DENSMORE] CHIPPEWA MUSIC II 167 



The Menominee beat their drums and sang and danced around 

 them, the Chippewa then sang the songs used at the opening of the 

 four days of dancmg at Lac du Flambeau, the series contaming the 

 special songs of the various officials of the drum party (see p. 150). 

 The Menominee listened as the Chippewa sang, the women sitting 

 with heads bowed, in a position similar to that assumed when they 

 were singing (pi. 22). 



At the conclusion Wis 'kino rose agam and said, "My relatives, the 

 Chippewa, you must be tu-ed and hungry after your journey.^ We 

 wnll set before you whatever cooked food we have. I wall send some 

 of my men to my own house and to the houses of my people and 

 they wall bring the food here to you." 



Wis'kino asked the Chippewa aid where the food should be placed 

 and he directed that it be put at the left of the entrance. Soon both 

 men and women appeared with kettles and pails containing wild rice, 

 white rice, squash, and tea, while others brought pans heaped with 

 fried bread. Each Chippewa took out his cup or pan and spoon and 

 the Chippewa aid superintended the distribution of the food. Thus 

 the Chippewa enjoyed the hospitality of the Menomhiee, none of 

 whom partook of the feast. When the feast was finished the kettles, 

 ])ails, and pans were placed outside the entrance where, a few hours 

 later, the Menominee women were seen identifymg their own by 

 familiar dents or by colored strings on the handles. 



During the remainder of the day the two tribes danced together. 

 ]\leantime Na'ganac'' had piloted the swaying load of equipage to 

 the place assigned for the camp, the white tents had sprung up, and 

 that night the camp of the Chippewa was fully established. 



The next morning a cold, dismal ram was falhng. The water was 

 deep in the little hoUows of the dancmg circle. At the Chippewa 

 camp a few fires were smoldering and most of the tents were tightly 

 closed. It was evidently impossible to proceed with the ceremony 

 and that day was not counted as one of the four days of dancing. 

 It was stated that this was permissible because the actual presenta- 

 tion of the drums had not taken place. 



With the sudden changes of weather which characterize the autumn 

 season the next morning dawned bright and clear. Preparations 

 were begun at once for the presentation of the chief drum. Every 

 (me was m good spirits. Gala trappings were brought out, faces were 

 carefully painted, and long braids rearranged. The men in charge of 

 the drums cut branches of puie trees and laid them m the dancing 

 cu'cle, spreadmg them thick where the drum was to rest and the 

 drummers and singers were to sit. These circles of fresh green 

 added effectiveness to the picture, setting off the bright shawls of the 

 women and the beadwork worn by the men. 



1 The Cliippewa were supposed just to have arrived after a continuous journey from their own reservation. 



