RADiN] WARFARE AND THE COUNCIL LODGE 157 



Any man who has been specially blessed with war powers may 

 go on the warpath. Such a man must not merely be blessed with 

 those general war powers that individuals obtain during their puberty 

 fast, but must likewise be blessed with a definite enemy to kill or 

 capture, as the case may be, immediately before he starts out. In 

 practice this meant that whenever a person wished to go on the war- 

 path he fasted in order to obtain the necessary guarantees of success. 

 An account of the powers granted by the spirit or spirits was then 

 placed before the chief and if, in his opinion, they justified the under- 

 taking, the man was permitted to go. If they were insufficient the 

 chief expressed his disapproval and the contemplated undertaking 

 had either to be given up or the man would be compelled to fast again 

 for increased powers. There were a niunber of men who were unable 

 to obtain the requisite powers. To them one of two alternatives 

 was left open : they might either pm'chase sufficient powers to go on a 

 warpath or they might volunteer to join a large warpath. A volun- 

 teer needed no special blessing. If he had one, it would certainly 

 benefit him, but it was not necessary except as an additional precau- 

 tion, for the leader of the war party {dotca^huylca) was supposed to 

 be blessed specifically with every element necessary for a successful 

 undertaking. As the Winnebago express it, he was blessed "with a 

 complete road." In a war leader's blessing, everything must be 

 provided — sufficient food, a definite niunber of enemies to kill, the 

 exact place where they are to be killed, the exact time when they 

 are to be killed, the exact manner in which they are to be killed, the 

 exact manner in which the participants are to return to their homes, 

 the safe return of all participants, and an infinite number of other 

 minor points. As a volunteer went at the request of another man, 

 the latter, and not he, took upon himself entire responsibility and 

 the chief dealt directly with him. The chief would, in such a case, 

 be particularly careful to see that every life that was risked was 

 amply safeguarded. Otherwise the war party would not be permitted 

 to start. 



A man may go on the warpath for two reasons : either to revenge 

 a slain relative or in a general way because he thinks he has received 

 sufficient power and wishes to obtain glory. If the incentive was 

 revenge, he might pursue one of two methods. He might go to the 

 shaman with offerings of tobacco and presents and teU liim about the 

 death of his relative and his desire for revenge; or he might take the 

 matter in his own hand, fast, and after having stealthily prepared for 

 the necessities of the warpath inform a friend and steal out with him 

 in the middle of the night. Were he to take the first method, it 

 would be the shaman who would fast and who would afterwards 

 lead the party, taking along with him as many men as would follow 

 him. 



