104 THE MKNOMINI INDIANS [eth. anh.U 



his right hand, extended forward and about two feet from the ground, 

 he danced rapidly forward and around the interior, closely followed by 

 his companions, all of whom uttered, in rapid succession, the word ho, 

 calling attention to the discovery. When the party again reached the 

 place where the shell was found, Shu'nien placed his hand quickly to 

 his mouth, apparently swallowing the shell, when he fell to the ground. 

 He recovered in a moment, blew his breath upon the medicine sack so 

 as to charge it with the mysterious influence and power contained in 

 the shell now within his body, when he started forward aiming at each 

 member present to ascertain who it was that had caused so much 

 trouble and anxiety. The victim was a woman, her presence being 

 discovered by the medicine sack being forcibly repelled within the 

 hands of the experimenter. Thereupon he stopped before her, took 

 deliberate aim and pretended to shoot her when she fell to one side 

 apparently dead. The four medicine men then returned to their proper 

 stations, while the usher carried the medicine bag used in the search 

 to its owner. 



The time had now arrived to distribute the presents, and the usher 

 and an assistant removed the blankets, pieces of calico, mats, kettles, 

 and other articles from the pole from which they had been suspended, 

 and carried them before the second group of officiating medicine men. 

 The leader of these gave one blanket each to the chief officiating mem 

 bers, and to his own associates the pieces of calico, but instead of retain- 

 ing them they presented these goods to the medicine women who had 

 been engaged in the erection of the mita'wiko'mik, the preparation of 

 the feast, and in attendance on the candidate during the intervals at 

 which he stood before the chiefs to listen to the chants. The kettles, 

 mats, and a few other unimportant articles were divided amoug the sec- 

 ond and third groups of medicine men. 



By this time the day was almost spent, when the chief, Shu'nien, and 

 the candidate — as mourner— started for the eastern door followed by 

 two mitii'wok carrying the drum and chanting, who in turn were fol- 

 lowed by all present, taking up a line of march to the grave, where they 

 formed a circle. After considerable drumming, accompanied by a slight 

 attempt at dancing, the procession returned and entered the inclosure 

 at the western door. After all had taken their former positions, the 

 drumming ceased, the chief announced the ceremonies ended, and all 

 started for their respective homes. 



Notes on the Ceremonies 



Many others of the members present attheMitii'wit ceremonies were 

 credited with the power of performing tricks of various kinds, but only 

 three, already referred to, could be induced to exhibit their skill. The 

 Indians invariably claim that such tricks can be performed only through 

 the intervention of ma'nidos, who must first be invoked by fasting and 

 the making of gifts. The sweat bath must also be taken by these 



