One of the most astonishing tests, however, and one that can be produced only by Midē´ of the highest power, consists in causing a Midē´ sack to move upon the ground as if it were alive. This, it is confidently alleged, has been done repeatedly, though it is evident that the deception is more easily produced than in the above-mentioned instances, as the temporary retention within a bag of a small mammal could readily be made to account for the movements.
In most of these private exhibitions the light is so obscured as to prevent the deception being observed and exposed; and when public demonstrations of skill are made the auditors invariably consist of the most credulous of the uninitiated, or the confréres of the performer, from whom no antagonism or doubt would be expected.
The preceptor then consults with the Midē´ priests respecting the presents to be delivered by the candidate, and repeats the following words, viz:
| Mis-shai´-ĕ-gwa | tshi-dĕ-bŏg-in-de-mung´. | gi´-she-gŏ-dung´ |
| Now is the time | that we shall fix the price | of everything pertaining to the sky, |
| ka-mi´-nĕ- | nŏngk | gi´-she-goy-dŭng´ | di´-bi-ga-dōnk´ gai-yé´. | |
| that has been | given to us | from the day | [and] | the night also. |
| A-pē´-gĕ-dá´wŭnk | i´-wa-pī | ge-bin´-de-ga-yŏngk´, |
| When it shall come to pass | and at the time | that we shall enter, |
| ă-au´-wa-mi-dē´-wĭd. |
| he who wishes to become a Midē´. |
When the four vapor baths have been taken by the candidate, and the eve of the ceremony has arrived, he remains in the sudatory longer than usual so as not to come in contact with the large crowd of visitors who have arrived upon the scene. The woods resound with the noises incident to a large camp, while in various directions may be heard the monotonous beating of the drum indicating the presence of a number of dancers, or the hard, sharp taps of the midē´ drum, caused by a priest propitiating and invoking the presence and favor of Ki´tshi Ma´nidō in the service now so near at hand.
When the night is far advanced and all becomes hushed, the candidate, with only the preceptor accompanying, retires to his own wig´iwam, while the assistant Midē´ priests and intimate friends or members of his family collect the numerous presents and suspend them from the transverse and longitudinal poles in the upper part of the Midē´wigân. Watchers remain to see that nothing is removed during the night.
At the approach of day, the candidate breakfasts and again returns to the sweat-lodge to await the coming of his preceptor, and, later, of the officiating priests. The candidate puts on his best clothing