BADIN] THE CLAN WAR-BITNDLE FEASTS 513 



annoyed it. Host, I greet you. You who are impersonating the 

 spirits, all of you, do I greet." 



The Throwing Out of the Buckskins 



Then the attendants give that war-bundle owner who is regarded 

 as the foremost, as an expert, tobacco, for it is about time now that 

 the various spirits should accept (the offerings)."^ Therefore they 

 select a man who is proficient, one who has very likely been blessed 

 by the Night Spirits and one therefore to whom they are likely to 

 listen, a holy person, a man who has attained war honors. He is 

 likely to be the best one to make the spirits cognizant of the buckskins. 

 So they brought the drum for him to his place, and placed tobacco in 

 his hand. Then he spoke as follows : 



Speech oj ■prominent guest. — "Host and members of his clan who are 

 seated here, I greet you. You seated in this lodge who are imper- 

 sonating the spirits, I greet you. War-bundle owners who are 

 seated here, I greet you. It is good that the war-bundle owners 

 have done so much for the host. He has brought us the means of 

 blessing and caused us to come into this lodge and has fed us. He 

 has permitted us to offer tobacco. It is good. Not insincerely 

 should we speak on such an occasion, om* father told us. If at any 

 time the spirits pay any attention to a human being and permit him 

 to offer them moccasins, rest assured that they will not let a weakling 

 do this. If you are of any importance the spirits will accept the 

 moccasins you have offered them. Indeed, my son, our grandfathers 

 on both ends of the earth will have knov.'ledge of these offerings,'" 

 they told each other." 



For the Night Spirits they sang and alternately they would start 

 up a song for the Thunderbird as they sat there. 



After finishing a Night Spirit song, then they would start up one 

 for the Thunderbird, and then they would sing Night Spirit songs and 

 Thunderbird songs together. " If at any time they consider you a man 

 and accept the moccasins you have offered them, use j-our power. 

 Above all, be careful that you do not say anything in a frivolous 

 manner. The host putting himself in a pitiable condition has with 

 copious dropping of tears besought the spirits for war power. For 

 life he has also besought them and has prayed to them with offerings 

 of tobacco, food, buckskins, and feathers. Putting himself in a 

 pitiable condition he has hunted for the spirits,'^'' weakened himself 

 through exposure to cold, and caused himself untold sufferings. Oh 

 that I could have done similarly! It is for this (these laudable rea- 



'" I. e., that the buckskius should be placed where the spirits can get them. 



i<< I. e., the Night Spirits liviDg in the east and the Thunderbirds living in the west. 



»« I. e., hunted the deer that are used at the feast both for eating and for the buckskin offerings. 



