216 THE OSAGE TKIBE. [bth. Ann. 39 



42. The young deer 



43. Shall also 



44. Be their charcoal syrabol, it has been said, in this house. 



45. It was he who said: " Behold, my black hoofs, 



46. Which I have made to be as my charcoal, 



47. The black tip of my nose also, 



48. Which I have made to be as my charcoal." 



49. When the little ones also make of these their charcoal symbol, 



50. And when they go against their enemies toward the setting sun, 



51. Black, indeed, shall be their charcoal. 



52. It was he who said: "I escape many dangers, 



53. Even when I make my fhght in the very midst of my enemies, 



54. And arrows aimed at me fly around me in forked lines, 



55. I make my escape." 



56. When the little ones make of the young deer their bodies, 



57. They shall also have the power to escape dangers, as they travel 



the path of life, O, younger brothers, they said to one another. 



The song of tliis group relates to the gathering of the men of the 

 tribe for the purpose of organizing a war party in the ceremonial order 

 prescribed by the ancient No'''-ho''-zhi''-ga and is in the nature of a 

 challenge to those individuals who may be inclined to sliirk their 

 responsibility as warriors. The word ni'-ka, men, that frequently 

 occurs in the song, is used in a figurative rather than in its ordinary 

 sense and refers to the warlike spirit of the men who gather to prepare 

 for a conflict with their enemies. 



The song specifically refers to the warriors and to the gentes officiat- 

 ing tlu-oughout the ceremonies. Some of the words have been pur- 

 posely corrupted to disguise their meaning, but fi-om those that are 

 clearly spoken a free translation is given. 



Two lines of each stanza will suffice to give the meaning, the other 

 lines being repetitions. 



