LAPLESCHE] RITE OF VIGIL FREE TRANSLATION. 267 



54. It is at that woman the stroke is aimed, they said. 



55. When they aim their strokes at that woman, 



56. Their strokes shall always be effective. 



57. When they take up the rattle against those peoples, 



58. They shall make it possible, at all times, to overcome them with 



ease, they said. 



Songs of the Symbolic Man. 



Four songs follow the wi'-gi-e. The first three are said to belong to 

 the symbolic man, in wliich he extols the perfection of his physical 

 structure. In other words, these three songs are expressive of the 

 satisfaction felt by the ancient No'''-ho°-zhi"-ga at the completeness 

 of their war organization, which they likened to a man whose body is 

 perfect in all its parts and is able to respond to his courage by the per- 

 formance of valorous deeds. 



The theme of the first, second, and tliird song of this group relates 

 to the power of the war ofganization symbolized by a man. The 

 various parts of the body of the ideal or symbolic man are mentioned 

 in the following order: (1) ^i. Iris feet, by which he is able to move 

 from place to place; (2) Hi, liis legs, which give speed to his move- 

 ments; (3) Zho, his body, which maintains his life; (4) A, liis arms, 

 the means by which he supplies himself with food; (5) Pa, his head, 

 in which he formulates his thought and directs his action; (6) I, his 

 mouth, by wliich he gives utterance or expression to his thoughts. 



The foirrth song refers to the tribes hostile to the Osage. The same 

 power is attributed to the enemy which the Osage assume for them- 

 selves and the same sequence is observed in mentioning the various 

 parts of the body of the ideal or symbolic man that gives to the enemy 

 tribes the power of action, thought, and expression. In the song, 

 however, the hope is expressed that when the Osage attacks the enemy 

 tribe its personified power will be so stricken with fear that the 

 various parts of his body will become cramped and maile to be 

 incapable of action. 



A free translation of one line of each stanza of the first song will 

 suffice to give the meaning of the song, as all the other lines in each 

 stanza are repetitions. 



