38 SACS AND FOXES. 



On this occasion the spirits of all who have died through the year 

 (or since the holding of their annual ceremony) are relinquished to 

 the Great Spirit; and notwithstanding months may have elapsed since 

 death, the great principle of life, the spirit which never dies, does 

 not wing its flight to the land of the happy hunting-grounds until it 

 is set free by the potent charm of the medicine-man. 



The names of the deceased are called out, when the father or other 

 near relative steps forward, and in a long speech relates the war or 

 other exploits which distinguished him through life. The chiefs and 

 relatives endorse the recital with hearty grunts of approbation, and 

 the spirit, having been previously prepared with provisions for his 

 journey, is supposed to leave the body. 



The lodge consecrated to these mystic rites is made of rush-mats, 

 stretched over poles in the form of an arch, and fifty feet in length. 

 Appemus, the chief physic-maker, and his assistants, attired in the 

 robes of their office, dance through the lodge, holding in both hands, 

 in an horizontal position, a highly ornamented otter-skin medicine- 

 pouch. In the dance, the otter-skin is made to imitate the animal it 

 represents, and with its nose to the ground, and carefully up the 

 sides of the lodge, as in the act of scenting any thing that may affect 

 the charm of his medicine or offend the Great Spirit. The chiefs 

 seated in the lodge are often obliged to move their seats, as the 

 sagacious animal continues to scent the ground upon which they 

 sit, as if suspecting that something might be concealed. 



The dance is continued in a careful manner until the lodge is 

 thoroughly examined. During this part of the ceremony, the squaws, 

 gaily clad in embroidered dresses, are arranged around the interior 

 of the lodge, facing the centre, and dancing sideways in slow and 

 measured step, in time to the drum, which they accompany with 

 their voices. After the medicine-men are satisfied with the otter s 

 scenting of the lodge, they deposit their medicine-bags upon the 

 ground, and, apparently overcome with their efforts, fall prostrate, 

 writhing as if in great bodily pain; placing their hands on different 

 parts of the body, as the pain shifts from limb to limb, until, over 

 come by a severe fit of coughing, they vomit a white bean. With 

 this magical bean they perform wonderful cures and all the super 

 stitious rites of their profession on this occasion. 



All the medicine-men having procured the bean in like manner, 

 they take their medicine-bags, and with the bean in the palm of the 

 hand proceed around the lodge, and exhibit it to the chiefs and war 



