106 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



[bull. 45 



Late that night the old Mide^ got ready to siug, and while he was singing he sent 

 an owl over to the camp where the Indians lived who were trying to starve this man 

 and his wife. The owl carried the bad medicine and sat at the head of their camp 

 that night, but they did not know it. This owl was just the dried skin of an owl 

 with the medicine inside of it. 

 The old rule was that if a man killed an animal he must first divide it among the 

 camps; then he must cook his own share of the meat and invite all 

 the old men to come and eat it with him. If he failed to do this 

 they would be jealous and would ' ' starve him out, ' ' as was the case 

 with this man and his wife. 



After singing this song and sending the owl to the other camp 

 the old Alide^ was sure that the man and his wife would have no 

 further trouble. He also gave them medicine to carry, so that 

 they could get near to the animals when they were hunting. 



All that the Mide^ said was true. The other camp could get no 

 food after the owl went to the camp. The Indians there nearly 

 starved, but the man and his wife had plenty of game. 



Song picture no. 88. 

 The Mlde'wlni'nl', 

 the man and his 

 wife, are seen in the 

 wigwam .from wh ich 

 the owl is flying. 



Analysis. — This sono; contains no change of rhythm, an unusual 

 feature in a Mide' song. The key of A minor is plainly implied by 

 the melody, although there is very little to establish the key. The 

 song begins on the ninth and ends on the fifth. It contains no repe- 

 tition, the syllables ho ho 7io ho, which indicate the conclusion of a 

 song, being given after each rendition. 



Additional Mide' Songs 



No. 89. Song of the Bear Path (Catalogue no. 236) 

 Sung by Main'.\ns 



This is said to be the oldest Mide' song known. If this were sung 

 in a Mide' gathering, it would be necessary to make large gifts to 

 the singer, and before singing he would call on the 

 Mide' manido'. No one would sing this song who 

 had not purchased the right to sing it. 



Analysis. — The syncopation in this melody, as well 

 as the slight prolonging of many of the tones, makes 

 it difficult of accurate transcription. The melody 

 follows the intervals of the minor triad and fourth, 

 but it is the rhythm which impresses the ear most 

 strongly. This very peculiar rhythm is maintained 

 throughout the various renditions. The tone is 

 wavering, with the vibrato so frequently used in 

 these songs. The seventh of the minor scale does 

 not occur in the song. The seventh of the second 

 five-toned scale is the fifth of the fourth five-toned 

 scale, and is seldom omitted. Its omission seems to indicate a feeling 

 for the minor tonality as such, rather than a use of the tones of the 

 fourth (or major) five-toned scale with a different keynote. 



Song PICTURE NO. 89. In 

 the Mide' there are said 

 to be many "paths;" 

 this song relates to the 

 " bear-path " and a bear 

 is shown In the draw- 

 ing. Birds are closely 

 associated with the sec- 

 ond, third, and fourth 

 degrees, and a bird ap- 

 pears in this drawing, 

 though it is not men- 

 tioned in the song. 



