cuBHLNo.) POWER OF THE HUNTER GODS. 39 



cant of renewed life), and say prayers, which, though short, are not less 

 interesting and illustrative of the subject than those already given, but 

 •which, unfortunately, I cannot produce word for word. 



The fetich is returned to the Keeper of the Deer Medicine with 

 thanksgiving and a prayer, not unlike that uttered on taking it forth, but 

 which also I am unable to reproduce. It contains a sentence consign- 

 ing the fetich to its house with its relatives, speaking of its quenched 

 thirst, satisfied hunger, and the prospects of future conquests, etc. 



THEIR POWER. 



It is believed that without I'ecourse to these fetiches or to prayers and 

 other inducements toward the game animals, especially the deer tribe, 

 it would be useless to attempt the chase. Untrammeled by the Medi- 

 cine of the Deer, the powers of the fetiches, or the animals of prey 

 represented, the larger game is unconquerable; and no man, however 

 great his endurance, is accounted able to overtake or to weary them. 

 It thus happens that few hunters venture forth without a fetich, even 

 though they belong to none of the memberships heretofore mentioned. 

 Indeed, the wearing of these fetiches becomes almost as universal as is 

 the wearing of amulets and "Medicines" among other nations and In- 

 dian tribes; since they are supposed to bring to their rightful posses- 

 sors or holders, not only success in the chase and in war (in the case of 

 the Warriors or Priests of the Bow), but also good fortune in other 

 matters. 



The successful hunter is typical of possession, since the products of 

 his chase yield him food, apparel, ornament, and distinction. It is there- 

 fore argued with strange logic that, even though one may not be a hun- 

 ter, there must exist a connection between the possessions of the hun- 

 ter and the possessions of that one, and that principally through the fe- 

 tiches. A man therefore counts it the greatest of good fortune when he 

 happens to find either a natural or artificial object resembling one of the 

 animals of prey. He presents it to a proper member of the Prey 

 Brotherhood, together with the appropriate flint arrow-point and the 

 desirable amount of ornaments (thla-a) for dressing (thM-a-k'ia-na) and 

 finishing (i-ya-k'ia-na), as soon as possible. 



