BADiN] SHAMANISTTC AXD MEDICIXAL PRACTICES 261 



All those spirits whom Earthmakor made with his own hands were 

 placed in charge of certain things. All these spirits have had com- 

 passion upon you. All those whom Earthmakor created as holy 

 have blessed you. Earthmakor has placed me in charge of certain 

 medicines and I am so completely in control of these that I can do 

 what I please with them. There exist no beings either on the earth 

 or under the earth whom I can not cure. With all these do I bless you. 

 All your previous blessings were from spirits who live either on 

 earth or in the heavens. The medicinal plants I bless you with are 

 called Buffalo medicines. The other medicines are called 'stench- 

 earth medicines.' As long as you and your descendants live these 

 medicines will be efficacious. The owners of the stench-earth medi- 

 cines thoy will be called. In this manner I bless you." 



Then the hitcara said, "I bless you with those things that Earth- 

 maker placed me in charge of. I was created by Earthmakor. 

 Medicines, grass, trees, and bushes (for use in the making of medi- 

 cines), with these I bless you. I bless you with my utterance. With 

 m\' mouth, I bless you. If a human is suffering and places tobacco in 

 your hands, then you may mention mj- name and pour a pipeful of 

 tobacco into the fire. I wiU grant whatever you request. All the 

 medicinal plants with which I bless you shall belong to you and your 

 descendants as long as the earth endures. Your children can use 

 them, and they will protect them. If any part of their bodv is weak 

 from disease they can heal themselves with them. Many things will 

 you gain through these medicines. ,You may also eat them. 

 Human! you have dreamed, not only for yourself but for all yoxir 

 descendants. As long as this earth endures, so long will your 

 descendants use these medicines with which I have blessed you. In 

 this way I bless you." 



Then the wildcat said, "Grandson, Earthmaker placed me in con- 

 trol of medicines also. I bless you. The other spirits have blessed 

 you with certain medicines, and to these I now add my own. I can 

 not teU you anything about the heavenly blessings. The spirits 

 above have already bestowed these upon you. I wiU, however, 

 tell you this: There is nothing either upon this earth or under it that 

 I can not accomplish. I bloss you with the power to do the same. 

 With the blessings I give you, you wiU be able to accomplish anything 

 you -wash whenever you put these medicines to use. If a person were 

 dying, and his relatives offered tobacco and food to you, you would be 

 able to cure him. When you use my name, concentrate your mind 

 upon me, and offer me tobacco. If I smoke the tobacco you will then 

 know that your request has boon granted. All the medical plants that 

 I am giving to you, all the herbs tliat I am blessing you with, to all 

 these, make an offering of tobacco. Wliatever you ask they will 

 grant you. All the animals that troad upon the air, all those 



