238 THE OSAGE TRIBE. [eth. Ann. 39 



Wi'-Gi-E Used at the Installation of a Widow. 



When the widow of a No'J'-ho"-zhi"-ga wishes to take her husband's 

 place in the organization slie makes to the leading member of lier 

 husband's gens a formal application for installment into his vacant 

 place, accompanying her request with a suitable fee. At an initia- 

 tion ceremony, following her application", the man to whom the 

 request has been made by the widow waits for a pause in the cere- 

 monies, when, in a formal address, he presents to the No^'-ho"- 

 zhi"-ga the request of the widow. If the No"'-ho°-zhi°-ga express 

 their approval of the application the man who represents the widow 

 then recites the wi'-gi-e used by her husband's gens at the installation 

 of a widow into the place maile vacant by her husband's death. 



The following is the wi'-gi-e recited by a member of the Wa-^a'-be 

 or the I"-gtho°'-ga gens when installing a widow into her husband's 

 place in the organization. Tliis wi'-gi-e is divided into three sec- 

 tions. In the first section the black bear is represented as speaking, 

 offering long life to the " little ones " who make of him "their bodies," 

 that is to those who accept and make of him their life symbol. In 

 the second section the cedar is represented as speaking and offering 

 to the little ones long life and medicines to cure them of the diseases 

 that may attack them. The cedar is used by many of the vSiouan 

 tribes as a symbol of long life. In the tliird section the water of a 

 river is represented as speaking and offering long life to the little 

 ones. Water is of universal use and a symbol of health as well as 

 long life. The first section of the wi'-gi-e belongs to the I"-gtho"'-ga 

 and Wa-Qa'-be gentes of the Ho°'-ga subdivision; the second to the 

 Wa'-tse-tsi gens of the Wa-zha'-zhe subdivision; the third to the 

 E-no"' Mi"-dse-to" gens of the Wa-zha'-zhe subdivision. 



In this wi'-gi-e all references to the destruction of life are care- 

 fully avoided, because the woman is the channel through whom all 

 hmnan life must jjroceed anil continue. She it is who prepares food 

 for the "little ones" to strengthen them for their life's journey; she 

 it is who seeks for them the remedies for the restoration of their 

 health when they sicken; ami she it is who brings water for them 

 when they are thirsty. 



THE Wl'-GI-E. 



(Osage version, p. 468; literal translation, p. 595.) 



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



2. The black bear that is without a blemish, that lies outstretched, 



3. Spake, saying: The little ones shall make of me their bodies. 



4. Behold my toes that are gatheretl together in folds, 



5. Which I have made to be the signs of my old age. 



6. When the little ones come to old age. 



