90 THE MENOMINI INDIANS [eth.ann. 14 



singer, wheu, after a short preliminary drumming, the beats slowly ;md 

 gradually swelling in intensity, the medicine man began a chant, of which 

 the following words are a translation : 



"The mita'wiko'mik must always be built so as to extend from the 

 direction of the rising of the sun to the direction of the setting thereof. 

 Masha' Ma'nido gave to Ma'nabiish charge of the entrance toward the 

 setting sun. Masha' Ma'nido also informed Ma'nabiish of what should 

 be done and encountered by him, as well as by those who should here- 

 after become members of the Mita'wit. A path leads from the wigwam 

 toward the place of the rising sun, and at a short distance sit two aged, 

 gray-haired men facing each i >ther. When Ma'nabush reached this place 

 the elder of them said, ' My son, as you follow this path you will come to 

 a ridge; ascend it until you reach a tree growing on one side of the path. 

 The roots of this tree reach to the four worlds beneath, while its branches 

 ascend to the entrance of the sky, where four ma'nidos guard it and watch 

 all those who approach. Some enter, while others are obliged to cont inue 

 on the path. The four ma'nidos are Kine'u v , the Bald-eagle; Piuash'iu, 

 the Golden-eagle; Mania 'tshe'au, the Indian; and Y\ T apis'hketa-pa'u,the 

 White-hair. The last is the chief of those who have charge of the 

 entrance to the sky. 



"'The mita'wok get their sacred staffs from the branches of the tree 

 which rises to the sky. From the place of the tree forward we are 

 told to continue on the path toward the rising sun, but on the way you 

 shall find a large poplar log lying across it, over which you must not 

 pass, but will have to go around it at the top end of the tree. The 

 small branches typify theft, and if you have sinned you will be drawn 

 to them and bite them with your teeth. Should you have committed 

 such an offense you will be punished. 



'"A little farther on you will find another tree, a thorn apple, against 

 which you must not put your fingers, nor lean against it, nor take any 

 fruit therefrom. You must pass it on the left side. After a short 

 journey you will come to a stream of water which crosses the path, 

 where, as you stoop to drink, you will perceive the reflection of your 

 image and that your head is turning gray. Then, as you meditate how 

 many days you have lived you will become nervous at the sight and 

 thoughtful iif what you may have done. When you continue on your 

 path, you will in time come to a country covered with green plants of 

 many kinds; there are medicines, roots and leaves. You will dig some 

 and pluck others, which you will prepare to give to those who need 

 them. Then as you look to the sky, for this is the end of the path, you 

 will find that you can go no farther. 



"'Many points have you passed ere this which may have tempted 

 you to tarry, but had you done so you would not have reached the end 

 of the entire path of life, but would have perished.'" 



On the completion of this chant the candidate again retired, as did 

 those who accompanied him, while the members generally indulged in 

 a smoke. The medicine women retired to set more food for those 



