252 THE OSAGE TRIBE. [etii. ann. 3» 



bend of the river of life. At the last line of the wi'-gi-e the candidate 

 puts around the neck of the Xo'-ka the woven band so that the 

 gorget hangs on the Xo'-ka's breast just under his throat, the fringes 

 of the band appearing below the shell gorget. 



Wl'-GI-E OF THE MUSSEL. 



(Osage version, p. 476; literal translation , p. 603.) 



1. Ho! With what shall they (the little ones) adorn their bodies, 



as they travel the path of life, it has been said, in this house. 



2. The god of day who sitteth in the heavens, 



3. Who never fails to appear at the beginning of day, 



4. Puts forth frona the left side of his body 



5. A fiery, crimson glow. 



6. That fiery glow they chose for a symbol, it has been said, in this 



house. 



7. When they make of tliis fiery glow their life symbol, 



8. They shall be free from all causes of death, as they travel the 



path of life, it has been said, in tliis house. 



9. What shall they use for a plume, as they travel the path of life,. 



it has been said, in this house. 



10. The god of day who sitteth in the heavens, 



11. Who never fails to appear at the beginning of day, 



12. Hath at his left side 



13. A shaft of light resembling a plume. 



14. That shaft of light they chose to be their plume. 



15. When they make that shaft of light to be their plume, 



16. They shall be free from all causes of death, as they travel the 



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



17. To the mussel from whom they made their gorget, it has been 



said, in this house, 



18. They spake, saying: "O, my grandfather, 



19. The little ones have nothing, my grandfather, of wliich to make 



their bodies," they said to him. 



20. The mussel replied : " I am a person of whom the little ones may 



well make their bodies. 



21. I am a god who is difficult to overcome by death. 



22. When the little ones make of me their bodies, 



23. They also shall become difficult to OTercome by death, as they 



travel the path of life. 



24. Even the gods themselves 



25. Have not the power to see the path I make. 



26. When the little ones make of me their bodies, 



