Seventh Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1885-86

Seventh Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution 1885-86 - Page 280

HOFFMAN.] IMPLOKATION FOR CLEAR WEATHER. 207 ing and such articles of beaded ornaments as he may possess. The preceptor and Mide' priests are also clad in their finest apparel, each wearing one or two beaded dancing bags at his side, secured by a band of beaded cloth crossing the opposite shoulder. The mem­bers of the Mide'wiwin who are not directly concerned in the pre­liminaries resort to the Mide'wig& n and take seats around the inte­rior, near the wall, where they may continue to smoke, or may occasionally drum and sing. The drummer, with his assistants, takes a place near upon the floor of the sacred inclosure to the left of the eastern entrance, i. e., the southeast corner. IMPLORATION FOR CLEAR WEATHER. Should the day open up with a threatening sky, one of the Mide' priests accompanying the candidate sings the following song ( PL x B) to dispel the clouds. Each of the lines is repeated an indefinite number of times, and after being repeated once or twice is sung also by the others as an accompaniment. It will be observed that the words as spoken vary to some extent when chanted or sung. Hi- na- ne', he', ki'- ne- na- we' man'- i- do. I swing the spirit like a child. [ The Mide' Spirit, showing magic lines radiating from his body. The Mide' claims to be able to receive special favor.] $ g! r ft r if J M^ g& mmiM^ Ki'nana'wein, Ki/ nana/ wein, Ki'nana'wein, Man'ido'weeg; Ki'nana'wein, DC. ad lib. Ki'nana'wein, Ki/ nana/ wein) Man/ ido/ weeg/; Ki/ nana/ wein, Man/ ido/ weeg/ Gi- zhik'- S' ka- hwe' da- mu'- n£. The sky is what I am telling you about. [ The sky and the earth united by a pathway of possible rain.] D. C. adlib. Ki/ zhi- ga/ wi- da/, Ki/ zhi- ga/ wi- da mu'nede', Ki/ zhiga/ widA nra'nede'. U