sweating is the same in both kinds of
lodges, with the only difference as to time. The ceremonies mentioned
4-13. all refer to sweating in the mourners' sweat-lodges. The
sudatories of the Oregonians have no analogy with the _estufas_ of
the Pueblo Indians of New Mexico, as far as their construction is
concerned.
586, 1. lápa spû'klish, two sweat-lodges, stands for two _kinds_ of
sweat-lodges.
586, 5. shashámoks=lólatko forms _one_ compound word: one who, or:
those who have lost relatives by death; cf. ptísh=lûlsh, pgísh=lûlsh;
hishuákga ptísh=lúlatk, male orphan whose father has died. In the
same manner, ḵĕlekátko stands here as a participle referring
simultaneously to híshuaksh and to snáwedsh wénuitk, and can be
rendered by "_bereaved_". Shashámoks, distr. form of shá-amoks,
is often pronounced sheshámaks. Túmi etc. means, that many others
accompany to the sweat-lodge, into which about six persons can crowd
themselves, bereaved husbands, wives or parents, because the deceased
were related to them.
586, 7. Shiúlakiank etc. For developing steam the natives collect
only such stones for heating as are neither too large nor too small;
a medium size seeming most appropriate for concentrating the largest
amount of heat. The old sweat-lodges are surrounded with large
accumulations of stones which, to judge from their blackened exterior,
have served the purpose of generating steam; they weigh not over 3 to
5 pounds in the average, and in the vicinity travelers discover many
small cairns, not over four feet high, and others lying in ruins.
The shrubbery around the sudatory is in many localities tied up with
willow wisps and ropes.
586, 11. Spukli-uápka mā'ntch means that the sweating-process is
repeated many times during the five days of observance; they sweat at
least twice a day.
* * * * *