BADiN] THE CLAN WAE-BUNDLE FEASTS 489 



are here, I send forth my greetings to you. Those of the various clans 

 (present) have counseled me repeatedly and all the women and 

 children have pleaded in my behalf (with the spirits). What love 

 that was! And what does life consist of but love? The clan coun- 

 cilor is repeating the songs (that were obtained) when the sacred 

 brnidle was made, so that when the time for the tobacco offering to 

 the spirits came, they would have the tobacco that they have kept 

 all this time (ready). Now, sure enough, the time has arrived and 

 they are sitting prepared to pray to all the various spu-its. Long 

 ago when they saw war they cooked the man they were to go after.'"* 

 That is why they did it. A good (prosperous) warpath they ^vill 

 surely have. When they are actually in the midst of their warpath 

 and are about to rush for one another (i. e., the Winnebago and his 

 enemy), let him pour tobacco to the various spirits who are in con- 

 trol of war. If you say 'Grandfather, thus we used to offer you,' 

 although you may not know (by any word or direct sign) whether 

 those in control of war have answered you, (you will know it) as 

 soon as the rush upon the enemy takes place and, although you go 

 where the bullets and arrows rain hardest, you will pass out of the 

 reach of the bullets and will pass safely out (of all danger). If the 

 people rush for a man to bestow the war honors upon,"*^ you will be 

 the one. If you give the sacred feast m the proper way, if you burn 

 up much tobacco and food, then the various spirits, especially the 

 Thimderbirds, who are in control of the greatest war power, (will 

 bless you) for the excellent way in which you have (prayed to them). 

 Whenever the Thunderbirds come they will remember you; and 

 when they come they will even call you by name and say, 'Let us 

 smoke here.' ^"^ When the young begin to grow up, one of the men 

 enconrages them. Only a few, however, are like this. It is good. 

 He (the host) has preached and pleaded for as many men as are 

 present. They (the host and his band) have made offerings of food 

 to our grandfathers who live in the west (the Thunderbirds) and 

 pleasing offerings of tobacco and buckskhi have they sent out to them. 

 They have permitted me to un])ersonate (this spirit) and have thus 

 given life to myself and my unimportant clansmen, who have been 

 living in so lowly a condition. With real life have we felt ourselves 

 connected (through your actions). With life have we felt ourselves 

 connected by means of that vessel which the Creator gave me as a 



10* Here the literal translation is nonsense. The real meaning is that the spirit of the enemy they are to 

 kill on the warpath is present in the food offered up at this feast. This is a eharacteristic Winnebago con- 

 ception. For another example, see a version of the origin mjih of the Thunderbird clan bundle, where the 

 hero, by drinking a certain liquid, has not only a \ision of the people he is going to kill, but even heara 

 their dying groans. 



i» This refers to the custom of running out to greet the returning warriors in order to conduct them into 

 the village and bestow the war honors upon those who have counted coup. 



'" I. e., if a person makes it a habit to offer tobacco, the spirits will say," Let us stop at such and such a 

 man's place as we go along and have a smoke." 



186823—22 32 



