I,AFI.ESCHB] TUIB.VJL KITES FREE TRANSLATION 147 



When the two priests have taken their j)hxces the T()"'-wo" A-ilo^-he 

 puts upon himself a buffah) robe witla tlie hair outside, and upon his 

 liead a buncli of featlier barbs strippeil from the shafts of the wing 

 feathere of the pelican, the bird symbolizing long life. These sym- 

 bolic articles make up his sacerdotal apparel. 



Having put on this priestly attire, the To°'-w(>" A-dt)"-be recites a 

 wi'-gi-e, which is divided into five sections. The first relates to the 

 priestly office. The second is au appeal to Ho"'-ba Wa-^u, the god 

 of the cloudless day; this god is pure and free from the destructive 

 influences of anger and hatred; to him the people of the Wa'-tse-tsi 

 Wa-shta'-ge and of theTsi'-zhu Wa-shta'-ge gentes appeal for aid in 

 helping all the people to pass through another period (year) of peace 

 and good will. The third is an address to Wa-ko"'-da Ho°'-no°-pa-f e, 

 the goddess of darkness; she is not only benevolent, but possesses the 

 jxiwer of reproduction, and to her these people of peace appeal for 

 aid in leading all the people along the paths of peace so that the little 

 ones may successfully be brought to maturity. The fourth is an 

 appeal to Wa-ko"'-da Mo"-shi'-ta, god of the ti])per region (sky), who 

 also exerts his power toward the production of life; to him these 

 jXMijjJe appeal for aid in leading the people along the paths of peace. 

 The lifth is an appeal to Wa-ko"'-tla Hiu-dse-ta, the goddess of the 

 lower region (the earth), she who possesses power to bring forth life; 

 to her the two chiefs and their followers appeal for aid in their task 

 of leading all the people safely along the paths of peace and prosperity. 



The choice of the month in which the ileer bring forth their young 

 for the beginning of this ceremonial year is in itself an implied su])pH- 

 cation for the natural increase of the tribe. It is during that montli 

 that the "' goddess of the lower region " begins to put forth her energy 

 and brings into bodily existence both vegetable and animal life in all 

 its variety of forms. 



Tile two pairs of gods addressed in this wi'-gi-e are personified 

 attributes of the unseen Wa-ko°'-da. 



(Osage version, p. 357; literal translation, p. 525) 



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



2. The people spake to him (the To^'-wo" A-do°-be), saying: O, 



grandfather, 



3. We have nothing suitable for use as a symbol, O, grandfather. 



4. Verily, at that time and place, 



5. He made haste to reply: You say you have nothing suitable for 



use as a symbol, 



6. O, little ones, 



7. There are four great gods. 



