L* FLESCHE] CHILD-NAMING RITE 93 



The two gentes, the Ni'-ka Wa-ko"-da-gi and the Tho'-xe, are 

 closely related, being jomt custodians of the rites pertaining to v. ar. 

 (See 36th Ann. Rept. Bur. Amer. Ethn., pp. 64-65.) The symbolic 

 hawks, each of which formed the central figure in the ceremonies of 

 the war rites, were regarded as being in the special care of the Ni'-ka 

 Wa-ko°-da-gi, while all of the thirteen o-do"', military honors, to be 

 won by each warrior of the tribe in order to secure ceremonial rank, 

 belonged to the Tho'-.xe. The war honor must be won in a fight by a 

 war party carrying a hawk, the tribal emblem of courage. The places 

 of these two gentes are on the Tsi'-zhu side of the two great tribal 

 divisions, but they are not of the seven fireplaces of that great division. 



In the Tsi'-zhu Wi'-gi-e recited by Mo°-zho°-a'-ki-da (36th Ann. 

 Rcpt. Bur. Amer. Ethn., pp. 277-285), relating to the mythical story 

 of the descent of the people from the upper to the lower world, these 

 two gentes are mentioned. A paraphrase of this part is here given: 



Paraphrase of Wi'-gi-e Relating to the Ni'-ka Wa-ko^'-da-gi 

 AND the Tho'-xe Gentes 



The Messenger 



Then hastened down 



To the fourth division of the heavens, 



Close to it he stood and paused 



And lo, Ni'-ka Wa-kc-da-gi, Man of Mysteries, 



Appeared before him. 



The Messenger turned and said to his followers: Here stands a man. 



Verily, one who inspires fear. 



I truly believe his name is, Fear-inspiring. 



The Man of Mysteries spake, saying: I am a person of whom your little ones may 



well make their bodies. 

 When your little ones make of me their bodies, 

 The.v shall be free from aU causes of death. 

 They shall take the name Little-hawk, 

 To use as their personal name, 

 Then shall they be able to live to see old age. 

 Woman-hawk 

 Is also a name that I have. 



Your little ones shall use it as their personal name. 

 Then shall they be able to live to old age. 



The Messenger quickly passed on 



To Tho'-xe, who appeared in the form of a buffalo bull. 



Close to him the Messenger stood and spake, 



Saying: O, Grandfather! 



Then, turning toward his followers, he said: Here stands a man. 



Verily, a man who inspires fear. 



Then Tho'-xe spake, saying: I am a person of whom j'our little ones may well 



make their bodies. 

 Thereupon he threw himself upon the earth. 

 And the blazing star, a purple flower, 



Sprang up from the soil and stood, pleasing to the sen.se of sight. 

 And Tho'-xe spake, saying: This plant shall be medicine for your little ones. 



