hoffman] sho'min's chant 91 



officiating, which consumed considerable time, and during this digres- 

 sion there was considerable going and coming and visiting of old 

 friends, who may have chanced to have met only once a year and under 

 similar circumstances. When all had again become quiet, the third 

 medicine man, Sho'min, received the drum, and while he was tapping 

 it preparatory to chanting, the candidate and his friends came forward 

 and stood in trout of him, remaining- throughout the chant, which was 

 supposed to recount the manner in which Ma'nabttsh received the 

 assistance of various ma'nidos, who were instructed by the Great Mys- 

 tery to place at the disposal of Ma'nabttsh their several powers. The 

 translation of his recitation is as follows: 



"When Ma'nabnsh sat in the mita'wiko'mik, which he had erected as 

 Masha' Ma'nido had instructed him to do, he sat thinking as to how he 

 should further be enabled to obtain necessary powers to aid his ancles 

 am! their descendants. 



"Then from the east came Owa'sse, the Bear, who entered the mita'- 

 wiko'mik and said to Ma'nabttsh, 'My brother, I come to yon to offer to 

 you my strength, that you may be able to withstand the power of the 

 ana'maqki'u.' Ma'nabnsh was pleased to receive from the Bear the 

 power. Then Wabon, the Daylight, also came in from the east, follow- 

 ing the Bear, saying, 'My brother, I come to offer myself to you, that 

 you may lie able to hold your mita' v meeting.' Again Ma'nabttsh was 

 gratified at this gift, and thanked the Daylight. Then another ma'nido 

 came flying from the place of the rising sun — he whose bones can 

 be heard to rattle, and he of whom those who dream become faint 

 with fear; this is Pa'ka. Pa'ka told the Bear and the Daylight that 

 he too would inspire Ma'nabttsh, so as to fill with tei'ror those who 

 were antagonistic to the mitii' v . Again Ma'nabttsh thanked his 

 brothers for their aid. Then came another from the east, who was 

 brighter than the Daylight, he who is called Mislq'kwan, followed by 

 Masse'nii, the Turkey. To Man'abusk the Turkey gave the red color 

 from his neck, that the mita' T might paint themselves, and from his tail 

 the bars, which signify days, that there might be. a division of time 

 when the mita' v might dance. 'These,' said the Turkey to Ma'na- 

 bttsh, 'I give to you.' Ma'nabttsh was greatly pleased at this assist- 

 ance, and thanked the Turkey, as he had the other ma'nidos. Then 

 came Kuku'kuii', the Great Owl, who said to Ma'nabttsh, 'I shall 

 come and sit by the burial place of the dead, to see that their resting 

 place is not disturbed.' Then Wa'kii, the Fox, came also to Ma'na- 

 bttsh, saying, 'My brother, I also will make you a gift — my voice; 

 then those who have lost their friend may always be able to cry in 

 lamentation.' Ma'nabnsh then spoke to the ma'nidos who had come 

 from the east, and again thanked them for their aid in giving strength 

 to the Mita'wit. 



"From the south then came Mikek', the Otter, who said to Ma'na- 

 bttsh, 'My brother, I come to give you the kona'pamik ; you will 

 find it on a rock in the waters of the lake; there you will find it and 



