430 A STUDY OF SIOUAN CULTS. 



XOIWEKE TRADITIONS. 



§ 00. The xaiwsre tribes have traditions of their origin similar to 

 those found among the Osage, Kansa, and Ponlia, and these traditions 

 are considered as " waqonyita"," or mysterious things, not to be spoken 

 of lightly or told on ordinary occasions. 



As among the Osage and Kansa, the traditions tell of a period when 

 the ancestors of the present gentes dwelt, some in the upper world, 

 and others in the ground (or in the world beneath this one). 



Mr. Hamilton's informant said, "These are sacred things, and I do 

 not like to speak about them, as it is not our custom to do so except 

 when we make a feast and collect the people and use the sacred pipe." 

 These traditions were preserved in the secret societies of the tribes. 

 They explain the origin of the gentes and subgentes, of fire, corn, the 

 ]iipes, bows and arrows, etc. 



It is probable that similar secret societies 'exist among the Winne- 

 bago. James Alexander, a Winnebago of the Wolf gens, told a part 

 of the secret tradition of his gens, in which appear some resemblances 

 to the xoiwere traditions, such as the creation of four kinds of wolves, 

 and their dwelling underground, or in the world beneath this one. 

 (See §§ 381, 383.) 



BELIEF IN FUTURE LIFE. 



That the j^oiwere believed in the existence of the ghost or spirit 

 after death is evident from what Mr. Hamilton observed : 



They often put I)^o^'isions, a pitcher of water, and some cooking utensils on the 

 grave for the use of the spirit for some time after burial. * * * At the time of 

 burial, they often put new clothing and ornaments on the corpse, if they are able, 

 and place by its side such things as they think uecessary. I ouce saw a little child 

 with some of its playthings which its mother had placed by it, iu her ignorance, 

 thinking that they would be pleasing to it. * * * They are generally careful for 

 a year or so, to keep down all the weeds and grass about the grave, perhaps for 10 

 feet around. 



