LAFLESCHE] Nl'-KI Wl'-GI-ES 243 



13. And made the air to tremble and vibrate with the flames and heat. 



14. The darkened sides of the heavens. 



15. They made to redtlen witli tlie glow of the flames ami heat. 



16. Verily, at that time and place, 



17. They spake to one another, saying: Let the little ones use the 



fiery glow upon yonder heavens as paint for their bodies. 



18. Verily, at that time and place, 



19. The people of the Tsi'-zhu Who Possess Seven Fireplaces 



20. Became stricken with the fiery glow, that left no part of their 



bodies untouched.^' 



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



22. They spake to one another, saying: What beneficent power shall 



this sacred fire draw toward iis 1 



23. Verily, at that time and place, 



24. They said: The red shield, 



25. Let the sacred fire draw toward us. 



26. When the sacred fire draws toward us the red shield, 



27. Then, when our enemies who dwell toward the setting sun, 



28. Come against us with weapons in countless numbers, 



29. Their weapons shall fail to strike the little ones, they said to one 



another. 



30. The red shield, 



3 1 . Let the sacred fire draw toward us. 



32. Then, when our enemies who dwell toward the setting sun, 



33. Come against us with sharp weapons standing out from their 



bodies in countless numbers, 



34. The little ones shall always be able to ward off the weapons, send- 



ing them away in forked lines, they said to one another. 



35. The red shield, 



36. Let the sacred fire draw toward us. 



37. Then, when our enemies who dwell toward the setting sun, 



38. Come against us with sharp weapons in countless numbers, 



39. The little ones shall always be able to ward off the weapons, 



making them to glance away on either side, they said to one 

 another. 



40. The red shield, 



41. Let the sacred fire draw toward us. 



42. Then, when our enemies who dwell toward the setting sun, 



'1 Here the A'-ki-ho" Xo'-ka pauses while he puts red paint on the face and entire body of the Xo'-lfa. 

 The preceding lines of the wi'-gi-o explain that the red paint symbolizes the reflection of the sacred fire. 

 The No'»'-ho'>-zhi''-ga of the Tsi'-zhu division who are gathered at the house of the candidate to make them- 

 selves ready to attend the meeting at the same time perform their act of painting. In lieu of the entire 

 body they paint only the face red. The color symbolizes the fiery glow cast upon their faces by the Ught 

 of the tire which has been ceremonially kindled. 



