102 THE MENOMINI INDIANS [eth . axn. u 



in the palm of his right hand, and while in a stooping posture, with his 

 hand extended, he danced around iu various directions toward the 

 right and toward the left, exhibiting the newly found object. lie 

 danced very gently, hopping twice on one foot and then on the other; 

 grunting the sound "Ho, ho, ho, ho," in imitation of the mystery Bear. 

 While the candidate was thus performing in the western end of the 

 inclosure, the other officiating medicine men spat on their own palms 

 containing their individual kona'pamik, while dancing and granting 

 in a manner similar to the candidate; they, however, went entirely 

 around the interior, showing to the audience their shells. As they 

 again congregated in the western end, at the place of the mat, each 

 quickly put his hand up to his mouth and pretended to swallow the 

 kona'pamik. The effect seemed instantaneous, as each of the medicine 

 men appeared to be taken with partial, and in some instances com- 

 plete, unconsciousness, while the new member fell to the ground again 

 apparently dead. The medicine men pretended to recover in a lew 

 moments, whereas it seemed several minutes ere the candidate resumed 

 consciousness without the assistance of his elders. 



As each of the medicine men had now apparently swallowed his 

 shell, he would only have to breathe on the sack and thrust it toward 

 anyone to make its power felt. They believe that should a thrust be 

 made toward one not a mit;i' v the result would, without doubt, be fatal, 

 as the shell thus shot into a human body might not ba easily removed, 

 and if removed the person thus making a careless shot would, iu turn, 

 have to be shot by the chief officiating medicine man present. 



The otter skin medicine bag was now presented to the candidate, 

 and for this purpose he placed himself before the priests, who chanted 

 to him respecting his new state (see plate ix), and as he was expected 

 to try his newly acquired power, he began to make the circuit of the 

 interior of the inclosure, and as he passed along on each side he would 

 occasionally thrust his medicine bag toward someone, who would moan 

 aud sink to the ground, but would soon recover. As this was con- 

 tinued, each person shot at was then compelled to arise, follow the can- 

 didate, and in like manner shoot one or more persons present. The 

 consequence was that one-half of the entire number of persons present 

 were constantly moving in a sort of hypocyclid, though a diagram- 

 matic scheme would show both inner and outer figures to be oblong, as 

 in figure 18. The hollow squares in this diagram represent persons 

 standing with their backs toward the wall, while the black spots 

 signify the moving ones going forward in the direction of the arrows; 

 and as each comes to his respective standing place he remains, and 

 the procession thus progressing constantly leaves the standing ones at 

 the rear to fall in and continue to march until their turn comes again 

 to stand while the remaining shamans pass by. 



The medicine women were especially interested during this part of 

 the ceremony, as it afforded them the only opportunity at which they 



