94 THE MENOMINI INDIANS [eth.ann.u 



Smoking proceeded for quite a while, and those of the medicine men 

 who had thus far officiated lay down in their places and slept. The 

 usher carried the drum toward the western end of the inclosure and 

 placed it in front of the first of the second group of four medicine men, 

 whose companion also received the rattles to accompany the singer. 

 The drumming began very gently, hut as the singer continued he began 

 to show more and more emotion and vehemence in his actions. His 

 song related to his own personal knowledge of remedies, which knowl- 

 edge had been obtained by fasting and dreaming, and the purpose of 

 it was that he might thus induce some of his hearers to buy the secrets. 

 Each medicine man claims to be the owner of certain remedies, each of 

 which must be paid for if instruction relating thereto be wanted. In 

 like manner the second medicine man in due time chanted the proper- 

 ties of his specialty, and so also did the third and fourth. During 

 some of the chants the candidate would be called forward, especially 

 at such passages as related to any participation in originally procuring 

 remedies by or through the mediation of Ma'nabush. 



The second group of medicine men thus continued to chant, in an 

 interrupted manner, throughout the greater portion of the night. Just 

 before dawu everyone present seemed tired out, not from bodily exer- 

 tion merely, but from the effect of the dull thuds of the drum beats, 

 which seemed to give one's ears and head a most distressing sensation. 

 Although most of the medicine men had lain down and were now appar- 

 ently only shapeless masses of color and beads, yet, on account of keeping 

 up appearances, some one would, at odd intervals, begin an intermittent 

 soliloquy relating to Ma'nabush and his good services to the Indian, or 

 more frequently to some special charmed remedy owned by the speaker, 

 or some conspicuous service or exploit performed by him. 



As approaching daylight was beginning to show by the roseate tints 

 along the eastern horizon, the entire camp of visitors were wrapped in 

 slumber. A general suspension of work was apparent; and nothing 

 further was done within the inclosure until after breakfast, although 

 some of the medicine men were always present and appeared to be just 

 sufficiently occupied to cause the impression that there was constant 

 labor. 



Shortly after sunrise the greater number of the medicine men left the 

 inclosure to get something to eat, but the women brought food to those 

 left on duty. There was no haste manifested, and by about 8 oclock 

 the usher and an assistant returned to put things in order for the cere- 

 monies of the new day. Mats were rearranged and the floor cleared 

 of charred wood and ashes of the preceding night's fires, and the lower 

 ends of the upper row of mats covering the structure were propped 

 up with short sticks for the purpose of affording ventilation, aud also 

 to give the friends of the members and visitors to the ceremony an 

 opportunity of watching the proceedings. When breakfast was over 

 the officiating priests returned and took their former seats. The can- 



