Part 55 (1/2)

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Mi-de-we-te-we me-wa-gwi-shak-wa, mi-de-we-ta.

The day is clear; let us have the grand medicine.

[The Mides hand reaches to the sky, and rain falls at places other than upon the Midewign, as shown by rain lines from the end of the curved lines denoting the sky.]

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Me-shak-kwot dung-ke-he, ne-me-gis-sim.

I am the sign that the day will be clear.

[The Mides hand reaches to the sky, as indicated by the short transverse line, and the suns rays diverge in all directions.]

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Sun-gis-ni de-wit-ka-ne, he, wi-no-wo-he-she-wat man-i-do-wi-ts.h.i.+k.

I am the strongest medicine, is what is said of me.

[The speaker compares himself to Makwa Manido, the Bear Spirit.]

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Hwo-ba-mi-de, hwo-ba-mi-de, man-e-do na-wa-gi-zhik.

The spirit in the middle of the sky sees me.

[The upper spot denotes the abode of Kits.h.i.+ Manido, the line of vision extending to the speaker, shown at a corresponding spot below.]

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Ni-wi-we-wai-a-de hi-me nai-o-na.

I take my sack and touch him.

[The Mide will use his sacred Otter-skin sack to touch the candidate.]

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Man-i-do wi-kan-e, mi-de-yo.

My medicine is the sacred spirit.

[The Mide professes to have received the divine gift from Kits.h.i.+ Manido; the gifts are seen descending to the hand held up to receive them.]

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Ha-ni-ne ku-me ni-kan-ne?

How do you answer me, my Mide friends?

[This is addressed to the Mide priests (Nikani) present, and is an inquiry as to their willingness to proceed. The Midewign is shown, the line running horizontally through it the path of the candidate (or one who has gone through), the two spots within the place of the sacred stone and the post, while the spot to the right of the outside of the inclosure denotes the beginning, or the sweat-lodge, symbolizing the circle of the earth upon the Mide chart (Pl. III), those upon the left denoting the three possible degrees of advancement in the future.]

Upon the conclusion of the song there is a brief interval, during which all partake of a smoke in perfect silence, making the usual offerings to the four points of the compa.s.s, to Kits.h.i.+ Manido, and toward the earth.

The preceptor then says:

Mis-sai-a-s.h.i.+-gwa, mis-sa-a-s.h.i.+-gwa- non-do-nung; ka-ki-n Now is the time, now is the time he hears us; all of us

ka-kin-n-gi-non-do-dag-u-nan ga-o-s.h.i.+-dot mi-de-wi-win.

he hears us all the one who made the midewiwin.