254 PICTURE-WRITING OF THE AMERICAN INDIANS. 
In Fig. 170 is presented a variant of the characters shown 
in a of Fig. 169, The fact that this denotes the power to 
cure by the use of plants would appear to indicate an older 
and more appropriate form than the delineation of the bow 
Fic. 7o—Mi. and arrow, as well as being more in keeping with the gen- 
nabozho. eral rendering of the tradition. 
Fig. 171, two-thirds real size, is a reproduction, introduced here for 
comparison and explanation, of a record illustrating the alleged power 
of a Mide’. 
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Fic. 171.—Mide’ practicing incantation. 
a, the author, is the Mide’, who was called upon to take a man’s life 
at a distant camp. The line extending from the Midé’ to 7, explained 
below, signifies that his power extended to at least that distance. 
b, an assistant Mide’. 
c, d, e, and f represent the four degrees of the Midéwin, of which 
both shamans are members. The degrees are also indicated by the 
vertical lines above each lodge character. 
g is the drum used in the ceremony. 
his an outline of the victim. A human figure is drawn upon a piece 
of birchbark, over which the incantations are made, and, to insure 
the death of the subject, a small spot of red paint is rubbed upon the 
breast and a sharp instrument thrust into it. 
i, the outer line represents a lake, while the inner one is an island, 
upon which the victim resides. 
The ceremony indicated in the above description actually occurred at 
White Earth during the autumn of 1884, and, by a coincidence, the In- 
dian ‘‘ conjured” died the following spring of pneumonia resulting from 
cold contracted during the winter. This was considered as the result 
of the Midé”’s power, and naturally secured for him many new ad- 
herents and believers. 
Fig. 172 represents a jéssakki/d, named Ne-wik’-ki, curing a sick 
woman by sucking the demon through a bone tube. It 
is introduced here for comparison, though equally ap- 
propriate to Chap. xiv, sec. 3. The left-hand charac- 
ter represents the Mide’ holding a rattle in his hand. 
Around his head is an additional circle, denoting quan- 
SOG aed nea tity (literally, more than an ordinary amount of knowl- 
woman. edge), the short line projecting to the right therefrom 
indicating the tube used. The right-hand character is the patient 
operated upon. 
