326 THE WINNEBAGO TRIBE [eih. ann. 37 



you will deliver the requests I address to our grandfather-who-crawis 

 (the snake), just as I have said them. I offer you tobacco. 



"To you likewise, grandfathers, you whom Eaxthmaker created 

 first and placed within the earth; you whom Eai-thmaker placed in 

 control of abundance of life and whose war clubs were made heavy, 

 so that nothing could miss them ; to you we offer these things. What- 

 ever you can give us, we ask of you in return. Here are our ofl'erings 

 of food, tobacco, and eagle feathers. We place them here at jour door. 

 We ask that you bless us with victory in war. We know that the 

 weapons you carry make you invulnerable, and we wish likewise to 

 be invulnerable. You never fail to obtain what you desire with your 

 clubs, and we ask that the same power be bestowed upon us. As 

 the years pass may the blessing we obtain increase in power. When 

 you look out upon the world life emanates from your eyes. May this 

 life be given to oiu- posterity. As yre strut about in the short number 

 of days allotted to us may you keep out of our path, so that we 

 may not be frightened. Yet should we cross any of your paths may 

 we be strengthened thereby. It is said that you are the grass, and 

 that is why we ask you to bless us. Bless us because you are ia pos- 

 session of the life which we desire. For these reasons do we offer 

 you tobacco, feathers, and food." 



Then the host poured tobacco into the four holes that he had made 

 in the ground and placed feathers there. Then he took a little food 

 from each of the kettles and poured it into the four holes. After 

 that he greased the heads of the snake skins which were lying before 

 him with kettle grease and potu"ed tobacco on the heads of the snakes. 

 He asked all his relatives to offer tobacco likewise and he put tobacco 

 into the holes again and poured some upon the heads of the snakes. 



When those invited have arrived, someone who is a good speaker 

 sits near the entrance, while another good speaker sits near the 

 farthest end. After all have entered, the leader of the fom- partici- 

 pants makes the circuit of the fireplace four times. He then sits 

 down, and the host greets each one in turn, as follows: 



"I greet you aU. It is good. How could I say aught but that it 

 is good ? I am a poor worthless fellow, yet you have remembered 

 me. It is good. You did not look upon my unworthiness and think 

 within your hearts he is a worthless fellow, but you thought of the 

 spirits, and therefore you came to sit with me so that I might see 

 your face. It is good. I have obtained four chickens, and the 

 attendant is now cooking them. I suppose he has cooked them by 

 this time, and we will soon be able to eat them. 



"I am attempting to cook water for the beings first created, so 

 that we might be blessed with victory in war, and with life. That is 

 what we are asking and what we would like to obtain from them 

 before they (the spirits) retire for the night. It is our desire to be 

 blessed year in, year out. 



