74 THE OSAUE TRIBE I Em. ann. 36 



for eiitortaiiiing the members of the No"'-ho°-zhi"-ga order during 

 the initiatory ceremonies. Fees are also collected for the members 

 who are to take part in the performance of the ceremonies. In 

 early days these fees consisted of buffalo robes, articles of clothing, 

 weapons, and, in recent times, of horses, woolen blankets, broadcloth, 

 silks, calico, and articles of clothing made of manufa<tured goods. 



When all of these preparations have been made the camlidate. sends 

 his Sho'-ka,* who carries a pipe as his badge of office, to give notice 

 to his Xo'-ka' (Initiator), whom the candidate has selected, that he 

 will be ready to take his initiation on a certain day. The Sho'-ka 

 then gives notice to the No°'-ho"-zhi"-ga of all the gentes of the 

 tribe to attend the ceremonies and to take ])art in their ])erformance. 



The Ki'-non, or Ceremonial Painting of the Xo'-ka 



At dawn of the day appointed for the initiation the candidate goes 

 with his Sho'-ka to the house of the Xo'-ka. The Sho'-ka carries 

 witli him the skin of a black bear, the skin of a swan, a shell gorget, 

 ami a woven belt, all of which articles are to be worn by the Xo'-ka 

 as his sacerdotal apparel. The Sho'-ka also takes with him a wooden 

 bowl, in which is put pulverized charcoal mixed with water, the 

 ceremonial paint to be used by the Xo'-ka. When the candidate 

 and his Sho'-ka have entered and are assigned to their places in the 

 lodge, the Xo'-ka strips himself of his own clothing, pre])aratory to 

 putting on his official apparel. When about to paint himself with 

 the charcoal the Xo'-ka recites the following wi'-gi-e, called Xo'-ka 

 Wi'-gi-e, which is in three parts. The first relates to the Black Bear 

 and to certain symbols given by that animal to the people. 



The Xo'-ka Wi'-gi-e 



(Osage version, p. 305; literal translation, p. 4(1."^) 

 PART I 



1. Verily, at that time and place, it lias been said, in this house, 



2. The Ho°'-ga, a people who possess seven fireplaces, 



3. Spake to one another, saying: O, younger brothers, 



4. We have nothing that is fit to use as a symbol. 



5. Then to the male Puma, who stood by, they turnetl 



6. And spake, saying: O, younger brother, 



7. We have nothing that is fit to use as a symbol. 



8. Then, in quick res])onse, the Puma went forth, 



9. Verily, to the brow of a hill, 



* Sho'-ka is the title of a gentile ceremonial messenger. In the list of gentes given on page 52 of the intro- 

 duction certain siiligentes are given the title Sho'-ka. This means that from a suhgens bearing this title 

 must he chosen a man or a woman to act as ceremonial messenger in the initiatory ceremonies of a rite. 



' Xo'-ka is the title of a man who acts as initiator in the initiatory ceremonies of a trihalrile. Such a 

 man must be one who has taken the degree he confers. He may choose his own candidate or he may be 

 chosen by a man offering himself as a candidate for initiation into the degree. 



