DENSMORE] CHIPPEWA MUSIC II 153 



Analysis. — The intonation of the opening measures of this song 

 was faulty in all the renditions. The melodic tones are those of the 

 fourth five-toned scale and the trend of the melody is steadily down- 

 ward. Although strongly rhythmic in character, the song contains 

 no unit of rhythm. 



Ceremony of Restoring the Mourners 



Tlie ceremony called Restoring the Mourners, usually lield durmg 

 the prelimmary days of dancing, begins on the first day, if possible, 

 in order that those whose period of mourning is formally ended may 

 join their friends in the remainder of the dance. • 



This ceremony was witnessed by the writer at I^ac du Flambeau 

 October 16, 1911. It was held m the dancing inclosure of the Lac 

 du Flambeau Chippewa, which is situated on a knoll overlookhig the 

 Indian village; tliis inclosure is surrounded by a high board fence 

 (see pi. 19). Four drums were placed at intervals around the circle 

 and beside them were seated their respective drummers and singers. 

 E'niwiib'e ("sits farther along"), leader at one of the drums, had 

 painted the lower half of his face black, as a token of mourning. 



At this ceremony the period of mourning of four persons — a man 

 who had lost his wife, two young women who had lost children, and 

 an aged woman who had lost her husband — came to an end. AU 

 these deaths had occurred since a similar gathering of the tribe, the 

 period of mourning usually lasting from six months to a year. Dur- 

 ing that time a mother who has lost her child carries a cup tied in a 

 cloth around her waist. This she frequently fiUs with berries or 

 some other delicacy and places beside her "for the child." After 

 a little whUe she gives the food to some needy person and replaces 

 the cup in the cloth . 



The mourners were seated in the center of the circle. The women 

 were newly arrayed in bright dresses and gay shawls. The man wore 

 a bright blue shirt with beaded sash. Even the aged woman was 

 dressed in bright colors and her hair was tied with a gay ribbon. 

 These brilliant colors contrasted sharply with the evident sadness of 

 the mourners, who sat with downcast eyes. At intervals some one 

 stepped forward and hung a bead chain around the neck of one of 

 them or laid a bright garment or shawl at his side, but the gifts were 

 received without response. 



It was a strange scene. Looking beyond the inclosure one saw the 

 towering pines, majestic m outluie but wondrous in soft shadows; 

 to the right lay the scattered cabms of the Indians grouped on the 

 shore of the lake, and at a little distance was another hillside on which 

 were the smaller cabins of the dead. Above aU was the bluest of 

 October skies. Some said the ceremony was pagan, yet m it was 



