38 
MUSEUM BULLETIN NO. 10. 
associated with the treatment of disease and was the especial 
guardian spirit of the Indian doctors. 
INFLUENCE OF THE CLAN UPON CEREMONIAL ORGANIZATION. 
Perhaps the most characteristic trait of Winnebago 
culture is the existence of two strong socialized units, that of 
the clan and that of the secret society. Historically both are 
old, and even if we are of the opinion that the clan is historically 
younger, the political unit upon which it is superimposed is 
probably an ultimate historical fact. From the earliest times 
one would have supposed reciprocal influences to have occurred 
repeatedly. The nature of these influences, insofar as they are 
not conditioned by chance, would depend on the respective 
centre of gravity in either unit. It is evident that for the clan 
the organization was of paramount importance, and that 
the addition of cultural associations probably tended to 
strengthen its stability from the point of view of organization. 
On the other hand, the absence of political or governmental 
functions in the religious societies, and the clustering of the 
most multitudinous religious and shamanistic ideas within them, 
rendered the emotional complex of the latter the centre from 
which influences would radiate. At the same time, the ceremo- 
nial unit of organization seems to have been so firmly fixed, 
that any influence of the clan unit of organization upon it 
does not seem likely. As a matter of fact, in the typical sche- 
matic, religious society, like the medicine dance, grizzly-bear 
dance, and night-spirit dance, no influence is perceptible. 
But these religious societies may be regarded as presenting 
no possible points of contact. Where, however, the bond of 
union is supernatural communication with a guardian spirit 
who subsequently became the clan animal, an obvious point 
of contact is given, and this brings to mind a very suggestive 
fact of Winnebago culture — there are, strictly speaking, no 
religious societies based on communication from a clan animal. 
There are, however, clan and clan-bundle (Winter) feasts 
which, in many respects are absolutely identical with the relig- 
ious societies, and which furnish, it seems to us, an example 
