86 THE MENOMINI INDIANS [eth.ann. u 



It is strong, and gives life to those who meet within it. This is the 

 northern side, and it was made by Mashii' Ma'uido. When yon require 

 strength you must meet within the walls of the structure." 



Again the candidate and his friends retired to their seats, and another 

 delay occurred, during which smoking and conversation in a low tone 

 went on. In the meantime the drum was passed once more toward the 

 right for the third of the chief medicine men to use with his chant, and 

 when he began to tap the drum the candidate and his friends again 

 came forward and formed a semicircle before the singer. His words 

 (translated) were as follows: 



"I am speaking of the southern side; it is not so strong as the other, 

 side. The strong side must always aid the weaker one. The goods 

 and the tobacco that have been given for the feast will induce the 

 mysteries to aid us to keep our strength while we continue to perform 

 the ceremonies instituted by Ma'nabfish at the desire of Mashii' Ma'- 

 uido." 



Thecandidate and his friends again retired to their seats as the chant 

 ended, while the drum was passed on to Shu'nien, whose turn came 

 next. The character of the recitation was now changed, as reference 

 to the presents and the benefits to be obtained by frequently gathering 

 together were omitted, while the myth relating to the birth of Ma'uabiish 

 and his subsequent deeds in procuring for the Indian all the benefits 

 which they enjoy was begun. 



Shu'nien and the rest of his chief assistants now sat with heads 

 bowed down, as if in deep meditation on the sacreduess of the mitii' v 

 ritual, the most important part of which is the recitation by the 

 singer of the myth as it had been handed down from the past. 



After some water had again been poured into the drum and the head 

 moistened, replaced, and tightly stretched, Shu'nien began gently to 

 tap it, his eyes directed forward or upward, and at the moment of sup- 

 posed inspiration began the chant, keeping time with the drumstick, 

 and accompanied by the rattling of the three companion mita'wok. 

 The candidate presented himself before Shu'nien, standing there rev- 

 erentially to listen to the recitation, while his friends and other medi- 

 cine men and women, to the number of twelve, gathered about him. 

 As before, these recitations were uttered at first in an earnest manner, 

 gradually becoming more vehement and rapid, until the singer reached 

 an apparently ecstatic condition. His eyes had a vacant, far-away look, 

 the perspiration began to roll from his face and body, and the muscles 

 of his neck and arm swelled out clear and distinct with excitement 

 and muscular exertion, so that at the end of the chant the performer 

 appeared thoroughly exhausted. 



The most remarkable feature of all the chants was the repetition of 

 phrases, each set of from four to six words being rapidly repeated all 

 through that portion of the ritual recited by the first class of four 

 mitii'wok. The original phraseology requires a much longer time than 



