RADiN] THE CLAN WAR-BUNDLE FEASTS 549 



had given them. Then songs that were associated with the drum 

 that they use in the Night-Spirit dance were sung. The feast was 

 now ready. 



"^Make ready the kettle in front of the fireplace; take the most 

 prominent parts of the animal out of it; make the second kettle you 

 put on also ready. Hurry up, for we are about to have a fast-eating 

 contest. The lower clans and the upper clans will contest. They will 

 try to partake of war. Make ready. You, Mqnuba'ga choose a 

 person, and do you, Ka;'o'saga, do the same." 



Now they were ready to have the fast-eating contest. They all 

 sat down. 



"Now listen," said the host, "as soon as the flute is blown they 

 will begin the contest. Then will be the time for all the feast givers 

 to sing." 



Now, this is one of the songs they sang: 



Where they eat, there you went, it is said. 



Now they finished. Mi\nuba'ga was defeated and Ka;-o'saga won. 

 The guests filled their dishes, and the kettle that had been put 

 on for Earthmaker was taken down and placed before Mi\nuba'ga, so 

 that he might select the best parts. Then the second kettle that had 

 been placed on the fire for Eartlimaker was put in front of Ka;-o'saga. 

 The tliird kettle that had been offered to the Thunder-spirits was 

 placed in front of Nqzihima'niga. The host then, in turn, mentioned 

 by name all the invited guests and told the attendants what kettles 

 were to be brought to them. As soon as the dishes had been dis- 

 tributed each one began to eat. They never waited for one another 

 to start. While they were eating the members of the host's band sang. 

 \Yhen the meal was over Mqnuba'ga rose and spoke as follows: 



"Councilors, relatives, imcles, I salute you all. As many spirits as 

 are in charge of life you have mentioned during the ceremony. 

 Tobacco and food you have sent to them as offerings. I am sure that 

 for that reason they will give you all that you have asked, and I also 

 feel that I, myself, will be able to obtain something on which I can 

 live, and that should I encounter on the warpath an enemy whose 

 death has been ordained, it will be my fate to kill him. Thus I have 

 been thinking, and that is why I have been sitting here. War- 

 bimdle owners, as many of you as are sitting in this lodge — war-bundle 

 carriers, as many of you as are here — you have, indeed, had tobacco 

 poured out for you to-day, and tobacco has also been offered to the 

 powers that you have tied up in your bundles. I feel grateful for the 

 fact and that I have been invited to attend, and that is why I am 

 saying this. Councilors, war-bundle owners, all who are seated in 

 this lodge, I salute you." 



The leaders of all the other bands say practically the same. 



