206 THE WINNEBAGO TRIBE [eth. ann. 37 



from some other clan spirit can take part in the specific clan feast 

 of the latter it is difficult to determine, but in the buffalo feast, 

 assuming that this is unquestionably the real Buffalo clan feast, any 

 person who has obtained a bundle from the buffalo can participate, 

 although the leader must always belong to the Buffalo clan. This 

 example may be taken as an indication of the historical origin of 

 these feasts, namely, that they are really religious societies in wliich 

 the influence of the clan has restricted the number of individuals 

 who are ordinarily supposed to occupy the five places of honor. 

 That this restrictive influence of the clan was caused by the identity 

 of the clan animal with the guardian spirit there can be little doubt. 



