276 THE OSAGE TRIBE Ieth. ann. 36 



They move on and come to the shallows of a river where the waters 

 tumble noisily over the rocky bed. Thoy speak of the water as a 

 person and apply to him the name Wa-zha'-zhe. From this person 

 of the waters they receive promise of long life. (Water is also used 

 as a symbol of long life in the child-naming ceremonies, and the cedar 

 is associated with it.) 



The brothers continue their journey and come to the sedge, a 

 "grass that never dies." From it they receive promise of long life. 

 (This grass is used as a life symbol in some of the ceremonies.) 



They pass on and come to the Shi"'-zha-hi, an evergreen water 

 plant, from which they also receive promise of long life. (This plant 

 is also used ceremonially.) 



From the Shi^'-zha-hi the brothers go on and suddenly come upon 

 an animal that had just been slain. Mo"-zlio°-a'-ki-da could not 

 explain the symbolic significance of this scene; therefore it must 

 remain obscure until by some chance it is revealed by a person who 

 may happen to know its meaning. 



The journey brings the brothers to " the greatest part of the earth." 

 The word earth is here used as a trope for a season or a particular 

 month (probably August), when the yellow blossoms begin to give 

 color to the earth. A part of the Tsi'-zhu Wa-shta'-ge are people of 

 the flowers, particularly the yellow flowers. The brothers consecrate 

 this jnonth as a life symbol and take from it a sacred gentile name. 



The next move brings the brothers to a "beautiful house." This 

 is a cryptic reference to the principle for wliich the symbolic dwelling 

 stands — that of peace, which is beautiful. They refer to the occu- 

 pant as a "fear-inspiring person." This really has reference to the 

 respect and the reverence that is manifested by all the people for the 

 office of Peacemaker — an office that belongs to this gens. The 

 brothers consecrate the House of Peace and take from it a sacred 

 gentile name. 



The brothers move on quickly and come again to a dead animal 

 (an elk). Mo°-zho°-a'-ki-da could not explain the meaning of this 

 finding. 



The brothers continue their journey and come again to the "greatest 

 part of the earth." This refers, probably, to the month of Sep- 

 tember, when the earth displays all of its yellow blossoms. These 

 two months make the middle of the seasons the "greatest part of the 

 earth." In the midst of its warm, moist, and vibrating air stands a 

 person as in his own abiding place. The brothers take from him a 

 personal gentile name, which thej- hope will bring them to the days 

 that are beautiful, fruitful, and peaceful. 



They continue their journey and come to the bend of a river, where 

 stands a little house with many openings. The brothers gather closely 



