72 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



fBiihT,. 5r 



No. 3. "An Eagle Feather I See" (Catalogue No. 346) 



Sung by Odjib^we 

 Voice J =z 100 

 Dkcm J=i 104 

 ( Drum iu accented eighth notes*) 



i^^iBSii 



Gi-ni-wi-gwfui ni-wa - ba-iua ^<^e o -gl-tci-danin-de - bi - bi-nan 



SlBiiigi^l^ii^illSlfJ 



* (Drum-rhythm) 



etc. 



gini^wigwun' an eagle feather ^ 



niwa'bama' I see 



ogftcida 2 a brave 



ninde^ibina' I have caught 



Analysis. — Triple and double measures alternate throughout this 

 song. The first and second measures constitute a rhythmic unit, the 

 tones being those of tlie major triad of A. In the third and fourth 

 measures this unit is repeated on the minor triad of F sharp. (Com- 

 pare repetitions of the rliythmic unit in No. 5.) The remainder of 

 tlie song consists of three phrases, each comprising a triple and a 

 double measure; these, however, are not repetitions of the rhythmic 

 unit. The manner in which the rhythm of the rhythmic unit influ- 

 ences the rhythm of other parts of tlie song is worthy of observa- 

 tion. Four renditions of this song were recorded, the rhythm being 

 accurately repeated. 



The following song commemorates an incident unique in the annals 

 of Indian warfare, relating to a scalp which was mislaid. 



Odjib'we was leader of a small war party which went against the 

 Sioux. The Chippewa were hiding in a ravine, when they saw a 

 Sioux comhig over the bluft' with a gun. He did not come directly 

 toward them, but turned toward a little lake, evidently intending to 

 shoot ducks. He disappeared in the reeds beside the lake, and 

 Odjib'we sent two men to reconnoiter, saying, ''Do not kill the Sioux 



' This refers to the feather worn by a warrior who took an enemy's scalp. (See p. 62.) 

 2 From Sioux aki'iita. Of. pp. 76, 88, 108, 186, 190, 230. 



