238 PICTURE-WRITING OF THE AMERICAN INDIANS. 
Iam going to the medicine lodge. 
The vertical, left-hand figure denotes a leg going toward the 
ezerar} Midé’/ wigén. 
T take life from the sky. 
The Midé’ is enabled to reach into the sky and to obtain from 
Ki'tshi Man‘ido’ the means of prolonging life. The circle at 
the top denotes the sacred migis or shell. 
Let us talk to one another. 
The circles denote the places of the speaker (Mide’) and the 
hearer (Ki/tshi Man‘ido), the short lines signifying magic influ- 
ences, the Midé’ occupying the left hand and smaller seat. 
1 The spirit is in my body, my friend. 
The mi‘gis, given by Ki/tshi Man/‘ido, is in contact with the 
Midé’’s body, and he is possessed of life and power. 
In the order of song, Pl. xvu1, B, reproduced from Pl. 1x, C, of the 
Seventh Ann. Rep. of the Bureau of Ethnology, the preceptor appears 
to feel satisfied that the candidate is prepared to receive the initiation, 
and therefore tells him that the Mide’ Man/ido announces to him the 
assurance. The preceptor therefore encourages his pupil with promises 
of the fulfillment of his highest desires: 
( L\ 
I hear the spirit speaking to us. 
The Midé’-singer is of superior power, as designated by the 
S horns and pointer upon his head. The lines from the ears indi- 
cate hearing. 
{ am going into the medicine lodge. 
The Mide/wigan is shown with a line through it, to signify 
that the preceptor is going through it in imagination, as in the 
initiation. 
I am taking (gathering) medicine to make me live. 
The disks indicate the sacred objects sought for, which are 
successively obtained by the speaker, who represents the offici- 
ating shaman. 
O00 OX 
+? ae 1 
