The Midē´ priest second in rank then says to the candidate: Ke´-go-wi´-ka-za´-gi-to-wa´-kin ki-da´-no-ka´tshĭ-gân kai-ē´-gi-gīt´ a-sē´-ma, kai´-e-mī´-dzĭm, which signifies: “Never begrudge your goods, neither your tobacco, nor your provisions.” To this the candidate responds ēn´—yes, by this signifying that he will never regret what he has given the Midē´ for their services. The candidate remains standing while the members of the society take seats, after which he goes to the pile of blankets, skins, and other presents, and upon selecting appropriate ones for the officiating priests he carries them to those persons, after which he makes presents of less value to all other Midē´ present. Tobacco is then distributed, and while all are preparing to make an offering to Ki´tshi Man´idō of tobacco, the

newly accepted member goes around to each, member present, passes his hands downward over the sides of the Midē’s head and says:

Mi-gwĕtsh´ga´shi-tō´-winbi-ma´-dĭ-si-wīn´,
Thanksfor giving to melife,

then, stepping back, he clasps his hands and bows toward the Midē´, adding: Ni-ka´-ni, ni-ka´-ni, ni-ka´-ni, ka-na´,—“My Midē´ friend, my Midē´ friend, my Midē´ friend, friend.” To this the Midē´ responds in affirmation, hau´, ēn´—yes.

The new member then finds a seat on the southern side of the inclosure, whereupon the ushers—Midē´ appointed to attend to outside duties—retire and bring in the vessels of food which are carried around to various persons present, four distinct times.

The feast continues for a considerable length of time, after which the kettles and dishes are again carried outside the Midē´wi-gân, when all who desire indulge in smoking. Midē´ songs are chanted by one of the priests, the accompanying, reproduced pictorially in Pl. XIV C, being an example. The lines, as usual, are repeated ad libitum, the music being limited to but few notes, and in a minor key. The following are the words with translation:

Plate XIV.c. Mnemonic Song.

He´-ne-wi´-ani´-nami´-si-man´-i-dē-ge´
Their bodiesshine over the world
he-wa´-we-a´-ne-kan´.
unto me as unto you, my Midē´ friend.

This refers to the sun, and moon, whose bodies are united in thedrawing.

Ma´-na-wi-na´hai´-e-ne-hā´be-wa´-bik-kun
Your eyessee them botheyes made of iron,
kan-din´-a-we.
piercing eyes.

The figure is that of the crane, whose loud, far-reaching voice isindicated by the short lines radiating from the mouth. The eyes of thecrane Man´idō are equally penetrating.

Ta-be´-nĕ-wa´he-shi-wa´, hā´ma´-si-ni´-ni-he´-shi-wa´, hā´.
Calmit leads you toguides you to your food.

Knowledge of superior powers gained through familiarity with the ritesof the Midē´wiwin is here referred to. The figure points to the abode ofKi´tshi Man´idō; three short lines indicating three degrees in theMidē´wiwin, which the candidate has taken.

Ha-nin´-dihe-bik´-kĭn-he´man´-i-dōni-kan´
Whencedoes he risespiritMidē´ friend
wa-ba-nŭnk´,mi-dē´-man´-i-dōwa-ba-nŭnk´.
from the east,midē´ man´idōfrom the east.

[The hand reaches up as in making the gesture for rising sun or day, the“sky lines” leaning to the left, or east; one making signs is alwayspresumed to face the south, and signs referring to periods of day, sun,sunrise, etc., are made from the left side of the body.]

Rest.

Wa-dzhi-wan´, wa-dzhi-wan´-na,
Wa-dahi-wan´ ni-ka´-na-hē´.

There is a mountain, there is a mountain,
There is a mountain, my friends.

[The upright outline represents a mountain upon which a powerful Midē´is seated, symbolical of the distinction attainable by a Midē´.]

Wa´-bĕ-ku´ĕ-be-a´,wa´-bĕ-ku´-ĕ-be-a´,
Shot it was,shot it was
na´-bĕ-ku´-ĕ-be-a´man´-i-dō´-´anĭn-dē´.
and it hit body, yourman´idoyour heart.
man´-i-dō´-anin-dē´.
man´idoyour heart.

[The Mī´gis is represented in the illustration by the small rings; thearrow indicating that it was “shot” with velocity.]

Hwe´-kwo-nin´-na-ta, ki-wī´-kash´-ka-man;
En-do´-ge-mā´ wesh´-in-ē´.

What am I going around?
I am going around the Midē´wigân.

[The oblong structure represents the Midē´wigân. The otter-skin Midē´sack is taken around it, as is shown by the outline of that animal andthe line or course indicated. The Makwa´ Man´idō (bear spirit) is shownat the left, resting upon the horizontal line, the earth, below whichare magic lines showing his power, as also the lines upon the back ofthe bear. The speaker compares himself to the bear spirit.]

Nen´-do-ne´-ha-mān-ni´ nī´-ŏ,

What am I looking at.

The figure denotes a leg, signifying powers of transporting one’s selfto remote places; the magic power is indicated by the three transverselines and the small spots, the mī´gis, upon it.

Ba´bin-ke´-en non´-do-wa-wē´, hī´,

I soon heard him, the one who did not listen to them.

[The Midē´, as a superior personage, is shown by having the hornsattached to the head. The line of hearing has small rings, at intervals,indicating that something is heard.]

Hin´-ta-na´-wi ni-ka´-na-gi´, ē´, hē´,
pī´-na-nī´, hin´-ta-na´-wi ni-ka´-na-ga´ na´-ge-ka-na´ ē´, hē´.

The Nika´ni are finding fault with me, inside of my lodge.

[The arm at the side of the Midē´wigân points to the interior, the placespoken of.]

Onsh´-konsh-na-nā´ pi-na´-wanin-bosh´-i-na´-na.

With the bear’s claws I almost hit him.

The Midē´ used the bear’s claw to work a charm, or exorcism, and wouldseem to indicate that he claimed the powers of a Wâbĕnō´. The one spokenof is an evil man´idō, referred to in the preceding line, in which hespeaks of having heard him.