342 ■ THE WINNEBAGO TRIBE [eth. ann. 37 



Then the leader of the north ])aii(l said: "I also will start a song. 

 I greet you." 



Then the leader of the west band said: "I also will start a song. 

 I greet you." 



Then the leader of the south band said: "I also will start a song. 

 I greet you." 



Then the leader of the east band sang a song, and the other leaders 

 sang their songs. Each band sang its own songs, not paying any 

 attention to the songs of the others. Each band sang diflerent 

 songs. This they do in order to drown the voices of the others. 

 Should one ])and overcome the other, it means that that particular 

 band would be blessed with victory hi war. Wliat they were really 

 saymg is that their songs were more powerful than the others, and 

 that their grandfathers' songs were the holiest. Then they all 

 danced around the lodge, smgle file, and made their exit from the 

 lodge. While they were dancmg, the host sat still smguig and beatmg 

 his drum. They carry their kettles outside, ^^^lerever they wish to 

 eat, there they go and dance aroimd the kettle of food first. Then 

 they eat their meal. They dance in different bands. 



The ceremony fhiishes with this feast. It is customary, however, 

 for the one who has been given the seat of honor, that is, the east 

 seat, to give a feast inunediately afterwards. Then the one who has 

 been mvited first would do the same thing, so that all four would 

 ui this mamier give dances hi rotation. For this reason it generally 

 took five nights before the ceremony was over. During those five 

 nights no one could sleep. It is from this fact that the word, "Sore- 

 eye Dance," which is the general term used for this ceremony, 

 orighiated. If a person does not sleep for five nights, his eyes 

 generally get sore, and that is why they call this ceremony the 

 "Sore-eye Dance." 



wSometimes they perform night-spirit tricks. These would be of 

 the following nature: A kettle is put on to boil and some mdividual 

 fishes out a piece of meat bare-handed without getting burned. At 

 other times they shoot a hole mto a drum covering, using a wild-cat 

 claw as a missile. Then they immediately mend it. 



When a man is very bad they shoot him with an object and kiU 

 him. They used to be very much afraid of such people. Sometimes 

 they take a handful of live coals and embers from the fire, put them 

 into their mouth and then spit them out without getting burned. 

 It is for this reason that they are called holy. Sometimes they take 

 burnt portions of a tree that had been struck by lightning, put them 

 in the fire, and then when they are red hot take them out again and 

 put them m their mouths without extinguishing them. Tliey then 

 spit them out, and it would look like lightning. Or they would shoot 

 one another with cold charcoal. Tliis is all that I know. 



