110 THE MENOMINI INDIANS [eth.ann.h 



report to Henry R. Schoolcraft by J. E. Fletcher, United States Indian 

 subagent for that tribe in 1848, in tlie following words: 



This least is an ancient custom or ceremony; it is accompanied with dancing and 

 is sometimes called the medicine dance. The members or communicants of this feast 

 constitute a society having secrets known only to the initiated. 



They have no regular or stated times for holding' this least; and all the members 

 do not attend at the same time, but only such as are invited by the master of the 

 feast. Persons desirous of joining this society will, in some cases, use the most rigid 

 economy for years, to enable them to lay up goods to pay the initiating fee. This 

 fee is not fixed at any stipulated amount; those who join pay according to their 

 ability. Sometimes goods to the amount of $200 and $300 are given by an indi- 

 vidual. Goods given for this purpose generally consist of blaukets, broadcloths, 

 calicoes, wampum, and trinkets, and arc given to the medicine men, who perform 

 the ceremony of initiating the member. When oue or more persons make applica- 

 tion to join the society, preparations are made for a feast and dance, which is held 

 in an arched lodge, or bower, constructed of poles, and covered with tent-cloth and 

 other materials. The size of the bower is made to conform to the number of persons 

 to be invited, and this number depends much on the ability of the person who makes 

 the feast. The width of a bower is about 16 feet, the length varying from 10 to 75 

 yards. The members of the society sit on each side of the bower, the center being 

 reserved for dancing. Candidates for admission into this society are required to fast 

 three days previous to being initiated. At some period during this fast they are 

 taken by the. old medicine men to some secluded secret spot, and instructed in the 

 doctrines and mysteries of the society; and it is said that the candidates are, during 

 this fast, subjected to a severe sweating process, by covering them with blankets 

 and steaming them with herbs. The truth of this saying is not here vouched for, 

 but the appearance of the candidate, when brought forward to be initiated in pub- 

 lic, corroborates it. 



The public ceremony of initiation usually takes place about 11 o'clock a. m. The 

 public exercises of dancing, singing, praying, and exhorting, which precede the 

 initiations, commence the previous morning. Before the candidates are brought 

 forward, the ground through the center of the bower is carpeted with blankets 

 and broadcloth laid over the blankets. The candidates are then led forward and 

 placed on their knees upon the carpet, near oue end of the bower, aud facing the 

 opposite end. Some eight or ten medicine men then march ill single lile round the 

 bower with their medical bags in their hands. Each time they perform the circuit 

 they halt, and oue. of them makes a short address; this is repeated until all have 

 spoken. They then form a circle aud lay their medicine bags on the carpet before 

 them; theu they commence retching and making efforts to vomit, bending over until 

 their heads come nearly in contact with their medicine bags, ou which they vomit, 

 or deposit from their mouth a small white sea shell about the size of a bean; this 

 they call the medicine stone and claim that it is carried in the stomach and vomited 

 up ou these occasions. These stones they put in the mouth of their medicine bags, 

 and take their position at the end of the bower opposite to and facing the candidates. 

 They then advance in line, as many abreast as there are candidates; holding their 

 medicine bags before them with both hands, they dance forward, slowly at first, aud 

 uttering low, gutteral sounds as they approach the candidates, their step anil voice 

 increasing in energy,. until with a violent " Ongh! " they thrust their medicine bags 

 at their breasts. Instantly, as if struck with an electric shock, the candidates fall 

 prostrate on their faces, their limbs extended, their muscles rigid, and quivering in 

 every liber. Blankets are now thrown over them, aud they are suffered to lie thus a 

 few moments. As soon as they show signs of recovering from the shock, they are 

 assisted to their feet and led forward. Medicine bags are then put iu their hands 

 and medicine stones in their mouths; thev are now medicine men or women, as the 



