140 THE OSAGE TRIBE [kth. ann. 36 



holds the sticks in the same ceremonial manner. When the No°'- 

 ho"-zhi°-ga begin to recite the wi'-gi-es, this officer sings a song, 

 beating from time to time tlie two bundles of sticks against each 

 other. (Wa-xthi'-zhi, the informant, declined to give the song but 

 offered no reason for declining.) 



When the reciting of the wi'-gi-es had come to a close, theU-dse'- 

 the A-do°-be speaks, saying: "I am about to return these counting 

 sticks to the Xo'-ka, but before doing so I wish to give to all the 

 No"'-ho°-zhi°-ga present a word of warning before they rise to 

 depart. These counting sticks are now to be put in the care of the 

 wife of the Initiate (his ceremonial title is Wa-tho°', Singer), and as 

 long as these sticks are in her keeping slie shall be exempt from the 

 seizure of any of her property for ceremonial use — namely, her wood ; 

 her tent frames; stores of meat, fresh or dried; stores of corn; dried 

 squash; or any other food supplies. If an officer, notwithstanding 

 her claims to exemption, persists in seizing her property, then she 

 shall present to him this bundle of counting sticks and challenge 

 him to count the seven and six o-do"' he may have won in battle in 

 defending the homes of his people. Should the officer accept the 

 challenge and count the prescribed number of o-do°', she shall then 

 yield to him the property he demands, but let the officer beware of 

 speaking falsely in counting his o-do»'." 



Having given his word of warning, the U-dse'-the A-do"-be beckons 

 to the Sho'-ka to come and take the counting sticks, which he hands 

 to him in the same ceremonial manner as they were received. 



The U-dse'-the A-do°-be, in addition to the fee that accompanied 

 the counting sticks, later receives two shares of the provisions fur- 

 nished by the candidate. 



Instructions to the Wife of the Initiate 



The Sho'-ka, after presenting the bundle of counting sticks to the 

 Xo'-ka, goes out of the lodge. In a short time he returns with the 

 wife of the Initiate and conducts her to a place where she sits facing 

 the Xo'-ka, his assistant, and tlie Initiate. The Sho'-ka then takes 

 the counting sticks from the Xo'-ka, in the ceremonial manner in 

 which he gave them to the U-dse'-the A-do°-be, and presents them to 

 the woman with the same ceremony. After the counting sticks have 

 been thus ceremonially presented to the woman the Xo'-ka begins 

 the next ceremonial act, called Ki'-no° U-tha-ge, the Symbolic 

 Painting — that is, the instructions to be given the woman as to how 

 she shall paint herself when seeking food for her children and in 

 caring for their bodily comfort. This ceremony opens with two 

 songs, called Tse Wa'-tho°, Buffalo Songs. 



