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.
The last sentence is spoken to the assisting Midē´. The following song is sung, the mnemonic characters pertaining thereto being reproduced on [Pl. XVI, D].
Plate XVI.d. Mnemonic Song.
O-da´-pi-nŭng´-mung oâ´-ki-wen´-dzhi man´-i-dō we´-an-ĭ-win´-zhi-gu-sân´.
We are going to take the sacred medicine out of the ground.
[The speaker refers to himself and the assistants as resorting to
remedies adopted after consultation, the efficiency thereof depending
upon their combined prayers. The arm is represented as reaching for a
remedy which is surrounded by lines denoting soil.]
We-a´-ki man´-i-dō we-an-gwĭs´.
The ground is why I am a spirit, my son.
The lower horizontal line is the earth, while the magic power which he
possesses is designated by short vertical wavy lines which reach his
body.
Rest.
Nish´-u-we-ni-mi´-qu nish´-u-we-ni-mi´-qu we´-gi ma´-ŏ-dzhig´.
The spirits have pity; the spirits have pity on me.
The Midē´ is supplicating the Midē´ spirits for aid in his wishes to
cure the sick.
Kish´-u-we-ni-mi´-qu ki´-shi´-gŭng don´-dzhi-wa´-wa-mĭk.
The spirits have pity on me; from on high I see you.
The sky is shown by the upper curved lines, beneath which the Midē´ is
raising his arm in supplication.
Man´-i-dō´-â ni´-o.
My body is a spirit.
The Midē´ likens himself to the Bear Man´idō, the magic powers of which
are shown by the lines across the body and short strokes upon the
back.
Pi-ne´-si-wi-ân´ ke-ke´-u-wi-an´.
A little bird I am: I am the hawk.
Like the thunderer, he penetrates the sky in search of power and
influence.
Man´-i-dō´ nu´-tu wa´-kan.
Let us hear the spirit.
The Ki´tshi Man´idō is believed to make known his presence, and all are
enjoined to listen for such intimation.
Ka´-nun-ta´-wa man´-i-dō´ wi´-da-ku-ē´, hē´, ki´-a-ha-mī´.
You might hear that he is a spirit.
The line on the top of the head signifies the person to be a superior
being.
Ka´-ke-na gus-sâ´ o´-mi-si´-nī´ na´-ēn.
I am afraid of all, that is why I am in trouble.
The Midē´ fears that life can not be prolonged because the evil man´idōs
do not appear to leave the body of the sick person. The arm is shown
reaching for mī´gis, or life, the strength of the speaker’s, having
himself received it four times, does not appear to be of any avail.
Should the patient continue to show decided symptoms of increased illness, the singing or the use of the rattle is continued until life is extinct, and no other ceremony is attempted; but if he is no worse after the preliminary course of treatment, or shows any improvement, the first attendant Midē´ changes his songs to those of a more boastful character. The first of these is as follows, chanted repeatedly and in a monotonous manner, viz:
