82 THE MEXOMINI INDIANS [ethannU 



twins of kinship or friendship to which each was entitled, after which 

 he also saluted his colleagues by saying, "Mka'ni, nika'ni, nika'ni, 

 kane','' to which they responded, "Ilau'ka." Mai'akine'u T then began 

 to chant in a recitative manner the following words: 



"It is good for you and for us to follow the injunctions of Mii'nabush, 

 and to gather about within the mitii'wiko'inik. The old people before 

 us have spoken about the benefits to be gained by gathering here, and 

 I also call to your attention the good that is to be derived by our meet- 

 ing here. I have now spoken about what the whiteheads have told 

 me. 1 have thanked them for their words to me." 



Then the procession of the four medicine men again started off on its 

 dancing arou 1 d the inclosure, as before, to the west, where they stopped 

 anil faced e jtward. Mai'akineTr again sang the foregoing words, after 

 which tli- four started along the southern path eastward, during which 

 movement the last singer dropped to the rear, thus leaving Na'qpata 

 as the leader, and the one to chant next. By this time they had reached 

 the eastern part of the inclosure and, facing westward, Na'qpatii saluted 

 those present with the appropriate terms of relationship, and then 

 addressing his colleagues, as his predecessors had done, began his 

 chant, as follows: 



"Our old customs appear well; the words that are spoken sound 

 well. This is the Great Mystery's home. The practices which our old 

 parents taught are beautiful in my eyes. The sky used to be bright, 

 but nowit is dark.'' Then the singer, followed by the three beside him, 

 again danced toward the west, where they stopped, and, facing west- 

 ward, Na'qpata continued: 



"Mii'nabush told our parents to do as we are now doing. Hereafter 

 the Indians will continue to follow our footsteps and teachings, as we 

 are following the way of those before us. The sky has four openings, for 

 which we must look. The openings are the places we much look for and 

 ask the Great Mystery to close, for this rain interferes with our work.'' 



The frequent references to "dark sky" and "openings" in the sky, 

 were because of the rain which had begun to fall shortly after the 

 beginning of the ceremonies. 



At the conclusion of the above chant, the medicine men again made the 

 entire circuit of the inclosure, dancing all the way, but as they approached 

 the east agaiu, the singer fell to the rear, thus causing Kime'an, the 

 fourth and last, to become the leader and to chant the next song. 

 Saluting those present with appropriate kinship terms,he also addressed 

 his colleagues, as the others had done, t lien chanted these words: 



"We have now arrived at that part of the dance wheu all the medi- 

 cine men may enter the mita'wikS'inik. Let them be notified that we 

 shall be pleased to see them seated with us, and partake of the cere 

 mony which Mii'nabush enjoined upon us to continue. We shall be 

 able to induce the (treat Mystery to help us, so that the sun may not 

 remain obscured." 



