LAFLEscHEl CHILD-NAMING RITE 51 



Wl'-GI-E OF THE Wa'tsE-GI-TSI 



HE-WHO-CAME-FROM-THE-STARS 



What said they? it has been said, in this house, 



The people spake, saying: O, younger l)rothers, 



We are a people who give no mercy to the foe. 



Then they spake to the one (gens) who had made of the Puma liis body. 



Saying: O, younger brother. 



Hardly were these words spoken when the Puma hastened forth. 



After a time the people said: There are signs that our brother is returning. 



Then some of the brothers ran to meet him. 



To their inquiry the Puma replied: O, elder brothers, 



Yonder stands a man, 



Verily, a man whose appearance inspires fear, 



.\ man who is like us in form. 



The people spake, saying: O, younger lirother. 



We are a people who show no mercy to the foe. 



Whoever this man may be. 



We shall send him to the abode of spirits, 



We shall make liim to lie low. 



Then toward the man they hastened: 



They made one ceremonial pause. 



At the fourth pause, 



The Piuna exclaimed: There he stands! 



It is well, the people replied. 



We shall send him to the abode of spirits. 



Then, at that very time. 



The stranger spake, saying: 



I am a sacred man, O, elder brothers. 



The Puma spake, saying: 



He speaks clearly our language! 



I am Ho°'-ga Wa'-tse-gi-tsi, a sacred person come from the stars, the stranger 



continued. 

 I am Zhi^-ga'-ga-hi-ge,' The-young-chief; 

 I am Wa'-tse-ga-hi-ge, The-star-chief; 

 I am Wa'-tse-ga-wa, The-star-radiant; 

 I am Wa'-tse-moi'-i", The-traveling-star. 



That pleases us! the people exclaimed. 



Zhi°-ga'-ga-hi-ge, The-young-chief, the stranger went on, 



Shall be your name, as you travel the i)ath of life; 



Wa'-tse-ga-wa, The-star-radiant, 



Shall also be your name, as you travel the path of life. 



I have done much to make you contented and happy. 



We are pleased! the people exclaimed, 



We shall henceforth put away all anger and hatred. 



We shall accept the names thus offered us. 



Zhi°-ga'-ga-hi-ge, The-young-chief, 



Shall be our name, 



Wa'-tse-ga-wa, The-star-radiant, 



' The name Zhin-ga'-ga-hi-ge is still used in the Ta-pa' gens of the Omaha, a coiinale tribe. 



