Use of Cowry-shells for Currency, Amutlets, etc. 185 
that which came into their possession through the hero- 
god Minabo'zho. 
The initiation ceremonies of these Indians are very 
elaborate: the most important incidents are dancing and 
the shooting forward by the medicine men of their skin 
medicine-bags containing the sacred cowries. Mystic 
powers are attributed to the shells, and it is firmly believed 
that if they be swallowed by the medicine man, he can 
transfer his power to the medicine-bag by breathing on 
it, the mysterious influence being then conveyed to the 
desired object or person merely by thrusting the bag for- 
ward in the appropriate direction. At the initiation 
ceremonies the magic influence is shot at the candidate’s 
breast, and the cowry—the symbol of life—is supposed to 
enter his heart ; he becomes unconscious and falls forward 
on his)face. Ehe chief medicine man then raises the 
candidate’s head slightly from the ground, and a sacred 
cowry drops from the candidate’s mouth. 
The same cowries apparently play an important part 
at baptismal ceremonies of the Ojibwa. There is much 
dancing and the same shooting forward of the medicine 
bags, and after a good deal of facial contortion each 
medicine man spits out two shells on to a cloth spread in 
the middle of the medicine tent.” 
The essential part of these ceremonies is the supposed 
death and survival of the candidate, the whole ceremonial 
being strongly reminiscent of the St. George, or Mummers’, 
Plays of the Old World."* It is remarkable how closely 
the prevailing idea of the cowries being connected in some 
strange manner with resurrection and resuscitation agrees 
‘sv James Greenwood, ‘* Curiosities of Savage Life,” London, 1863, 
ps 24: 
‘Ss For a full discussion of this subject see A. Beatty, ** The St. 
George, or Mummers’ Plays; A Study in the Protology of the’ Drama,” 
Trans. Wisc. Acad. Sci. Arts and Letters, xv., pt. ii., Oct., 1906. 
