Hoffman] CEREMONIAL CHANTS 79 



When this recitation was ended, all uttered rapidly the words, "H5, 

 ho, ho, ho, ho," while the drum was pushed toward the right, to the next 

 medicine man, A/kwine'mi Mo'sihat, the rattles being now used by 

 Sho'niiu and Shu'nien. The attendant usher also came forward from 

 his station, down toward the middle of the northern side of the iuclosure, 

 and placed the goods and presents before the drummer, who, after say- 

 ing to each of his companions, "Nika'ni, nika'ni, nika'ni, kane'," began 

 gently to tap the drum, and gradually reciting his words they blended 

 into a chant and finally into rapid utterances, as follows: 



"The shades are looking toward us and are watching our procedure, 

 as we are looking toward them for their approbation. They favor our 

 work and will not oppose us. Our fathers have always done thus before 

 us, and they did well, because they had been instructed by Ma'niibush 

 to do so. Therefore we too follow our fathers in obeying the injunc- 

 tions of Ma'niibush, that all may be well with us." As this recitative 

 chant was concluded, the other medicine men uttered the sameinterjec- 

 tional words, " Ho, ho, ho, ho. ho." 



The chant appears brief; but the peculiar manner of its delivery, by 

 duplicating the phrases, and by some interjected meaningless notes, 

 to give emphasis and to fill up the measure of drum beats, caused it 

 to be more prolonged than one would suppose possible. As usual, 

 everything was done with apparent premeditation and studied delay, to 

 make it as impressive as possible to those not members of the society. 



The drum and goods were then pushed along to a spot before the third 

 singer, Sho'min, who in turn handed his rattle to Nio'pet, Shu'nien still 

 retaining his, while A/kwine'mi, who had just completed his chant, 

 rested. Shu'nien also saluted his confreres with the words, "Mka'ni, 

 nika'ni, nika'ni, kane'," then began to drum very gently, and soon to 

 chant the following: 



"In teaching the one who desires to become a mita' v to follow the 

 right path, we are ourselves following the directions given to us by the 

 Great Mystery. He caused the Mystery [Mii'iiabush] to come and to 

 erect a mita'wiko'mik, where we should receive instructions, and where, 

 also, others might receive it from us. The old whiteheads received 

 instruction in this manner, and we, as their children, received our infor- 

 mation from them. Therefore, we now teach the true way of life. We 

 do that even today." As before, the three other medicine men uttered 

 the words, "Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho," as an intimation of approbation and 

 concurrence with the thoughts expressed, while the drum and goods 

 were placed before Shu'nien, who, though the last of the four, was the 

 chief officiating medicine man for the time. Gently tapping the drum, 

 he began uttering and continuing more and more rapidly, in a spas- 

 modic or disconnected manner, the following words, the phrases grad- 

 ually assuming the nature of a chant: 



"Long ago the grand medicine was observed with more care and 

 reverence than it is now. The sun was bright when the whiteheads 



