334 THE WINNEBAGO TKIBE [eih. ann. 37 



one. If I participated in this ceremony, I would be able to call it life, 

 I was told. But I did not pay any attention to it. They told me it 

 was good and that I would at the same time be -making offerings to 

 Those-with-the-rounded-wood, and that thus I would be able to make 

 use of all the plants that these spirits control, so that I would never 

 be embarrassed when I wished to use tliem. I have caused people 

 who were ill to become well by means of this ceremony. All of the 

 plants that these spirits control are good ones, and it is easy to obtain 

 life with them. In this ceremony we may also obtain life by dancing. 

 But we must dance earnestly. The leaders of this ceremony have 

 held council over everything, and yet they have selected us for a seat 

 of honor, so that we might greet them in this lodge and that we might 

 be able to use this song while greeting them. You children of the 

 night-blessed ones, I greet you all." 



Then he sang an entrance song, and when he finished he repeated 

 the utterances used in entering and gradually made the circuit of the 

 lodge singing. When he was through singing, he again continued the 

 utterances until he came to the place of the host, where he made the 

 circle (with his hands) and stopped. Then he addressed the host as 

 follows : 



"I greet you. You wish me to live, and therefore caused a great 

 day to come upon me and upon all my relatives. We have all received 

 a taste of it, and we have all thought of ourselves in connection witli 

 life. We are also bringing you a pipeful of tobacco, so that we may 

 strengthen one another. That is what we thought and that is why 

 we are doing it. I greet you." ' 



Then he walked around the lodge until he came to his seat. There 

 he stopped and addressed his seat as follows: 



"Seat that is reserved for me and for my relatives, we are about to 

 sit in you; we will do it, and we will think that our lives have been 

 helped thereby. I greet you." Thus he spoke and sat down. Then 

 all the other members of his band sat down one by one. 



Wlien they were all seated the lodge was full. Then the host rose 

 and spoke as follows : 



' 'You who are seated in the first position, I greet you; you who are 

 seated in the north position, I greet you; you who are seated in the 

 west position, I greet you; and you who are seated at the end of the 

 road, I greet you. Children of the night-blessed ones who are here, I 

 greet you. My father and my grandfather spoke to me of this cere- 

 mony, and they told me it was good. They told me that the one 

 who first obtained it was named ' Little Red Turtle.' He fasted and 

 was blessed by those whom he called the Beings-with-round-wood. 

 By these was he blessed at the noon hour, and he was taught what 

 to do. There they taught him all. At a place where the stars 

 touched land they caused it to become night, and there they blessed 



