LA. FLBSCHE] 



BITE OF VIGIL FREE TRANSLATION. 



Ill 



Supplication Songs. 



The next group of songs, four in number, bears the common title, 

 Wa-da Wa-tho", which, freely translated, means Supplication Songs. 

 These songs refer to the continuance of the supplicatory rite in which 

 the chosen Do-do°'-ho°-ga mediates between his warriors and Wa- 

 ko°'-da. This mediation continues during the ceremonies attending 

 the organization of the war party wliich take place soon after the 

 return of the Do-do°'-ho''-ga from his seven days' vigil. 



WhUe on the journey, and throughout the entire expedition, the 

 Do-do" '-ho°-ga walks and camps alone, quite apart from his men, in 

 order that his meditations may not be disturbed by the activities in 

 the camps of his warriors. Only at dusk, when the evening meal has 

 been prepared, is he conducted into camp by one of his men for the 

 necessary length of time in which to refresh himself with a little water 

 and a bit of food. 



The song has but one stanza and only two translatable words: 



Wa-da, e-tha. My petitions, these are. The song is sung four times 



In succession. 



Song 1. 



(Osage version, p. 403; literal translation, p. 540.) 



., ., J -„^ Transcribed by Alice C.Fletcher 



M. Ju • r 120 



Time beats 



Wa da 



r 



da 



r r r r 



wa da - da, e tha. Wa da 



r r r 7* r r r r r 



da e thB.,wa da da, Wa da da e tha,wa da da, .Wa da 



r r 



da e 



tha. 



A free translation is not necessary, the purport of the song being 

 given above. 



The second song refers to the leave taking of relatives by the 

 Do-do°'-ho°-ga and his men when they start on their perilous journey. 

 The song has one stanza and but two words: Bthe lii" da, I go, or I 

 am going. The relatives to whom these words are addressed give to 

 them a meaning more significant than that which they ordinarily 

 convey. To the relatives the words mean: I am going, perhaps 

 never to return, send to me your will power while I am gone. (The 

 transference of will power resorted to by the Osage in times of danger 

 was also practiced by the Omaha, a cognate tribe. See 27th Ann. 

 Kept. B. A. E., p. 583.) 



