626 PICTURE-WRITING OF THE AMERICAN INDIANS. 
Combining these several lists it would appear that Calli, color green, 
was Fire and West or Earth and East; Tochtli, color blue, was Earth 
and South or Air and North; Acatl, color red, was Water and East or 
Water and West; Tecpatl, color yellow, was Air and North or Fire 
and South. 
The foregoing notes leave the symbolic colors of the cardinal points 
in a state of confusion, and on calm reflection no other condition could 
beexpected. Taking the idea of the ocean blue, for instance, and recog- 
nizing the impressive climatic effects of the ocean, the people exam- 
ined may be in any direction from the ocean and to each of them its 
topographic as well as color relation differs. If it shall be called blue, 
the color blue may be north, south, east, or west. So as to the con- 
cepts of heat and cold, however presented in colors by the fancy, heat 
being sometimes red and sometimes yellow, cold being sometimes con- 
sidered as black by the manifestation of its violent destruction of the 
tissues and sometimes being more simply shown as white, the color of 
the snow. Also the geographic situation of the people must determine 
their views of temperature. The sun in tropical regions may be an 
object of terror, in Arctic climes of pure beneficence, and in the several 
seasons of more temperate zones the sun as fire, whether red or 
yellow, may be destructive or life-giving. Regarding the symbols 
of the cardinal points it seems that there is nothing intrinsic as to col- 
ors, but that the ideograms connected with the topic are local and va- 
riant. As the ancient assignments of color to the cardinal points are 
not established and definite among people who have been long settled 
in their present habitat, the hope of tracing their previous migration 
by that line of investigation may not be realized. 
The following account of the degree posts of the Grand Medicine 
Society of the Ojibwa is condensed from an article by Dr. Hoffman in 
the Am. Anthropologist for July, 1889: 
In constructing the inclosure in which the Midé’ priests practice the rites and 
ceremonies of initiation, a single post, from 4 to 5 feet in height and about 8 inches 
thick, is planted at a point opposite the main entrance, and about three-fourths 
the entire distance of the interior from it. This post is painted red, with a band of 
green about the top, of the width of a palm. 
The red and green colors are used to designate the Mideé’ society, but for what reason 
is not positively known. The green appears to have some connection with the south, 
the sources of heat and abundance of crops; the ti under-bird also comes from that 
direction in the springtime, bringing rain, which causes the grass and fruits to grow, 
giving an abundance of food. 
For the second degree two posts are erected within the inclosure, the first being 
like that for the first degree, the second being planted nearer the main entrance, 
though not far from the opposite end of the structure; this post is painted red and™ 
is covered with white spots made by applying white clay with the finger tip. These 
spots are symbolical of the migis shell, the sacred emblem of the Grand Medicine 
Society. 
The third degree contains three posts, the two preceding ones being used, to which 
a third is added and planted ina line with them; this post is painted black. 
In the fourth degree the additional post is really a cross, a crosspiece of wood be- 
