62 THE MENOMINI INDIANS [eth.ann. M 



by the Winnebago, a tribe belonging to another linguistic stock, 

 would be so readily accomplished only when the tribes are in constant 

 and intimate communication. 1 



The Ojibwa embellishments in the Winnebago ritual appear to have 

 been acquired through the intermediary of the Menomini rather than 

 from the Ojibwa direct, as the Siouan tribes in general have at all times 

 been more or less antagonistic to the Algonquian tribes, and vice versa, 

 exceptiug the Menomini, who appear always to have been of a peaceful 

 disposition. 



There is another class of mystery men, or shamans, differing from 

 the mita", of which representatives are found among nearly all the 

 Algonquian tribes even at this day. Such persons are termed 

 tshi'saqka, or jugglers, and are referred to in the Jesuit Relations as 

 jongleurs and sorciers. The Nepissiug Indians of Canada were even 

 designated the Nation of Sorcerers as early as 1G32, and the tales 

 recited regarding them and their powers are of the most marvelous 

 character. This subject will be more definitely referred to in connec- 

 tion with the subject the of tshi'saqka. There is no special organization 

 among these performers, each preferring to act independently of the 

 other, and it is only during the performance of the invocation of guard- 

 ians or ma'nidos that pretended conversation with the latter takes 

 place, such pretended conversation consisting in reality of a soliloquy, 

 the questions of the juggler being answered apparently in another tone 

 of voice and indeed sometimes in mumbled words wholly unintelligible 

 in character. 



The language employed by a juggler is the language of the tribe of 

 which he is a member; and to acquire the power of prophecy and to 

 become able to cause manifestations of various kinds, it is necessary 

 to receive instruction from some one of reputed skill. His power is fur- 

 thermore dependent upon the reputed power of his personal ma'nido, 

 or tutelary daimon, which was selected by him in accordance with 

 dreams, consequent upon fasting, which ordeal was experienced during 

 his youth. 



There is still another class of shamans, known as the wa'beno, i. e., 

 ''daylight men," or "men of the dawn," who pretend to cure disease 

 by the administration of charmed remedies. The number of wa'benoak 

 as compared with the mitii'wok is small, the whole number in the 

 Menomini tribe not exceeding ten or twelve. Singular as it may 

 seem, there are more women wa'benoak than men, though it appears 

 that in former times the reverse was the case. The performances con- 

 sisted in handling burning brands and live coals with apparent immu- 

 nity from harm, thus gaining the attention and confidence of the 

 credulous, after which their charms, amulets, or fetishes were sold, as 



'Since writing the above, Mr Frank La Flesobe, of Washington, son of tin- late Joseph La Flesohe, 

 one of thoohiefa of the Omaha Indians', informs me that his tribe acquired the ritual of the Grand 

 Medicine society from the Winnebago. 



