138 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 53 



No. 51. War Song of Otijib^we's Childhood ' 



(Catalogue No. 278) 

 Sung by Odjib'we 



Voice J = 80 



Drum J =80 



( Drum-rhythm similar to No. 19 ) 





Nin 



do-kldj a nin ■ 



do-kidj a nin-do-kidj a 



nindo'kidj my pipestem 



Analysis. — This song contains the tones of the fifth five-toned scale 

 according to Hehnholtz (see p . 4) , a scale which comprises the tones 

 of the diatonic octave, with the exception of the second and fifth. 

 The song is in the key of D minor and the tones E and A do not 

 appear. No. 52 is based on the same scale. This song is charac- 

 terized by the approach to an harmonic tone by means of the tone 

 above. (See No. 53.) The three renditions recorded are miiform in 

 every respect. The metric miit is very slow, a characteristic of many 

 songs of self-control. (See Nos. 30, 52, 103, 161). 



The following song was used as a preliminary to a sham battle 

 between Chippewa and Sioux boys. The combatants, divested of 

 clothing, were ranged in facing lines. The men of each tribe stood 

 behind the boys and sang the song with them. When the song was 

 finished the men shouted, "Now start to fight," and thereupon the 

 Uttle warriors flung themselves into the scrimmage. The rules of 

 this battle were different from those referred to in connection with the 

 preceding song. In this contest the boys tried to kick one another 

 down, not being allowed to use their hands. If a Sioux boy succeeded 

 in felling a Chippewa, the war whoop arose from the whole band of 

 Sioux. Perhaps this exultation was still at its height when a Sioux 

 boy fell before the sturdy kicks of the Chippewa, and a whoop arose 

 from the Chippewa ranks. The battle was weU fought and in it 

 many a boy received his first training for the sterner game of tribal 

 warfare. 



1 This and the two songs next following are included in the tabulated analysis of White Earth songs, p. 306. 



