304 THE OSAGE TEIBE. [kth. axn. 39 



In the tliird song the war organization of the tribe is extolled. 

 The ancient No'''-ho"-zhi"-ga made the organization to be composed 

 of all the warriors oi the two great tribal divisions, the Ho°'-ga and 

 the Tsi'-zhu, and the unity to be typified by the Symbolic Man, who 

 rej)resente(l the tribe as a vital being, having in charge the protection 

 and the welfare of the people. 



The war organization as typified by the Symbolic Man is looked 

 upon ])y the No"'-ho"-zlii"-ga as having feet and legs by wliich he 

 can move from place to place; arms to serve liis body so that he can 

 maintain life and protect it against all dangers: a head in wliich he 

 can f(jrmulate his actions; and a mouth through which he can express 

 his thoughts. All these specified parts of the botly necessary to the 

 vital activity of a natural man are attributed to the personified 

 principle of unity, that is, unity of thought and action that gives 

 effective force to an organized boily. In a nmnber of the songs 

 belonging to the war rites these parts that are essential to the activities 

 of a body are mentioned in sequence, beginning with the feet. Thus 

 the peculiar war organization that has served the Osage people for 

 along period of time has been personified, symbolized, and preserved. 



The songs wliich refer to the Symbolic Man are sometimes spoken 

 of as "I'-ki Wa-tho"." The words, literally translated, are: Of 

 Himself He Sings. 



In the first two songs of tliis group the word "wa-to"' is used for 

 triumph. Wa-to is archaic and probably a modification of wa-tse', 

 the word commonly used for triumph. In the third song the word 

 "wa-k'o"' is employed, which has a broader significance than 

 wa-tse', inasmuch as it was through the active power of the person 

 spoken of that the trimnph was acliieved. 



In the third song the word '' Wa-fi^'-da," an archaic and untrans- 

 latable word, occupies a prominent place. The word is said to refer 

 directly to the Symbolic Man. 



\ free translation of one line from each stanza will reveal the 

 meaning. 



