Fig. 165.—Song for Medicine Hunting.
a. Now I hear it, my friends of the Metai, who are sitting about me.
This and the three following are sung by the principal chief of the Metai, to the beat of his bwoin ah-keek, or drum. The line from the sides of the head of the figure indicate hearing.
b. Who makes this river flow? The Spirit, he makes this river flow.
The second figure is intended to represent a river, and a beaver swimming down it.
c. Look at me well, my friends; examine me, and let us understand that we are all companions.
This translation is by no means literal. The words express the boastful claims of a man who sets himself up for the best and most skillful in the fraternity.
d. Who maketh to walk about, the social people? A bird maketh to walk about the social people.
By the bird the medicine man means himself; he says that his voice has called the people together. Weej-huh nish-a-nauba, or weeja-nish-a-nau-ba seems to have the first syllable from the verb which means to accompany. The two lines drawn across, between this figure and the next, indicate that here the dancing is to commence.