382 THE WINNEBAGO TEIBE [eth. ann. 37 



ceremony. Ail who are going to partake in the head eating will 

 sit together with the donor. A warrior will eat together with the 

 scalp. This is all I have to say." 



Then the feasters who were selected to take part in the head eat- 

 ing went toward the warrior and ate with him. This warrior (the 

 donor) held a long stick in his hands with which he danced, after he 

 had partaken of the head together with his friends. After he had 

 finished dancing, he walked to the center of the lodge and stuck the 

 stick in the ground and (sat there), eating alone with the scalp. 

 Then all the feasters ate again, and when they were finished the host 

 sang a number of songs and passed (the drum) to the donor, who 

 sang whatever songs he desired; either war-bundle songs, night 

 songs, buffalo songs, or sore-eye dance songs. When the songs were 

 over, all danced. Then the dnun was passed to the one who had 

 counted coup first and he spoke as follows; 



" The spiiits blessed our grandfather and taught him many speeches 

 for this occasion. These we will try to repeat to-day. Even if we 

 do not repeat them correctly, the Night Spirits will not take such a 

 mistake amiss, we were told. Indeed, if I only knew one thing (a 

 song or a speech) they would bless me. We wish to trample upon the 

 soul of oiu- friend (the scalp) and if you, my friends, do the same and 

 repeat the holy speeches of your grandfathers, we wiU siu-ely accom- 

 plish our purpose. Life we wish to obtain, so let us start our songs. 

 Tliat is what I wanted to tell you. Now let us beat the drum and 

 sing. I greet you all." 



Then the drum and tobacco were taken to the one who had coimted 

 coup second. He spoke as follows: 



"The songs and speeches that my grandfather used, those I, too, 

 will use. I, too, desire to trample upon the soul of our friend (the 

 scalp). Life I desire, and I will therefore start up some songs. lean 

 not do what my ancestors did, but I will do the little I know. I 

 greet you all." 



Tlien the drum and tobacco were passed to the one who had coimted 

 coup third, and he spoke as follows: 



"What our grandfather said, that I am trying to say now. I do 

 not know any songs or speeches, however. I did not listen to what 

 my parents told me, so now when I might have asked the spirits for 

 many things, I can not do it. I do not know what to say and my 

 eyes fill with tears at my discomfitiu-e. But I have myself to blame 

 for it. Now I will start up some songs. I greet you aU." 



Then they brought the drum to the one who had been fom-th to 

 count coup and placed tobacco in his hands. Then he spoke as 

 follows : 



"It is good. Those in the east have given me tobacco and I will 

 now offer it to the spirits in their behalf. You have helped to trample 



