154 THE OSAGE TRIBE. [eth. asn. 38 



86. And spake, saying: '"This sapling 



87. I have not cut down without a piu-pose. 



88. There are peoples who dwell toward the setting of the sun. 



89. It is upon those peoples I have made this tree to fall." 



90. To the left side of the door of his house 



91. He dragged the willow sapling, 



92. And spake, saying: "This sapling also 



93. I have not brought to the door of my house without a purpose. 



94. The warriors of the Tsi'-zhu, 



95. And those of the Ho"'-ga, 



96. Shall use these saplings for counting their o-do°'. 



97. When they use these saplings for counting their o-do"', 



98. They shall count with accuracy their o-do"', as they travel the 



path of life," it has been said, in this house. 



The wi'-gi-e relating to the military honor symbols, namely, the 

 seven and six imprints of the Black Bear's feet, belongs to the 

 Wa-f a'-be (Black Bear) gens. The members of tliis gens alone can 

 recite it without modification. The other gentes belonging to the 

 Ho°'-ga subdivision of the Ho°'-ga great division are privileged to 

 recite the wi'-gi-e, but in modified form. The preceding wi'-gi-e 

 recited by Wa-xthi'-zhi is the modified form used by his gens, the 

 I^-gtho^'-ga (Puma). Wa-xthi'-zhi was taught this wi'-gi-e by his 

 father, Wa-thu'-ts'a-ga-zhi. With some hesitation Wa-xthi'-zhi also 

 gave the Beaver and the Willow Wi'-gi-e of the Wa-zha'-zhe Wa-no" 

 gens. The members of the Wa-zha'-zhe Wa-no" gens alone could 

 recite the wi'-gi-e in full. Those of the other gentes composing the 

 Wa-zha'-zhe subdivision of the Ho°'-ga great division are privileged 

 to recite it, but in modified form. 



Wa-tse'-mo"-i", of the Black Bear gens (PI. 7, A), who received his 

 instructions from an older relative of the same name who was also a 

 member of the Black Bear gens, said that the wi'-gi-e of the Black 

 Bear and that of the Wa-zha'-zhe Wa-no° gentes should both be 

 recited as one wi'-gi-e; therefore Wa-tse'-mo^-i" gave them both as 

 one continuous wi'-gi-e. 



The Black Bear and the Wa-zha'-zhe Wa-no° are the principal war 

 gentes of the Ho^'-ga tribal division. 



Wi'-Gi-E OF THE Black Bear and Wa-zha'-zhe Wa-no*' Gentes. 



By Wa-tse'-mo^-i'*. 



(Osage version, p. 426; literal translationi p. 562.) 



1. They said, it has been said, in this house, 



2. The male black bear, he that is without blemish, 



3. Fell to meditating upon himself. 



