RADiN] THE MEDICINE DANCE 363 



generally lasts from dawii preceding the day ceremony until 7 or 8 

 a. m. Tlie intermission begins as soon as the drum and gourds have 

 been returned to the ancestor host and ends as soon as the people 

 return from the brush ritual. 



The first and second parts are concerned entirely with a recital 

 of certain ritualistic myths and a rehearsal of the songs and the 

 specific ritual of each band used during the remaining parts. 



Types arid component elements of the ceremony. — For purposes of 

 greater clarity, the speeches, songs, and types of action will be care- 

 fully differentiated and referred to by some designation character- 

 izing their essential traits. These speeches, songs, and types of 

 action together form combinations which may be regarded as units, 

 and they will therefore also be referred to by some designation char- 

 acteristic of their function. 



1. Types of speeches — (1) Salutations: No formal salutation is 

 used during Parts I and II, the individuals being addressed by their 

 relationship terms. In Parts III, IV and V the salutations are in- 

 variably the same. The ancestor host and his band are addressed 

 as follows: "The-one-occupying-the-seat-of-a-relative (deceased) and 

 you-who-sit-with-him, do I salute." The east is addressed, "You- 

 who-represent-the-place-where-the-sun-rises " ; the north, "You-who- 

 represent-the-place-where-the-cold-comes-from"; the west, "You- 

 who-represent-the-place-where-the-sun-straightens," or (preferably) 

 "You-who-represent-the-end-of-the-road." 



The appellations of the bands, as before stated, refer to the creation 

 myth and the four guardian spirits whom Hare visited for the 

 purpose of inquiring into the necessity and meaning of death. Hare 

 was compelled to travel around the earth, which is conceived of as 

 an island, and received no answer until he came to the spirit at the 

 end of the road. In the dramatic performance of the medicine 

 dance the lodge typifies the earth and the four bands and their 

 leaders typify the four spirits. The ancestor host's band typifies 

 the ancestor of the Winnebago. 



(2) Speeches: Under this head will be treated (o) speeches of wel- 

 come; (Jb) speeches of acceptation; (c) speeches of presentation; 

 id) speeches explanatory' of the significance of the ritual; and 

 (f) speeches of admonition, addressed exclusively to the candidate. 

 This does not exhaust all. There are many others, generally short, 

 that can hardly be classified. In their content, as well as in the order 

 of their succession, the speeches must follow a traditionally deter- 

 mined sequence. In practice this is certainly not always true, but 

 to the mind of the Winnebago these speeches appear as old as the 

 ceremony. It is their firm belief that an}- departure from the accepted 

 type will interfere with the efficacy of the ceremony. 



