88 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 45 



asserts that the sap is flowing freely, thus presenting to the mind a 

 vivid picture of the conditions which would produce the desired 

 supply of maple sugar. 



Analysis. — This song shows a characteristic tendency to lower 

 slightky^ the pitch on the second of two similar tones. Throughout the 

 song a double measure is followed by a triple measure. Each rhythm 

 was given distinctly and for that reason it was not deemed advisable 

 to combine two measures in one 5-4 measure. The principal words 

 are mispronounced, as frequently occurs in the Chippewa songs. 



LovE-cHARM Songs 



Sung by Na^waji'bigo^kwe 



The love charm is a very popular form of magic among the Chip- 

 pewa. Of the following set of four love-charm songs no. 72 was first 

 sung for the writer by a woman on the Red Lake reservation, the 

 circumstances being as follows: The writer was engaged in the col- 

 lection of folk-tales and persuaded this woman to tell a story. She 

 consented with reluctance as it was the summer season and she said 

 that snakes would certainly bite her at night if she told stories in the 

 summer. After writing down a story the writer asked her to tell 

 something about the Mide'wiwin and to sing one of its songs. This 

 request was received with still greater reluctance. The woman 

 finally consented to sing one song in some secluded place where she 

 was sure no one could hear her. When asked what the song would 

 be she replied that it was a love-charm song. She was a woman 

 about sixty years of age and was the most dirty and unattractive 

 woman with whom the writer has come in contact. In a thin, nasal 

 tone she sang the song, which was noted down by ear, no phonograph 

 being available. With coy shyness she said the song meant that she 

 was as beautiful as the roses. She also drew a crude picture of the 

 song. Later this picture was shown to Na'waji'bigo'kwe at White 

 Earth. She recognized the picture at once and sang the song into 

 the phonograph. When the transcription of this record was com- 

 pared with the memorandum made at Red Lake the identity of the 

 song was readily discerned. The singer at Red Lake promised to 

 come back and sing other songs the next day, but some friends who 

 knew that she had sung a Mide' song threatened her with calamity 

 and she did not return. The singer at Wliite Earth said that this 

 is the first of a set of four songs. All were recorded by Na'waji'- 

 bigo'kwe, but the first is the most interesting of the set; only the 

 words of the others therefore are given. 



Analysis.— One measure constitutes the rhythmic unit in this 

 song, being repeated with absolute regularity. Attention is directed 



