68 BUKEAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 53 



obic'kona^wawan'' when they shot, they missed 



ini^niwun' ' the man 



Analysis. — This song contains nine measures and is divided into 

 four parts, the first, second, and last containing the rhythmic unit, 

 and the third containing the words. This form suggests a definite 

 phase of musical expression. No words occur in the rhythmic unit, 

 the mind of the singer being concentrated on the musical idea. In 

 the part of the song contauiing words the interest centers on them 

 and the musical idea is secondary. Comparison with other songs 

 having the same form will show in many instances a less definite 

 rhythm in the part containing the words (see Nos. 8, 12, 13, 30, 

 39, 40, 81, 105). The tonality of this song is minor, but the opening 

 interval of the first two phrases is a major third (see analysis of No. 9, 

 also of Nos. 34, 83, 94, 120). The melody tones are those of the 

 second five-toned scale. Two renditions of the song were recorded; 

 these show no variation in either rhythm or melody. 



In early youth Odjib'we took part in a dog feast. It was the 

 custom of the tribe to hold feasts of this kind occasionally in order 

 that the young men who aspired to become warriors might show their 

 courage to the assembled people. An old warrior was selected to 

 announce the feast. Walking through the village, he made the 

 announcement in a loud voice. The next day there was a large 

 gathering, especially of the young men. After much shiging and 

 dancing, and many speeches, the youths whose courage was to be 

 tested were seated on the ground in a circle, in the center of which a 

 dog was killed. The liver was then removed and cut into small 

 pieces, one of which was given each young man on a long stick. If 

 he chewed and swallowed the morsel without flinching, he was con- 

 sidered brave enough for the waqiath, but if he shuddered or drew 

 back he was deemed faint-hearted and was greeted with j eers by the 

 assembly. Odjib'we said that he endured this test "without the 

 slightest change of expression," but that for many days afterward 

 he was unable to bear the thought of what he had done, although he 

 never admitted this to any one. 



When Odjib'we reached the ago of 20 he felt that it was time to 

 begin his chosen career. Accordingly he consulted his cousin 

 Ne'btinec'ktin ("he who walks by one side of the thing"), a young 

 man about his own age, and they decided to go on the waii^ath 

 together. They told no one of their intentions, but pretended that 

 they were going on a hunting expedition. With heavy hearts they 

 left the village. They thought of the friends whose deaths they were 



1 In order to make this word conform to the music a meaningless syllal)le (wa) is inserted. The 

 Chippewa custom of changing the words of a song to fit the music is considered in Bulletin 45, p. 14. 



