54 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 79 



Yawartdki takarseipya^ 



Wuiminn chia/nga, 



Huimya, huimya, 



Wuhnina chianga^ 



Wuimina chiangcL, 



ZJrrvand mi^hakia, 



Wuimina mickuki^ 



Umand chiangd, 



Umand chiasiui, 



Umand chidngd, 



Nuruna chAsamana, 



Tahitd chiangana^ etc. 



In this chant it is particularly "the tiger in the forest" {yawanu 

 ikynma.) that is the object of the conjuration {yawartaki takarsei- 

 pya=^'-'- tiger, don't touch us ! " uwiviina, michakia^'' go away, get 

 cold! "), in order that he may not come and kill the Indians. Evi- 

 dently it is believed that the tiger (jaguar) is another shape which 

 the soul of the killed enemy may assume when trying to take revenge 

 upon the victor. 



Now a series of other conjurations follow, the general object of 

 which seems to be to increase the magical power of the tsantsa. A 

 number of short formulas are repeated, the exact meaning of which 

 seems to be unknown even to the dancing Indians themselves. We 

 are here dealing with an archaic or ceremonial language which, at 

 the most, is understood by some of the oldest Indians. The dancing 

 youths repeat the same phrase for about an hour. Then some old 

 Indian recites another similar formula of conjuration in a special 

 melody, and this is in its turn repeated for a while in the same way. 

 Each formula is finished with shrill Avhistles and shouts of " chi^ chi, 

 chi,''^ and such exclamations also accompany the interruption Avhich 

 takes place when the dancers change from the right to the left and 

 vice versa. Examples of such formulas, unintelligible as to their ex- 

 act meaning, are the following: 



Mainia Tnainiatekana. 



Kukuyukuvta kunyukunta. 



Sivu, sivu, sivahamha. 



Sirvm^hachi wnhe, etc. 



The dancers thus, for instance, during half an hour may inces- 

 santly repeat the formula viainia mainia fekana, mainia mainiate- 

 kana^ continuing thereafter with another formula. 



Other formulas of conjuration are more intelligible, as for instance 

 the following: 



(A)7nue sinchimaka^ chikichitantani, ay a, ay a, 

 {A)mue sinchimaka^ Mmeritantani^ ffya, ay a: 



" Make thee strong, make thee powerful, my only tsantsa." 



