274 THE WINNEBAGO TRIBE [eth. ann. 37 



with sharp claws). There you blessed me and you told me that 

 should, at any time, any human being have a pain I would be able 

 to drive it out of him. For that reason you called me One-who- 

 drives-out-pams. Now before me is a person with a bad pain and I 

 wish to take it out of him. That is what the spii-its told me when 

 they blessed me, before I came down to earth. Therefore I am 

 going to heal him. Here is the tobacco. 



"To you, who are in charge of the snake lodge, you who are per- 

 fectly white. Rattlesnake, I pray. You blessed me with your rattles 

 to wrap around my gourd and you told me after I had fasted for 

 four days that you could help me. You said that I would never fail 

 in anything that I attempted. So now, when I offer you tobacco 

 and shake my gourd, may my patient live and may life (an additional 

 number of years) be opened to him. That is what you promised me, 

 grandfather. 



"I greet you, too, Night Spirits. You blessed me after I had fasted 

 for nme days, and you took my spirit to your village which hes in the 

 east, where you gave me your flutes which you told me were holy. 

 You made my flute holy likewise. For these I ask you now, for 

 you know that I am speaking the truth. A sick person has come to 

 me and has asked me to cure him; and because I want him to live 

 I am speaking to you. You promised to accept my tobacco at all 

 times; here it is. 



"To you, Disease-giver, I offer tobacco. After I had fasted two 

 days you let me know that you were the one who gives diseases and 

 that if I desired to heal anyone it would be easy for me to do so were 

 I blessed by you. So, Disease-giver, I am offering you tobacco, and 

 I ask that this sick person who has come to me be restored to health 

 agam as you promised when you bestowed your blessmg upon me. 



"To you, Thunderbirds, I offer tobacco too. When you blessed 

 me you said that you would help me whenever I needed you. A 

 person has come to me and asked me to cure him, and as I want him 

 to live, I wish to remind you of your promise. Grandfathers, here 

 is some tobacco. 



"To you, the Sim, I offer tobacco too; here it is. You blessed me 

 after I had fasted for five days and you told me that you would come 

 to my aid whenever I had something difficult to do. Now, someone 

 has come to me and pleaded for life, and he has brought good offermgs 

 of tobacco to me because he knows that you have blessed me. 



"To you, grandmother, the Moon, I also offer tobacco. You 

 blessed me and said that whenever I needed your power you would 

 aid me. A person has come to me and asked for life, and I therefore 

 call upon you to help me with yom- power as you promised. Grand- 

 mother, here is some tobacco. 



