KADtN] THE CLAN WAK-BUNDLE FEASTS 499 



I send forth my greetings. To the host and all the clansmen sittmg 

 with him, do I send forth my greetings. To those who are imperson- 

 ating the spirits I also send forth my greetings." 



Then the sixth one for whom a kettle has been placed, the last one, 

 speaks.'^' 



Speech of seventh, guest. — "Host and your relatives who are seated 

 here, I greet you all. I am not able to say anything (i. e., I don't 

 amount to anything), but I can at least thank for the body.'^^ It is 

 no harm to do so, we are told.'-^ That is what I mean and why I say 

 it. To speak of life is surely no harm, we are told.'-" Thus I thought. 

 If ever I obtained the position of one who impersonated (a spirit) and 

 (partook) of a sacred piece of food, I felt that I would be beside 

 myself with thankfulness and gratitude. Not of war power will 

 such as I be able to speak. In spite of that, they have seen to it that 

 I came in connection with life. They have permitted me to imper- 

 sonate one of the spirits who is among the greatest in the control of 

 war power. It is good to thank the spirits and at the same time to 

 preach to one another, it is said. To speak to one another of life and 

 of the body( ?) certainly there is no harm in it. Thus I thought, and 

 that is why I am saying this. I am very thankful. If I could only 

 say something (that would be of any value) to the spirits I would say 

 it. You, grandfather, who come every day, you who are in control 

 of great war power and life, tobacco, food, an offering of a white 

 buckskin pleasing to the spirits, and a head ornament — that is 

 about to be sent toward you. I was to be one of those impersonating 

 the spirits at the feast, they told me. I am deeply grateful for the 

 honor, to all those of the various clans that are gathered together 

 here with offerings and who are impersonating the spirits. It is good. 

 Even had I eaten a common piece of meat I would have considered 

 myself well repaid, but I have actually been put in charge of a spirit 

 who controls something. We are thankful. To those to whom we 

 preached (i. e., the Sun) I send forth my greetings. To the host I 

 send forth my greetings. To those who are sitting in the lodge 

 impersontaing the spirits I send forth my greetings." 



When they are through greeting each other, at the end, the host 

 rises and thanks them, sajdng: 



Terminal speech of host. — "War-bundle owners who are seated 

 here, I greet you all. What I long for is exactly what we have been 

 doing. All the members of the various clans have pleaded for us in 



123 This is a mistake of the informant. It should be the seventh one. He seems, however, not to be 

 counting the person who partakes of food oflered to Earthmafcer. 



"< I.e.,thedog(?). 



'w I. e., there is no harm done if even a worthless person like myself thanks for the food of the dog, even 

 although by doing this he is actually taking part in the feast. 



'" I. e., there is no barm in obtaining life for one another by delivering speeches and offering up prayers 

 to the spirits. 



