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Show 230 THE MIDE'WIWIN OF THE OJIBWA. Gi- man'- i- do'- wg, ni'- me- ne'- ki- nan' wan- da. Gi'- a- wlngk, gi- man'- i- do'- a- ni- min', Your body, I believe it is a spirit. Gi- a- wingk. your body. [ The first line is sung, but the last word could not be satisfactorily explained. The first word, as now pronounced, is Ki'tshi Man ido, and the song is addressed to him. The curved line, from which the arm protudes, is the Mid€' wig& n and the arm itself is that of the speaker in the attitude of adoration; reaching upward in worship and supplication.] Pi- ne'- si ne'- pi- mi'- a niB'- ge- ge'- kwe- an The bird as I promise the falcon mi- we'- tshi- man'- i- do'- wid. the reason he is a spirit. [ The second word is of archaic form and no agreement concerning its correct signification could be reached hy the MidS'. The meaning of the phrase appears to be that Ki'tshi Man ido promised to create the Thunder- bird, one of the man'idos. The falcon is here taken as a representative of that deity, the entire group of Thunderers being termed a- ni'- mi- ki'.] w Zhin'- gwe mi'- shi- ma- kwa' Makes a great noise the bear. wen'- dzhi- wa- ba- mok- kwed' kun- net'. the reason I am of flame. [ The character of the bear represents the great bear spirit of the malevolent type, a band about his body indicating his spirit form. By means of his power and influence the singer has become endowed with the ability of changing his form into that of the bear, and in this guise accomplishing good or evil. The reference to flame ( Are) denotes the class of conjurers or Shamans to which this power is granted, i. e., the Wabeno', and in the second degree this power is reached as will be referred to further on.] Ni'- a- wen'- din- da- sa', ha', sa', man'- i- do'- wid. Gi'- a- wlngk in'- do- sa man'- i- do'- wid. In your body I put it the spirit. [ The first line is sung, and is not of the modern style of spoken language. The second line signifies that the arm of Ki'tshi Man'idd, through the intermediary of the Mide" priest, will put the spirit, L e.,. the mi'gis, into the body of the candidate.] The singer accompanies his song either by using a short baton of wood, termed " singing stick" or the Mide' drum. After the song is completed another present of tobacco is given to the preceptor, and after making an offering of smoke both persops return to their respective wig^ wams. Later in the evening the preceptor calls upon the candidate, when both, with the assistance of friends, carry the presents to the Mide'wigan, where they are suspended from the raft- |
