262 THE WINNEBAGO TRIBE [eth. ann. 37 



on tho earth, have medicines that you are to use on earth. 

 Whatever you say on earth it will be so. You have been blessed with 

 all the things that are on and under the earth." 



All the fowls and insects of tlie air, all tho beings that have wings, 

 blessed him and gave him medicmes, which he was to mix with other 

 medicines. He was told to make use of all the insects of the earth 

 and air, some of which we never see. All those who live on earth, all 

 the fishes in the water, and all the different kinds of water-spirits 

 blessed him with medicines. He was blessed with, and told to use 

 as medicines, all those plants that li^^e in the water. He was blessed 

 with the leech, one of the animals that lives in the water, and he 

 was to use it in medicine mixing. They say that it is good to mix the 

 leech with other medicines to relieve pain. He was blessed with all 

 the trees, that we see to-day, which he was to use as medicines. 

 Their bark, leaves, and roots are considered very good for such pur- 

 poses. He was blessed also with all the small undergrowth, whose 

 leaves, bark, inner bark, blossoms, and roots he was to use for 

 medicine. He was blessed with all the weeds, and he was to use 

 their heads and leaves for medicme, but their roots were to be used 

 for other purposes. 



Thus all the different kmds of plants that grow on this earth 

 blessed him. The earth also blessed him and said to him, 

 "Grandson, as the other spirits are blessing you, I, also, will bless 

 you. Earthmaker has placed me here, and I therefore bless you 

 with aU plants that grow upon me, and all the trees and weeds and 

 animals that exist on tliis earth, and lastly, with life and myself 

 (i. e., earth). You may use me, and especially the blue clay that you 

 derive from me, for medicines. Should you use as medicine all these 

 things with which I have blessed you, especially if you use me, as 

 medicine, you will be able to accomplish all that you attempt. 



"If a person who is sick offers you tobacco (i. e., asks you to cure 

 him), remember that I also would like to smoke and that it is for 

 that reason that I have blessed you." ^ 



Birds, especially eagles, are used hi the makhig of medicmes. 

 The entire body of a raven, uicludhig the heart and brains, are used, 

 and also the following snakes: The gray siiake, the black snake, the 

 blue snake, the yellow snake, the bull snake, and tlie snake that 

 breaks itself m two. The rattlesnake is used m a mixture given to 

 women when m labor. If a woman hurts herself durmg pregnancy 

 aiid kills the child within her womb, she can be made to deliver the 

 embryo if she uses the medicme mentioned above. 



'According to general belief the spirits f re supposed to have entered into a sort ot "bargain" with the 

 human beings by which they were to bestow their blessings upon them in exchange for tobacco, buck- 

 skin, and feathers. Of course, it must be understood that individuals must have the necessary require- 

 ments, such as a certain attitu le of mind, fasting, etc., before their oHering of tobacco has any meaning 

 to the spirits. 



