FIFTH REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR I908 



77 



who regard it as a manifestation of the presence of the " great 

 medicine otter." The women afterward deny having imitated the 

 otter's call saying that they were possessed with the otter and have 

 no knowledge of what they did. 



4 The Otter Society has no songs and no dances. They are 

 simply organized to give thanks to the water animals and retain 

 their favor. When some one is ungrateful to the water animals, 

 as a wasteful fisherman or a hunter who kills muskrats or beaver 

 without asking permission or offering tobacco to their spirits, they 

 become strangely sick, so it is believed. The otters then go to a 

 spring and hold a ceremony after which they enter the sick man's 

 lo:'ge and sprinkle him with the spring water hoping thereby to 

 cure him. 



Opening or tobacco throwing ceremony of the False Face Company 



Now receive you this tobacco, you, Shagodowegowa, the great 

 false face, 



Now it is that you have come to where your grandchildren are 

 gathered. 



Now you are taking the place of the great false faces who are 

 wandering in the rocky valleys and mountains. 



Now you are the ones who think much of this sacred tobacco. 



Now we wish to make a request of you. So we always offer 

 this sacred tobacco, (literally, real tobacco), when we ask anything 

 of you. 



We pray that you help us with your power. 

 You can go over all the earth. 



In the center of the earth is a great pine tree and that is the 

 place of your resting. It is there that you rub your rattle when 

 you come to rest. 



Now then this tree receives this tobacco. 



We ask that you watch over us and exercise your power to 

 protect us from anything harmful. 



We hold in mind that you have ever done your duty in past 

 times and we ask that you continue (vigilant) henceforth. 



We use this tobacco when we ask favors of you for you are 

 very fond of this tobacco. 



Now your cane gets tobacco. The great pine tree to its top is 

 your cane. 



Now you, the husk faces, you get tobacco also. 

 You have been associated with the false faces in times past. Now 

 you receive tobacco for you have done your duty. 

 So it is finished. 



