MALLERY.] MEDA SONG. 83 



No. 3 marks a pause, during which the victuals prepared for the 

 feast are introduced. 



No. 4. A man holding a dish in his hand, and decorated with magic 

 feathers on his wrists, indicating his character as master of the feast. 

 All sing, "I shall give you a share, my friend." 



No. 5. A lodge apart from that in which the meda-meu are assembled, 

 having a vapor-bath within it. The elder men go into this lodge, and 

 during the time of their taking the bath, or immediately preceding it, tell 

 each other certain secrets relative to the arts they employ in the Meda- 

 win. The six heavy marks at the top of the lodge indicate the steam 

 escaping from the bath. There are three orders of men in this society, 

 called 1. meda; 2. sangemau; and 3. ogemau. And it is in these secret 

 exchanges of arts, or rather the communication of unknown secrets from 

 the higher to the lower orders, that they are exalted from one to another 

 degree. The priest sings, "I go into the bath — I blow my brother 

 strong." 



No. 6. The arm of the priest, or master of ceremonies, who conducts 

 the candidate, represented in connection with the next figure. 



No. 7. The goods, or presents given, as a fee of admission, by the novi. 

 tiate. "I wish to wear this, my father, my friend." 



No. 8. A meda-tree. The recurved projection from the trunk denotes 

 the root that supplies the medicine. "What! my life, my single tree! — 

 we dance around you." 



No. 9. A stuffed crane-skin, employed as a medicine-bag. By shak- 

 ing this in the dance, plovers and other small birds are made, by a sleight- 

 of-hand trickery, to jump out of it. These, the novitiates are taught, 

 spring from the bag by the strong power of the operator. This is one 

 of the prime acts of the dance. " I wish them to appear — that that has 

 grown — I wish them to appear." 



No. 10. An arrow in the supposed circle of the sky. Represents a 

 charmed arrow, which, by the power of the meda of the person owning 

 it, is capable of penetrating the entire circle of the sky, and accomplish- 

 ing the object for which it is shot out of the bow. " What are you say- 

 ing, you inee da man? This — this is the meda bone." 



No. 11. The Ka Kaik, a species of»small hawk, swift of wing, and 

 capable of dying high into the sky. The skin of this bird is worn round 

 the necks of warriors going into battle. " My kite's skin is fluttering." 



No. 12. The sky, or celestial hemisphere, with the symbol of the Great 

 Spirit looking over it. A Manito's arm is raised up from the earth in 

 a supplicating posture. Birds of good omen are believed to be in the 

 sky. "All round the circle of the sky I hear the Spirit's voice." 



No. 13. The next figure denotes a pause in the ceremonies. 



No. 14. A meda-tree. The idea represented is a tree animated by 

 magic or spiritual power. " The Wabeno tree — it dances." 



