20 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 45 



The drum and voice are usually independent in metric units, the 

 drum being a rapid unaccented beat and the voice having a rhythm 

 which bears a relation to the mental concept of the song. 



The intonation has been shown to be frequently variable for two 

 reasons : First in imitation of the motion of the body in dancing, and 

 second for the apparent purpose of ornamentation. 



No effort has been made by the writer to secure the "bad medicine 

 songs" or songs of cursing. One who has heard a large number of 

 these songs states that they are terrible in their maledictions and 

 represent a phase of life and thought which it were better to leave 

 untouched. They are the weapons of defense in the Mkle', and all 

 that is believed to have been Avrought through them will ever be an 

 unwritten page. 



Use of Medicine 



The power of the Mide' is exerted through a combination of two 

 mediums, music and medicine. The former has been set forth in 

 detail; the latter is less available for analysis, but certain informa- 

 tion concerning it has been secured. 



The medicine and medicine practice of the Mde' should be dis- 

 tinguished from that of the dja'sakid, who are doctors or jugglers. 

 That they may also be members of the Mide'wiwin does not change 

 the fact that the two professions are distinct. 



The use of medicine in connection with the Mde' is as follows: 

 Each member of the Mide'wiwni carries in his Mide' bag many herbs 

 and other substances supposed to have medicinal value, in addition 

 to the mi'gis (small white shells used in the Mide')- If a cure of the 

 sick is desired he frequently mixes and sells a medicine after singing 

 the song which will make it effectual. 



In the working of a charm it is considered necessary to use both the 

 proper song and the proper medicine. For that reason a small 

 quantity of the medicine is furnished to a person who buys such a 

 song. To accomplish the desired results this medicine should, if 

 possible, come in contact either with the person to be influenced, 

 with some of his personal possessions, or with a small wooden effigy, 

 which the person working the charm makes for the purpose. The 

 medicine may consist of one or more ingredients and may be of 

 greater or less value. Certain herbs enter into the composition of 

 many medicines, while others are rare and difficult to obtain. 



In the working of a love charm it is customary to obtain a thread 

 from the clothing of one of the persons to be affected, or, if possil)le, a 

 loose hair. Two small wooden effigies are made, one representing 

 a man, the other a woman, and the person working the charm 

 binds these together with the thread or hair. The effigies arc then 

 placed in a small bag, with some of the proper medicuie. This bag 



