bunzel) 



PRAYERS OF THE MEDICINE CULT 



783 



Have remained willi lis their children. 



Now tliis \ery day 



For the rite of our fatliers, 



Beast priests,' 



We have prepared phime wands. 



When yet a httle space remained, 



Ere our sun father 



Went in to sit down at his sacred place " 



Coming to my earth mother, 



Have I offered plume wands to my 



fathers. 

 And returned to my house. 

 Then yonder from all sides 

 Those who are my fathers, 

 The divine ones,' 

 With none among them lacking, 

 Will make their roads come forth. 

 Hither they will come. 

 Then having made my fatliers' massed 



cloud house,' 

 Having spread out their mist blanket, 

 Having sent forth their life giving road. 

 Having laid down their rainbow bow, 

 Having laid down their lightning 



arrow, 

 I shall sit down quietly. 

 I shall set down my white shell bowl.' 

 Then from afar on all sides 

 You, my fathers, 

 Will come. 



Yonder from the north. 

 The rain maker priests,'" 

 Bringing their waters. 

 Will make their roads come hither. 

 A\"here lies my white shell bowl. 

 Four times they will make their road 

 come in. 



Yonder from the west 



The rain maker priests. 



Bringing their waters. 



Will make their roads come hither. 



AATiere lies my white shell bowl, 



Four times they will make their road 

 come in. 



Yonder from the south, 

 The rain maker priests. 

 Bringing their waters, 

 W'iU make their roads come hither. 

 Where lies my white shell bowl, 

 Four times they will make their road 

 come in. 



Yonder from the east 

 The rain maker priests. 

 Bringing their waters. 

 Will make their roads come hither. 

 Where lies my white shell bowl. 

 Four times thej' will make their roads 

 come in. 



Yonder from the above 

 The rain maker priests, 

 Bringing their waters. 

 Will make their roads come hither. 

 Wiere lies my white shell bowl. 

 Four times they will make their roads 

 come in. 



Yonder from below 

 The rain maker priests, 

 Bringing their waters. 

 Will make their roads come in. 

 Where lies my white shell bowl. 

 Four times they will make their roads 

 come in. 



When you have all sat down quietly 



Our young ones " 



Will refresh themselves with your 



waters. 

 Then to dawn lake reaching. 

 Their roads will be fulfilled. 



And furthermore, yonder in the north. 

 You who are my father. 

 Mountain lion,'- 



' We-'ma a''ciwan*i, the special protectors of the medicine societies and the source of life, medicine power, 

 and witchcraft. 

 « Late afternoon, the usual hour for making offerings of prayer sticks. 

 " The beast gods, who are present in spirit throughout the ceremonies. 



* The meal painting on the altar; the "house** is the terraced outline, the "blanket" the filling of fine 

 meal, the "road** the line of meal, generally crossed at four points, leading from the altar to the door at 

 the farther end of the room. 



* For mixing the medicine water. 



'0 U'wanami — during this invocation he pours the water with a gourd, four gourds of water. 



" Te'apEuna'we — children, also domesticated and game animals. The word is used as a general term 

 for fecundity. Here specifically the members of the society. 



" He now invokes in turn the beast gods of the six directions, meanwhile adding pulverized roots with 

 medicinal jjroperties. 



