I fly around yellow,
I fly with the wild rose on my head,
I fly with the wild rose on my head,
On high—He′e′e′!
On high—He′e′e′!
The meaning of this song is not clear. It may refer to the Thunderbird or to the Crow, the sacred bird of the Ghost dance. The ye′nis or wild rose is much esteemed among the prairie tribes for its red seed berries, which are pounded into a paste and dried for food. It is frequently mentioned in the ghost songs, and is sometimes pictured on the ghost shirts. Although rather insipid, the berries possess nutritive qualities. They are gathered in winter, and are sometimes eaten raw, but more generally are first boiled and strained to get rid of the seeds. This dough-like substance is sometimes mixed with marrow from broken bones and pasted around sticks and thus roasted before the fire. It is never packed away for future use. The Cherokee call the same plant by a name which means “rabbit food,” on account of this animal’s fondness for the berries.
30. Niha′nata′yeche′ti
He′yoho′ho′! He′yoho′ho′!
Niha′nata′yeche′ti, na′naga′qanĕ′tihi,
Wa′waga′thänŭhu,