96 THE OSAGE TRIBE. [eth. ann.39 



In response to a remark relating to the perfunctory manner in 

 which the Xo'-ka removed the buffalo hair case and the deerskin case 

 from the shiune, Wa-xthi'-zhi said : '' O'-ga-xe thi°-ge,'' they are of no 

 account. From a conversation that followed it was gathered that 

 he did not intend the words to be accepted in their ordinary sense, 

 but what he meant to convey was, that the two symbolic articles had 

 no special part to play in this particular ceremony as had the other 

 articles of the slirine. The upper part of the rush case with its woven 

 conventional designs symbolically represented the sky, the father; 

 the under part, the earth, the mother of all life. The ceremonial acts 

 of the Xo'-ka accompanying the final stanza of the third song referred 

 to the birth of all living forms. 



The words of the third and fourth songs are alike, but the meaning 

 of the two songs is not the same. The third song refers to the birth 

 of all forms of life from the power which abides in the sky and the 

 earth. The fourth song relates to the birth of the Sacred Hawk, 

 which symbolizes the warrior, the man himself, who is endowed with 

 the attribute of courage. 



The mythical story of the Hawk, the child of the Sun and the Moon, 

 will appear in its wi'-gi-e form in a later volume. 



In the ceremonial acts of the Xo'-ka when taking the Hawk, still 

 within its pouch, from the woven rush case, and when removing the 

 Hawk from its deerskin pouch, particular care must be observed by 

 him to make his movements forward, that is, the motion must be 

 away from and not toward himself, for the reason that each of these 

 movements of the Xo'-ka refers to birth into life. 



After the Sacred Hawk has thus been brought forth from its shrine 

 the Xo'-ka blesses himself with it. This he does by touching ^vith it 

 the crown of his head, his arms, botly, and legs. 



The fifth song has but one stanza. In it the Hawk is addressed as 

 a man and given the greeting of welcome. He wears the insignia of a 

 warrior and bears to the people the attribute of courage. 



As the A'-ki-ho° Xo'-ka sings the song the Xo'-ka, grasping with 

 both hands the body, dances the bird to the rhythm of the music. 



