BADiN] RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES BASED ON BLESSINGS 339 



lodge, where they sing once more. "VMien they have in this manner 

 sung all the songs that they wish to use the leader of the north 

 band makes the four circles as before and brings the tobacco, gourds, 

 etc., to the west band. Then they all take their seats. Now the 

 leader of the west band rises and speaks as follows: 



"Councilors, life-obtainere, relatives, to you all who are seated 

 here, I send forth my greetings. You who occupy the first seat, 

 you who occupy the north seat, and you who occupy the seat at 

 the end of the road, I greet. I do not mean to say anything of con- 

 sequence. I was taught this ceremony, but I do not know any- 

 thing about it. However, I always honored it, for I was told that 

 it was a good thing. Indeed, I knew it, but I could never perform 

 it well. I was told that if I performed it well I would obtain life 

 thereb}', just as others have done. Well, some of you are able to 

 do it. It is a verv great council feast. How, indeed, can the spirits 

 ignore what you have done for them to-daj^? If they acknowledge 

 it, we who are representing the directions will receive blessings 

 through the host who is giving the feast. That is what I mean. 

 Wlien we hold our mediators (that is, the drums, tobacco, etc.) we 

 will be strengthened thereby. So with this in our minds, let us 

 take and hold them. Children of the night-blessed ones, I greet 

 you." 



Then he sang the starting song, and when he had finished he rose 

 and spoke again. 



"Councilors, I send you greetings, as well as to you who sit in the 

 first seat, to you who sit in the north, and to you who sit at the end 

 of the road. It is said that when the night-soldiers come they walk 

 over the entire extent of the earth. When they blessed my grand- 

 father they blessed him with life. So he used to say of himself. We 

 will now plead for these powers in our songs. We will place our 

 sisters in front and follow them. That is what I wanted to announce 

 to you. Children of the night-blessed ones who are seated here, I 

 greet you." 



Then they made the complete circuit of the lodge untU they came 

 to the place where they had been sitting. There they made a cir- 

 cle. Then they made another circuit of the lodge and stopped in 

 front of the south position and made a circle. Here they made 

 another circuit of the lodge and stopped at the east end and made 

 a circle. Then they made the last circuit of the lodge and stopped 

 in front of the north band and made a circle. By this time all the 

 songs that they were to use had been sung. The leader now made 

 four circuits and brought the gourds, drum, tobacco, etc., in front 

 of the south band. All now took their seats and when they were 

 seated the leader of the south band arose and spoke as follows: 



