and such articles of beaded ornaments as he may possess. The preceptor and Midē´ priests are also clad in their finest apparel, each wearing one or two beaded dancing bags at his side, secured by a band of beaded cloth crossing the opposite shoulder. The members of the Midē´wiwin who are not directly concerned in the preliminaries resort to the Midē´wigân and take seats around the interior, near the wall, where they may continue to smoke, or may occasionally drum and sing. The drummer, with his assistants, takes a place near upon the floor of the sacred inclosure to the left of the eastern entrance, i.e., the southeast corner.
[ IMPLORATION FOR CLEAR WEATHER.]
Should the day open up with a threatening sky, one of the Midē´ priests accompanying the candidate sings the following song ([Pl. X, B]) to dispel the clouds. Each of the lines is repeated an indefinite number of times, and after being repeated once or twice is sung also by the others as an accompaniment.
It will be observed that the words as spoken vary to some extent when chanted or sung.
Plate X.b. Mnemonic Song.
| Hi-na-nē´, hē´, ki´-ne-na-wē´ man´-i-dō. I swing the spirit like a child. The Midē´ Spirit, showing magic lines radiating from his body. The Midē´ claims to be able to receive special favor. |
Ki´nana´wein, Ki´nana´wein, Ki´nana´wein, Man´ido´weēg;