306 THE WINNEBAGO TRIBE [eth. anx. 37 



you give this ceremony, no matter what blessing you ask, we will 

 bestow it upon you, when you offer tobacco. A flute you must also 

 keep holy. You must make it yourself, so that it remains sacred." 

 They also told liim to make a war bundle. The Buffalo chief told 

 him this. So he made one out of a buffalo head and a buffalo tail. 

 These he made sacred so that people might offer tobacco to them. 

 This was done long ago and yet they still do it. 



Then they told him that four differently colored buffaloes would 

 bless him — a white one, a black one, a red one, and a yellow one. 



After a while he was blessed the second time. Tliis time the spirits 

 came after him from above and took him to tlie home of a spirit 

 buffalo. This is the one that blessed him. 



"Earthmaker has placed me here," said the spirit, "and he has 

 given me control of many things. Grandson, I bless you. I am in 

 control of war power, and if you ever go on the warpath don't forget 

 me. If you pour a pipeful of tobacco for me before you go into 

 battle, the enemy will only be able to shoot your shadow." Thus he 

 spoke to him. "I wiU take your body, and in that way it will 

 only he your shadow that the enemy will try to shoot with all their 

 strength. You wiU be without a body, and how then can they hit 

 you, being without a body?" This is what the spirit told him. So, 

 therefore, whenever he went on the warpath it was impossible to 

 kill him. For the spirit had said, "I am also in control of life and 

 I will give you your Ufe back, that you may control it. The spirits 

 have given you a tobacco-pouring feast and whenever you give it, 

 remember that I wish to smoke also. When you pour tobacco for 

 me I wiU gi'ant you whatever you ask. If you ask for war, or if you 

 • ask for hfe, I will accept your tobacco. As long as this earth lasts 

 I will smoke your tobacco and accept the kettle of food that you 

 place on the fii'c for me." 



Thus he spoke to him. The man, however, stiU kept on fasting, 

 and finally the spirits came for him again. There in the middle of 

 the earth lived a buffalo-ghost. There he went and the buffalo- 

 ghost said to him: "I also bless you. You were given counsel and 

 I who am a buft'alo also counsel you. I am in control of many things. 

 Eartlunaker placed me here to live and he put me in control of many 

 tilings. Human, look at me," he said. The man looked at him. 

 Then he saw that his body was covered with flattened bullets. ' ' Thus 

 you will be," said the ghost to him. "It will be impossible to kill 

 you, and you will attain to old age, and when you get tired of living 

 you may do as you please. I give you the privilege of controlling 

 yourself." Then he gave him a song and he caused liim to see a 

 war prize, a wampum. After a while he spoke to him as follows: 



" I also will always smoke at your feast, and if a kettle is ever put 

 on the fire for me, I will be thankful to you. Whatever the people 



