364 THE WINNEBAGO TRIBE [eth. ann. 37 



(a) Speeches of welcome: When the leader of the east band enters 

 after the ancestor host has begun the ceremony (IV, h), he addresses 

 the latter as follows: " It was good of you to condescend to invite me 

 to this dance. I am a poor pitiable man and you believed me to be a 

 medicine man. However, I know you will show me the true man- 

 ner of living, which I thought I possessed, but which I in reality 

 did not." In this strain he continues, weaving into his speech refer- 

 ences to the ritual connected with his l)and and offering thanks for 

 the beautiful weather (should it be a clear day). In concluding he 

 thanks all again, and informs them that he will sing a song. With 

 slight alterations the leaders of the other bands address the ancestor 

 host similarly. The ancestor host's answer of welcome is as follows: 

 "Whatever I desired you have done for me. All night have you 

 stayed with me and by your presence helped me in the proper per- 

 formance of this ceremony. I am ready with a dancing song, and 

 when I have finished and sit down I shall pass to you tobacco and 

 other means of blessing (the gourds and the drum). All who are 

 present do I greet." 



(h) Speeches of acceptation: After the ancestor host has been pre- 

 sented with food he thanks the donors as follows: "You have had 

 pity on me. You have been good to me and have given me to the 

 full whatever I desired. You have fiUed my heart with the blessing 

 of thankfulness. In return I give you a blessing. Here is some food 

 for you. It is not anything special, nor is it as :nuch as it ought to 

 be, and I know you will remain hungrj'. It was prepared for the 

 spirits of the four quarters (whom you represent), but it is lacking in 

 all those qualities which would have made it acceptable to them. 

 Such as it is, however, may its presentation be a means of blessing 

 to 3'ou." 



(r) Speech of presentation: East presents the food to the ancestor 

 host with the following words: "I have not vers* much to tell you, 

 because I am too poor, but our ancestors told us to give you food. 

 This little that I give is all that I can, being a person of so little 

 importance." 



{(J) Explanatory speeches: These are of so specific a nature that 

 no single one can be considered typical. 



if) Speeches of admonition: ''Nephew, now I shall tell you the 

 path you must walk, the life you must lead. This is the life Hare 

 obtained for us. This is the only kind of life — this that our ancestors 

 followed. Listen to me. If you will always help yourself, then you 

 will attain to the right life. Never do anything wrong. Never steal, 

 never tell an untruth, and never fight. If you meet a woman on the 

 left side of the road, turn to the right. Never accost her nor speak 

 familiarly with a person whom you are not permitted thus to address. 

 If you do all these things, then you will be acting correctly. Tliis is 

 what I desire of a-ou." 



