54 THE OSAGE TRIBE. [eth. anx.39 



"Carrying (a pipe) and Wailing." The candidate carries in his right 

 hand the pipe he received from the A'-ki-ho" Xo'-ka, his left hand is 

 outspread, and in this attitude he passes along the lines of No"'- 

 ho^-zhi^-ga sitting on either side of the lodge, places his hands upon 

 the heads of two men at a time, and wails. The pipe carried by the 

 candidate is a symbol of supplication to Wa-ko°'-da and the wailing 

 is in appeal to the No°'-ho°-zhi"-ga to recite the sacred wi'-gi-e in full 

 and not to hold any of it back. The second part is the reciting of the 

 sacred wi'-gi-e by the No"'-ho".-zhi°-ga. As the candidate passes 

 along, carrying the emblem of supplication, and as he touches each 

 couple the No"'-ho"-zhi"-ga who have memorized the wi'-gi-e at once 

 begin its recitation, simultaneously, but not in concert. This recital 

 is an expression of the wish that the candidate shall succeed in all his 

 enterprises as a warrior, and in all his other acts that pertain to the 

 maintenance of life. The third part is pei'formed by the women, who 

 wail in sympathy with the candidate as an appeal to the No°'-ho°- 

 zhi"-ga that they will perform their part without reserve or prejudice. 

 Widows of deceased members of the degree take their husbands' place 

 at the ceremony and are honorary members. 



When the candidate begins this act, "Carrying (the pipe) and 

 Wailing," he observes the courtesy due from an initiating division 

 (in this instance the Ho^'-ga), to the opposite division. The candi- 

 date therefore approaches the two men sitting at the east entl of the 

 line of No"'-ho''-zhi"-ga of the Tsi'-zhu division and places his hands 

 upon their heads. The moment the candidate touches the heads of 

 these two men he and the women begin to wail and all the No"'-ho°- 

 zhi"-ga begin to recite the Smoking Wi'-gi-e. The candidate passes 

 from couple to couple mitil he has reached the west end of the lodge. 

 He then crosses over to the Ho"'-ga side and continues wailing and 

 touching the heads of the No°'-ho"-zhi"-ga until he comes to the east 

 end of the lodge. It the reciting of the wi'-gi-e goes on when he 

 reaches the east he stands waiting until the recitation ceases, when he 

 and the women stop wailing. 



In the No°'-zhi°-zho" degree of the tribal rites there are two Smok- 

 ing Wi'-gi-es; the first is called Wa-k'o°'-9iThu-9e Pe-thon-ba tse, 

 "The Taking of Seven Animals." The second, Wa-k'o"'-pi Thu-^e 

 Sha'-pe tse, "The Taking of Six Animals." 



The FtRST Smoking Wi'-gi-e — The Taking of the Seven Animals. 



(Osage version, p. 3S0; literal translation, p. 521 .) 



1. What shall the little ones make to be a symbol of courage as they 



travel the path of life ? they said to one another. 



2. The little mottled lynx that lies outstretched, they said, 



3. Our grandfather, whose courage is great, we shall make to be a 



symbol of coiu-age. 



