344 THE WINNEBAGO TKIBE [eth. axn. 37 



SocrETY OF Those Who Have Been Blessed By the Buffalo 



Spirits 



Informant, member of the Bear clan: "Come, it is the time for 

 giving the Buffalo Feast," said my father, "so tell the attendants to 

 get ready; and you, third-born, if you see anyone, tell him about the 

 feast that we are going to give." 



So I went to Fire-starter and said, "Nephew, my father is about 

 to give a feast, and he wants his attendants to get ready. You are 

 to go over to his lodge and get a few more attendants to help you. 

 We also will get ready right away." Then I greeted him and he said, 

 "All right, I will go and get some to help me." I returned to my 

 father and told him what I had done. He told me to go and inform 

 those who were to take part in the feast that they were to bring food. 

 This I likewise did and returned with the information that they would 

 all do as desired. 



Now the attendants arrived and asked what was expected of them. 

 They were told to haul the wood and cut the poles to be used in 

 building the lodge, prepare the fireplaces, and put the kettles on the 

 fire. After that they were to go and tell the young women to get 

 the food ready. When the drum was fixed and the food prepared, 

 then the feast would begin, they were told. 



"Well, Green-hair, my nephew, it is about time for you to go dowm 

 toward the timber and invite the people. You, my nephew, Fire- 

 starter, may go to those who possess war bundles and invite them. 

 Go especially to Strikes-the-earth-with-his-wings and tell him that he 

 must come immediately. When you come back, Green-hair, get the 

 earth mound (ina'^'warup'vrvra) ready. Construct two of them in the 

 lodge. Then place upon them all the things that we are going to 

 use in the dance." 



Tlie drum, the flute, the buffalo tails, the buffalo heads were all 

 painted and placed there. 



Then the feasters arrived. He-who-strikes-with-his-wings was to 

 sit opposite Fleet-one. Wlien all had entered and were seated 

 Hodja'noka arose and spoke: 



" War-bundle owners, all you who have been blessed by the buffalo- 

 spirits and are seated here, you who are taking the place of the 

 spirits and giving counsel like them, I thank you and gi-eet you all. 

 You are taking the place of the spirits. Just as we ask for long life 

 from the spirits, so do we ask the same of you. Relatives, I know I 

 am going to tire you all out, but do not take it amiss. What we 

 long for, aid us in obtaining. Life is what I wish. 



"What I am doing now I did not originate, for my ancestor 

 Hodja'noka was the one blessed by the buffalo-spirits. Wlien he 

 was a child he was blessed by them and they gave him a certain 



