196 SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION" 



location, in connection with a study of Chippewa music and, by a 

 further coincidence, the donor of the drum on both occasions was 

 White Feather of Lac du Flambeau. This afforded an opportunity 

 for comparing the two performances, and it was noted that the 

 ceremony of 1928 was given by a smaller number of people but with 

 no diminution of fervor and apparent sincerity. The writer found 

 former acquaintances among the Chippewa who assisted her in fol- 

 lowing the details of the ceremony. Assistance was also received from 

 the Menominee, especially from Rattlesnake, who acted as manager of 

 the event. 



The drum is said to be the property of the tribe but is in charge 

 of one man, known as the " drum owner." The Menominee recipient 

 of the drum was John P. ]\Iatchokemon. It will be his duty to keep 

 tobacco beside the drum and to hold frequent meetings at which the 

 ethical teachings of the " drum religion " are set forth. 



The ceremony was held in the enclosure shown in figure 168, a 

 space for the drum being in the center. In this dance the women 

 sing with the men, holding their hands or shawls over their mouths 

 (fig. 169). They sit in a circle behind the men at the drum. This is a 

 custom of the Sioux, from whom the drum is said to have been 

 received. 



On the second day of the gathering an interesting rite was per- 

 formed for " restoring the mourners," this terminating the period of 

 mourning by those who had lost relatives during the preceding year. 

 The mourners were seated at the left of the drum (fig. i/i). Each 

 had an attendant and, while the proper songs were sung, the faces 

 of the mourners were washed, their hair was smoothly combed and 

 thev were arrayed in fresh raiment. Their faces were painted with 

 red paint, ril)bons were tied on the hair of the women and bead chains 

 were hung about their necks. Gifts of clothing and blankets were 

 piled in front of them and later they were led somewhat reluctantly 

 to seats near the drum. In the midst of so much attention they sat 

 with downcast eyes, but after this rite they were not expected to 

 show signs of grief. 



On the third day the Chippewa were engaged in teaching the cere- 

 monial songs to the Menominee and small drums were used, only a 

 few persons dancing (fig. i/O). 



On the fourth and last day the large drum was taken from the 

 house of its new custodian (fig. 172) and placed on the ground a short 

 distance in front of his door. There the final songs were sung by 

 both tribes. The writer heard the songs and saw the drum carried 



