46 THE OSAGE TRIBE. Teth. ANN. 39 



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



38. The tall animal (elk) that lies outstretched, 



39. That animal also, 



40. We shall make to be our avenger, 



41. To avenge offenses committed, 



42. To inflict the overhanging penalties upon all offenders, 



43. It shall be for the little ones an avenging guardian of the over- 



hanging penalties, as they travel the path of life, my younger 

 brothers, 



44. Behold the door that stands near by, 



45. Even the doore of their houses shall be guarded with watchful 



care, as they travel the path of life, O, my younger brothers, 



46. Behold the fireplace that stands near by, 



47. Even their fireplaces shall be guarded with watchful care, as they 



travel the path of life, O, my younger brothers. 



48. The choice of an avenger thus made shall forever stand. 



This wi'-gi-e belongs exclusively to the I^-gtho^'-ga and the 

 Wa-(;'a'-be gentes and, according to Wa-xthi'-zhi (PI. 1), only a few 

 No"'-ho°-zhi°-ga membei's of those two gentes have succeeded in 

 learning it. Those who know it will not teach it thoroughly except- 

 ing to persons with whom they have friendly relations or to those 

 who are verj" liberal with their fees. To one who is not particularly 

 liked or is not generous with his fees the learned No'''-ho°-zhi"-ga 

 will recite the ^vi'-■gi-e but once and then, gathering up his fees, he 

 vnll hurriedly depart. The slightest inattention on the part of the 

 learner is always seized upon by the teacher as an excuse to abandon 

 his work. 



After the recitation of the wi'-gi-e the Xo'-ka and his assistant, the 

 A'-ki-ho" Xo'-ka, fold up their fees preparatory to going to their 

 homes, but before leaving they inform their candidate that he is 

 allowed, by custom, seven years in which to pi'epare for the initiation. 

 Within this time he must lay aside various articles of value to use as 

 fees to be given to the officers who are to take an active part in the 

 initiatory ceremony. He must also store away food supplies to be 

 used in entertaining the No"'-ho°-zhi°-ga order whom he will have to 

 invite to the initiation. For ceremonial and symbolic use he must 

 collect the skins of seven animals, namely: (1) the skin of a mottled 

 lynx; (2) the skin of a gray wolf; (3) the skin of a male pmna; 

 (4) the skin of a male black bear; (5) the skin of a male buffalo; 

 (6) the skin of an elk; (7) the skin of a deer. Having given these 

 instructions to their candidate as to his duties, the Xo'-ka and the 

 A'-ki-ho° Xo'-ka depart for their respective homes. 



In the early days when the arrow with its bow was the only weapon 

 possessed by the Osage that was effective at a distance, it was diffi- 



