BADUf] THE CLAN WAK-BUNDLE FEASTS 537 



the spirits. We will try also to use some of the songs that were 

 taught to the owner of the bundle when he was blessed. We will 

 perhaps make you smoke poor tobacco and tire you out by making 

 you sit too long, and we will probably keep you hungry too long, 

 but we know that you have served at these feasts and that this 

 ceremony is good and that you know how to carry it on. It is good 

 that you act thus. They say that if we sit up all night at a feast 

 we will be able to obtain victory in war and long life. For this 

 purpose you have come here and intend to sit with us. We are 

 very glad. We will be at your service and as soon as the attendants 

 have the food ready you shall receive some. To those sitting in the 

 place of the setting of the sun, the Thunderers, we will sing the songs 

 they taught our grandfather. We will attempt to sing them for you. 

 If we can remember them, we will use about four." 



After he has concluded, the members of his band siijg the Thunder- 

 bird songs and when they are finished they sing the dancing songs. 



When these are over the host speaks again. 



"Sons of wars, I greet you. We are delivering our speeches as 

 fast as possible. When our grandfather was blessed he fasted, 

 denying himself water. He suffered much. It was then that the 

 spirits had compassion upon him. One of the spirits met him in 

 broad daylight, one day, at noon. He blessed him with victory in 

 war and with the life, or good half, of his body,* and with the right 

 to hand on this blessing for generations. As long as the people 

 offer red feathers and tobacco and make feasts in his honor, so long 

 will he not trouble them with disease. He said that these were 

 the things he liked — dog, red feathers, and tobacco. These are the 

 things that we accordingly offer him. We will now use his songs, 

 which are in another language. I suppose we will make a great 

 many mistakes, but it is said that even if a person knows only one 

 song he should try and use it, for through it victory in war and long 

 life can be obtained. With this thought before us we will try. We 

 were also told that we must leave nothing undone. 



"Sons of wars, and you who represent the spirits, I greet you." 



Now the slow songs are sung, and after they are finished, the dance 

 songs. Then the host rises and speaks again. 



" Sons of war, I greet you. After we have used four lots of songs 

 we will have the feast. The attendants will have the food ready 

 about that time. The songs that we will attempt to sing will be 

 Thunderbird songs and the songs of the different spirits that accom- 

 pany this bundle, the Sun, the Moon, the Morning Star, the Earth, 

 the Water, the Daylight, and the Eagle. The songs of all of these 

 spirits we will try to use and sing. 



* Evidently it was the Disease-giver who blessed htm. 

 186823—22 35 



