Plate XVI.c. Mnemonic Song.
| In´-do-nâ-gât in-da´-kwo-nan That which I live upon has been put on this dish by the spirit. Ki´tshi Man´idō provides the speaker with the necessary food for the maintenance of life. The dish, or feast, is shown by the concentric rings, the spirit’s arm is just below it. | |
| Mo´-ki-yan tshik´-ko-min´. I bring life to the people. The speaker, as the impersonator of the sacred Otter, brings life. The Otter is just emerging from the surface of the water, as he emerged from the great salt sea before the Âni´shi-nâ´beg, after having been instructed by Mi´nabō´zho to carry life to them. | |
| Ni´-no-mūn´ mash-ki´-ki I can also take medicine from the lodge, or the earth The Midē´’s arm is reaching down to extract magic remedies from the earth. The four spots indicate the remedies, while the square figure denotes a hole in the ground. | |
| Rest. During this interval the Midē´’s thoughts dwell upon the sacred character of the work in which he is engaged. | |
| Ni´-nin-dē´ in´-dai-yo´. It is all in my heart, the life. The concentric circles indicates the mī´gis, life, within the heart, the former showing radiating lines to denote its magic power. | |
| M´bi-mo´-se-an-kĭnk´. The spirit saw me and sent me medicine from above. The figure is that of Ki´tshi Man´idō, who granted power to the speaker. | |
| Dōn´-de-na mi-tĭz´-kŭnk. It is also on the trees, that from which I take life. The tree bears “medicine” which the speaker has at his command, and is enabled to use. |
When the ordinary course of treatment fails to relieve the patient the fact is made known to the Midē´ priests and he is consequently taken to the Midē´wigân and laid upon blankets so that part of his body may rest against the sacred midē´ stone. Associate Midē´ then attend, in consultation, with the Midē´-in-chief, the other members present occupying seats around the walls of the structure.
The accompanying lecture is then addressed to the sick person, viz:
Mi-shosh´-yâ-gwa´ ga´-a-nin-nan´ gi´-de-wēn´-du-nŭn ne´-tun-ga´-da-da-we´-in man´-i-dōmī´-gis. Kit´-ti-mâ´-gĭ-si ē´-ni-dau´-â-ya-we´-yĭn o-ma´-e-nâ´-sa-ba-bĭt bī-ĭ-sha´-gaban´-dĕ-a gi-bi´-sha-ban-da´-ĕt na-pĭsh-kâ-tshi-dŏsh ke´-a-yū´-ĭn-ki-go gŏt-tâ-sō-nĕn´, mi´-a-shi´-gwa-gō-dĭn´-na-wât dzhi-ma´-di-a-kad´-dŏ-yōn bi-mâ-di-si-wĭn´.
The following is a free translation of the above:
The time of which I spoke to you has now arrived, and you may deem it necessary to first borrow the sacred mī´gis. Who are you that comes here as a supplicant? Sit down opposite to me, where I can see you and speak to you, and fix your attention upon me, while you receive life you must not permit your thoughts to dwell upon your present condition, but to support yourself against falling into despondency.
Now we are ready to try him; now we are ready to initiate him.
The reference to borrowing a mī´gis signifies that the patient may have this mysterious power “shot into his body” where he lies upon the ground and before he has arrived at the place where candidates are properly initiated; this, because of his inability to walk round the inclosure.