Ṭa I-ni-ḳa-shi-ga, the Deer People: Only a fee is sent to them. The members will recite their Wa-dsu´-ṭa I-hi-thoⁿ-be Wi´-gi-e, which tells of the various places of the earth where the deer will reveal themselves to the little ones to give them help to reach old age. (See 36th Ann. Rept. Bur. Amer. Ethn., p. 97, lines 44 to 103.)

When the Sho´-ḳa had delivered the last fee every Noⁿ´-hoⁿ-zhiⁿ-ga who knows his wi´-gi-e begins to recite it in a loud voice. None of the wi´-gi-es are alike and none of the members of a gens recite in unison, consequently there would be a volume of sounds most bewildering to the uninitiated.

Zha´-zhe Ḳi-ṭoN Wi´-gi-e

The wi´-gi-e recited by the members of the Iⁿ-gthoⁿ´-ga gens at this time is called Zha´-zhe Ḳi-ṭoⁿ Wi´-gi-e, freely translated, the Name Wi´-gi-e. It is in three parts. The first, which includes sections 1 to 8, is called Zha´-zhe Ḳi-ṭoⁿ, the taking of names; the second, which includes sections 9 and 10, is called U´-noⁿ U-tha-ge, the telling of the means by which to reach old age; the third, which includes sections 11 and 12, is called U´-noⁿ-bthe U-gi-dse, the story of the search for the life-giving foods.

NAME-TAKING WI´-GI-E
(FREE TRANSLATION)
1

1. Verily, at that time and place, it has been said, in this house,
2. The Hoⁿ´-ga, a people who possess seven fireplaces
3. Spake to one another, saying: O, younger brothers,
4. The little ones have become persons,
5. Should not the little ones go below to become a people? they said to one another.
6. Then, at that very time,
7. They said: There are four great gods
8. To whom we shall appeal for aid.
9. Verily at that time,
10. They spake to the god of day (the sun) saying:
11. O, my grandfather,
12. Our little ones have become persons,
13. Should they not go below (to the earth) to become a people?
14. At that very time
15. The god of day replied: You say the little ones should go below to become a people,
16. When the little ones go below to become a people,
17. They shall always live to see old age, as they travel the path of life.

2

18. Verily, at that time and place, it has been said, in this house,
19. They said: The little ones shall go below to become a people.
20. Then again they spake to the god of day, saying: The little ones have no names, O, grandfather.
21. The god of day replied: O, little ones,
22. You say your little ones have no names,
23. Your little ones shall be named after me,
24. Mi´-wa-ga-xe, Child-of-the-sun,
25. The little ones shall take, as they travel the path of life.
26. When they take this for a personal name,
27. They shall always live to see old age, as they travel the path of life.

3

28. What shall the little ones take for a personal name? it has been said,
29. Moⁿ-çi´-tse-xi, Sacred-arrowshaft,
30. The little ones shall take for a name, as they travel the path of life.
31. When they take this for a personal name,
32. They shall always live to see old age, as they travel the path of life.