44 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 45 



describe this ejaculation, which is not loud but very forceful, with a 

 peculiar throbbing tone. It is exceedingly impressive, and the hearer 

 can not fail to realize that the entire power of the speaker is being 

 projected toward the person under treatment, whether that treat- 

 ment be intended to remove some inner defect, as in the Mide' 

 ceremonies, or to cure some bodily ailment, as in the treatment of the 

 sick. 



When the ne'mita'maM' ''shoots" the candidate for initiation 

 the man is said to feel the force of it in some part of his body and in- 

 dicates his responsiveness by laying his hand on his shoulder, knee, or 

 whatever part may be affected. The ne'mita'mauii' then passes along 

 the northern side of the lodge and takes his place at the end of the line. 



The man next to him does precisely what he has done, and is followed 

 by the others, who in turn take their places at the end of the line. 

 After each ''shooting" the candidate indicates in what part of his 

 body he feels the effect. 



This "shooting" draws heavily on the resources of the person 

 performing it and is very exhausting. A man often calls upon his 

 brethren to assist him. They do not leave their places but are 

 expected to exert their power in his behalf. A woman frequently 

 finds herself unequal to the exertion, although she has been ap- 

 pointed one of the initiators. In that case she may ask a man to take 

 her place by doing the more exhausting portion of the work. She 

 breathes on her medicine bag and hands it to him for his use. 

 They move forward together, he walking close behind her, uttering 

 the ejaculations and moving the medicine bag in the prescribed 

 manner. 



Before the we'daked', or the last of the initiators, moves toward 

 the candidate, he may turn to the leader and say, ' ' Now I will stir up 

 the spirit that is in me ; I will stand and dance and I ask your assist- 

 ance." He then dances in his place. In his hands he holds all 

 four of the medicine bags and breathes on them that the power 

 may be intensified to the greatest possible degree. He extends his 

 right arm to its fidl length and moves toward the candidate, 

 raising the medicine bags and bringing them down with the force 

 of a heavy blow as he ejaculates wa a hi hi hi wa a hi hi hi!, throwing 

 all the strength of his being into the motion and the rhythmic sound. 

 Slowly he moves forward. It is the climax of the entire ceremony 

 and the members of the Mlde'wiwln wait in tense silence until the 

 candidate falls prostrate on the ground, overcome by the "spirit 

 power" of the initiators. 



The following is an example of the song sung at this point in the 

 ceremony. Other examples are given at the close of this chapter. A 

 large number of these songs is available; the selection is made by 

 the leader of the ceremony. 



