394 THE WINNEBAGO TRIBE [eth. ann. 37 



I know that it was because the evil spirit possessed me that I felt that 

 way. I was suffermg from a disease. I even desired to kill myself; 

 I did not care to live. That feelmg, too, was caased by this evil 

 spirit livbig within me. Then I ate this medicine and everything 

 changed. The brother and sister I wanted to kill before I became 

 attached to and T wanted them to live. The medicine had accom- 

 plished this. 



O. L.'s Description of the Peyote Cult 



(PI. 55, a) 



John Rave belongs to the Bear clan, the members of which had 

 the functions of what might be called sergeants-at-arms. He and 

 his ancestors used to be in charge of the manupetci (i. e., the ser- 

 geants-at-arms lodge), to which all malefactors would be brought for 

 punishment. 



Rave, although he belonged to this highly respected class of people, 

 was a bad man. He roamed from place to place. He has participated 

 in all the ceremonies of the Winnebago, the medicine dance alone 

 excepted. He had been married many times. Up to 1901 he was 

 a heavy drinker. In that year he went to Oklahoma and while 

 there ate the peyote. He then returned to the Winnebago and tried 

 to introduce it among them, but none with the exception of a few 

 relatives would have anything to do with it. Tliis did not in any 

 way discourage him, however, and he continued using the peyote, 

 now and then getting a few converts. 



There was not very much religion connected with it in the beginning 

 and the reason people drank it was on account of the peculiar effects 

 it had upon them. Nevertheless these Peyote people preached good 

 things and gradually lost all desire for intoxicating drinks or for 

 participating in the old Winnebago ceremonies. Then Rave began 

 to do away with the old Indian customs. About four or five years 

 ago the membership in the Peyote religion began to increase, for 

 many people now noticed that those connected with the Peyote cult 

 were the only people in the tribe leading a Christian life. 



At this time the Bible was introduced by a young man named 

 Albert Hensley (pis. 8, d; 9, d). He, too, had been a bad person, 

 although he had been educated at Carlisle. Like Rave, he was a 

 heavy drinker and fontl of wandering. 



During the last few years our members have increased so fast tlaat 

 now almost half the tribe belong to our religion. We all make 

 efforts to lead a Christian life and we are succeeding very well. 



We use the New Testament, especially the Revelations. 



Our meetings take place at any time. We gather together in the 

 evening, and as soon as everything is in readiness the leader arises 

 and offers a prayer called, "Turning themselves over to the care of 



