LA FLESCHE] INTRODUCTION 49 



aace. The men chosen performed this sacred duty by secluding 

 themselves from all human associations and by taking upon them- 

 selves the rite of No'"-zhi''-zho° (vigil), which usually lasted four 

 days, or at the longest seven days. The report made by the men 

 taking this rite usually decided the action to be taken by the No°'- 

 ho°-zhi°-ga as a body. 



Every rite to which the Osage people clung from the earhest times 

 of their tribal existence is regarded by them as religious and suppli- 

 catory in character. Those relating to war, to peace, and to life are 

 held with equal veneration. The thoughts embodied in the symbolic 

 tribal organization and in the formulated rites were gathered by the 

 "holy men" from the open book of nature, not in a single season nor 

 in a single hfetime but through years of patient mental toil. 



From these ancient tribal rites the Osage people learned to depend 

 always upon Wa-ko°'-da for continued existence. Although they 

 were a peace-loving people, they were often forced to the necessity of 

 marching against their enemies in defensive or offensive warfare. 

 At such times the warriors did not rely solely upon their personal 

 prowess, but, vicariously, thej' cried without ceasing for divine aid 

 in overcoming their foes. Therefore their first act in preparing for 

 war was to choose a man upon whom devolved the duty of making a 

 constant appeal to Wa-ko°'-da. This officer was called Do-do°'- 

 ho°-ga, a title which may be freely translated as The-sacred-one-of- 

 the-war-movement. If the war party achieved success, all the honors 

 were accredited to this mediator. 



The people also learned that as a tribe they must daily appeal to 

 Wa-ko^'-da for a long and healthful hfe. Therefore at dawn, when 

 they saw the reddened sky signaling the approach of the sun, men, 

 women, and children stood in the doors of their houses and uttered 

 their cry for divine help ; as the sun reached midheaven they repeated 

 their prayer; and their supplications again arose as the sun touched 

 the western horizon. 



Mention was made of these daily orisons from actual observation 

 by men who traveled in the far West in 1806 and 1811. Later, in 

 the year 1820, Governor Miller, in a letter addressed to the Rev. 

 Jedidiah Morse, says: 



These Indians have a native religion of their own and are the only tribe I ever knew 

 that had. At break of day every morning I could hear them at prayer for an hour. 

 They appeared to be as devout in their way as any class of people. 



In 1840 the Rev. Isaac McCoy, a Baptist missionary, in mentioning 

 this custom, says: 



It has been reported that the Osages did not believe in the existence of the Great 

 Spirit. I was astonished that anyone who had ever been two days among them or 

 the Kanzaa, who are in all respects similar, should be so deceived. I liave never 

 before seen Indians who gave more undoubted evidence of their belief in God. 

 2786—21 4 



