92 



THE OSAGE TRIBE 



lETH. ANN. 30 



Simultaneous Recital of the Wi'-(;i-es of the Gentes 



This simultaneous recitation by all the gentes is not in unison. 

 Tlie members of one gens pay no attention to the recitation of those 

 of another gens. Each person is busy with his own part of the cere- 

 mony. The result is a confused sound of words, and the sight is 

 expressive of individual devotion to the task in hand. 



THE WA-ZHA'-ZHE Sl'BDlVLSION 



The Wa-zha'-zhe Wa-non Gens 

 (Osage version, p. Slfi literal translation, p. 477 



1. Verily, at that time and place, it has been said, iii this iiinise, 



2. The Wa-zha'-zhe, a people who possess seven fireplaces, 



3. Spake to the Wa-zha'-zhe Wa-no° (gens). 



Fig. 5.— Ke Cin-dse Ga-tse (Turtle with Serrated Tail). A life symbol of the Wa-zha -zhe Wa-no» 

 (Elder Wa-zha'-zhe) gens, the war gens of the Wa-zha'-zhe subdivision of the Ho°'-ga great tribal 

 division. The seven willow saplings used by the warriors in recounting their military honors are 

 made to symbolize an equal number of serrations on the turtle's tail. 



4. Saying: O, grandfather, 



5. The little ones have nothing fit for their use as symbols. 



6. Verily, at that time and place, it has been said, in this house, 



7. The Wa-zha'-zhe Wa-no° replied, saying: 



8. Behold the turtle that has a tail with seven serrations (snapping 



turtle) (fig. 5). 



9. That turtle 



10. The little ones shall always use as a symbol. 



1 1 . Behold the seven serrations on the tail of the turtle. 



12. Those also 



13. I have made to be symbols. 



14. The o-do°', spoken of as the seven o-do"' (military honors), 



15. I have made them to symbolize. 



16. Six of the serrations on the tail of the turtle 



17. I have also 



18. Made to symbolize 



