362 THE WINNEBAGO TRIBE [eth. ann. 37 



The leaders of the west and south bands receive each 3i yards 

 of calico and a fourth of the food. 



The ancestor host receives various gifts of food and tooacco from 

 the leaders of the other bands. He receives his payment from the 

 candidate before the ceremony proper. 



Tlie candidate is present at the four nights' ceremony of the an- 

 cestor host's band, preliminary to the ceremony proper. At the 

 latter ceremony he sits to the right of the ancestor host's V)and. He 

 is not dressed in his new suit until after the secret ceremonies in the 

 brush. 



There are facial decorations distinctive of the different bands: 

 The host's band and the candidate paint a blue circle on each cheek, 

 but its significance is unknown to the WTiter. 



The regalia used are simple and few. They consist of eagle, hawk, 

 sciuirrel, beaver, and otter-skin bags (pis. 51-53), a drum, gourd 

 rattles, and invitation sticks. The otter-skin bags are always beaded 

 and contain the sacred shell and various medicines. A few red 

 feathers are always inserted in the mouth of the otter-skin bag. The 

 gourds contain buckshot at the present time and are painted with 

 blue finger marks. 



Division of the ceremony. — The medicine dance is divided into five 

 well-marked parts. The first part (I) consists of the two nights' 

 preparation preceding the sending out of the invitation sticks. This 

 takes place at the home of the ancestor host m the presence of the 

 members of his band and the candidate. Tlie second part (II) con- 

 sists of the four nights' preparation preceding the sweat-lodge ritual. 

 Each band has its own four nights' preparation, although that of the 

 ancestor host begins before the others. The third part (III) con- 

 sists of the rites held in a sweat lodge, specially constructed for this 

 purpose near the medicine lodge, on the mornmg after the four 

 nights' preparation. The participants are the ancestor host, the 

 leaders of the east, west, north, and south bands, each with his two 

 assistants, and the candidate. The fourth part (IV) consists of the 

 ceremony proper, which in turn must be divided into the night cere- 

 mony (a) and the day ceremony (h). The fifth part (V) consists of 

 the rites held in the brush, at which the secrets of the society are im- 

 parted to the candidate. Special guards are placed on all sides of 

 the brush to prevent the intrusion of outsiders. The participants, 

 besides the candidate, are the ancestor host, the leaders of the east 

 and north bands, each with his two assistants, and all other indi- 

 viduals who have bought the privilege of attending. These cere- 

 monies take place at dawn preceiling the day ceremony. 



Two feasts and one intermission interrupt the main ceremony. 

 The feasts always take place at the end of the ritual of the east 

 band — i. e., generally at noon and at midnight. The uatermission 



