BiDiN] THE CLAN WAE-BTJNDLE FEASTS 539 



"The next kettle is in honor of the Morning Star. We offer 

 tobacco, buckskin, and food to him. This kettle is to be placed 

 before my uncle, as he knows how to make offerings to spirits better 

 than we do. All that we wish is that the spirits should know that 

 we have done this; and he understands how to make this known to 

 the spirits. Warriors, I greet you. The kettles have now all been 

 put on by the attendants and we offer to you all that they can hold. 

 It will be lacking in every way, but, warriors, you understand how 

 to divide it. Knowing this, we know that you will all get some. 

 Whenever you get ready you can start eating. In the meantime we 

 will sing." 



After singing four songs those present partake of the feast. When 

 the feast is over, the guest who received the first kettle rises and 

 speaks : 



"Elders and you who are mere participants, who have partaken 

 of oiu- feast, and you warriors, I greet. It is truly good. Who woidd 

 not say it is good ? Relatives, a lesson this has been to me, the fact 

 that I have been invited. It is indeed a real pleasure for me to be 

 here, but I have been accorded an even greater honor in that I have 

 been given a kettle, and especially that it should be just that kettle 

 that M-e offer to the greatest spirit, Earthmaker. For him have I 

 eaten and for him have I smoked the tobacco that was offered. We 

 will be strengthened by the blessing that it brings us. All our rela- 

 tives that had anything to do with this offering will be strengthened. 

 How can the spirits help recognizing such a»off"ering ? It is said that 

 if we wish anything of the spirits and we offer tobacco to them they 

 would accept and recognize it. Surely such an offering as this (in 

 which we have participated) will be received by the spirits, and assur- 

 edly they will bless our host with victory, just as he has wished it. 

 I am thankful that I had something to do with it. I consider that 

 my life has been renewed. I therefore greet him, Earthmaker, and 

 I greet the host and the warriors who are representing the spirits. I 

 greet them all." 



Then the guest who had received the second kettle rises and speaks : 

 "Hosts and relatives who are sitting around me, I greet you all. 

 It is good. Wlio would not say that it is good? I do not intend 

 this as mere imitation of the preceding speaker, but my grandfather 

 taught me to be thankful at all times for such an affair as this. I 

 did not gain honor in war, and (for my presence here) I am conse- 

 quently all the more thankful. It is good. He has honored me 

 together with the spirits when he offered to them tobacco, buckskin, 

 and food and when he asked them for victory and life. How could 

 such a one go unblessed ? Do not the spu-its even know om* thoughts ? 

 I thank all the relatives that have partaken of this spirit food, through 

 which they wiU be strengthened. Again I say, it is good. In my 



