FASTING.

§ 41. This topic naturally precedes that of visions or dreams about mystery, animals, and objects. Two Crows and Joseph La Flèche heard the following spoken of as an ancient custom. It was told them in their youth by some of the old men of that day, who had received it from their elders as having been practiced by the tribe for unnumbered generations. When old men had sons, sisters’ sons, or grandsons, who approached manhood, they used to direct those youths to abstain from food and drink, and to put clay on their faces, saying:

“Qaⁿxa´ʇa	xage´	maⁿȼiⁿ´i-gă.	Aⁿ´ba	ȼa´bȼiⁿ	du´ba	jaⁿ´	ʞĭ,	waȼáta-bajíi-gă,	kĭ ní	ȼataⁿ´-bajíi-gă.	Ȼiqu´bajĭ
Far away	crying	walk ye.	Day	three	four	sleep	if,	do not eat (pl.),	and water	do not drink (pl.)	You are not “qube”

cte´ctĕwaⁿ,

caⁿ´

Wakan´da

aká

uȼi´ʞaⁿ

tá aka.

Wa´ȼawaqpáni

maⁿɔniⁿ´i

ʞĭ,

waɔnáhaⁿ-de

ȼaxáxage

ʞĭ,

even if,

still

Wakanda

the sub.

he will

aid you.

You act as if poor

you walk

if,

you pray

when

you cry

uȼi´ʞaⁿ ta´ aka,”

he will aid you.

i. e., “Walk ye in remote places, crying to Wakanda. Neither eat nor drink for three or four days. Even though you do not acquire [personal mysterious power], Wakanda will aid you. If you act as poor men, and pray as you cry, he will help you.”

When their throats became dry, their voices gave out. When they had completed their fasts, they went home, being exceedingly emaciated. At that time they could not swallow solid food, so they were obliged to subsist on mush mixed with much water, till by degrees they became able to eat what they pleased. Many thought that this fasting enabled them to have superhuman communications with Wakanda.

Fasting was practiced at other times, but always in order to obtain superhuman assistance or to acquire a transfer of superhuman power. A Ponka war captain exhorted each of his followers thus: “Ahaú! Wackaⁿ´ egañ´-gă! Qu´bekiȼa´-bi ȼiⁿhe´!” i.e., “Oho! Do exert yourself! Be sure to make yourself the possessor of superhuman power by the aid of the animal that you have seen in your vision after fasting!”[39] Members of a small war party had to fast four days, counting from the time that they started on the warpath.[40] Before the large war party was formed to avenge the wrongs of Wabaskaha, the four prospective captains fasted.[41] When the Kansa captain fasted, he could not visit his family, but a small fasting lodge was erected for him at some distance from his own house.[42]