DENSMORE] CHIPPEWA MUSIC 55 



At the conclusion of this ceremony the writer was permitted to pho- 

 tograph the dead chief. (See pi. 7.) On entering the lodge, the medi- 

 cine party were found eating the funeral feast, which consisted of fruit, 

 cakes, bread, and rice. The body of Flat Mouth was concealed by a 

 curtain of white cloth. When the feast was concluded several photo- 

 graphs of the dead chief were taken, the upper coverings of the wig- 

 wam being removed to admit the light. Immediately afterward 

 the body was lifted on its green blanket and laid in the casket, 

 which was the best that could be purchased at the neighboring town. 

 Beside it, in the casket, were placed the fan, pipe, war bonnet, 

 and cushion. The fan consisted of an eagle wing decorated with 

 dots of red in a design which belonged especially to Flat Mouth, 

 being used by him alone. The cover of the cushion was a bag woven 

 of yarns. This weaving of, a bag without a seam is becoming a lost 

 art among the Minnesota Chippewa. 



A long procession followed the body of Flat Mouth to the "heathen 

 cemetery," a village of low wooden shelters above the graves. There 

 was no ceremony of any kind when the casket was lowered. The grave 

 was dug very large and almost circular in shape. Visiting the spot a 

 few months later, the writer found that a pointed wooden house had 

 been erected over the grave, according to the custom of the Chippewa. 

 The name Nigan'Iblnes' was painted on a narrow board i)laced on the 

 peak of the roof, and beside the grave floated an American flag. 



Songs for Initiation into the Sixth Degree 



Suns; by DE''BWAWEN^Di7NK 



The songs of an initiation ceremony difi"er with the degree which 

 the person assumes, each degree having its special songs. The fol- 

 lowing songs given by De'bwawen'dtink" (pi. 8) are those used when 

 initiating a member into the sixth degree. 



Before singing the first song De'bwawen'dunk made a short speech 

 in Chippewa, speaking to the four MIde' manido', explaining that he 

 was not going about the city belittling their religion, and begging 

 that they be not offended because circumstances made it impossible 

 for him to smoke the customary pipe before singing. This speech 

 was recorded by the phonograph. 



The singer stated that if these songs are to be sung in private or at 

 a small gathering the men lay down their medicine bags, as they are 

 to "sing to the bags." The man who is to sing the first song fills 

 his pipe and smokes it; then he calls on the four Mide' manido', who 

 live in the four "layers" beneath the earth. One song is sung by 

 each man. 



o An old man from the Bois Fort reservation, a most devout adherent of the MIde'. These songs vi^ere 

 recorded at Washington, D. C, whither De'bwawgn'dAnlc had come with an interpreter on business 

 connected with tribal aflairs. The translations were given by his interpreter, Rev. Frank II. Pequette. 



