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Show 176 THE MIDE'WIWIN OF THE OJIBWA. to the stone and to the post, when he is within the Mide'wigan, because within them would De the Mide' spirits whose help he invoked. The Otter was then taken to the middle of the Mide'wigan where he picked up the mi'gis ( No. 18) from among a heap of sacred objects which form part of the gifts given by Ki'tshi Man'ido. The eight man'idos around the mide'wigan ( Nos. 19,20,21,22,23, 24,25, and 26) were also sent by Ki'tshi Man'ido to guard the lodge against the entrance of bad spirits. A life is represented by the line No. 27, the signification of the short lines ( Nos. 28, 29, 30, and 31) denoting that the course of human progress is beset by temptations and trials which may be the cause of one's departure from such course of conduct as is deemed proper, and the beliefs taught by the Mide'. When one arrives at middle age ( No. 32) his course for the remaining period of life is usually without any special je vents, as indicated by the plain line No. 27, extending from middle age ( No. 32) to the end of one's existence ( No. 33). The short lines at Nos. 28, 29, 30, and 31, indicating departure from the path of propriety, terminate in rounded spots and signify, literally, " lecture places," because when a Mide' feels himself failing in duty or vacillating in faith he must renew professions by giving a feast and lecturing to his confreres, thus regaining his strength to resist evil doing- such as making use of his powers in harming his kinsmen, teaching that which was not given him by Ki'tshi Man'ido through Mi'nabo'zho, etc. His heart mast be cleansed and his tongue guarded. To resume the tradition of the course pursued by the Otter, Si-kas'sigg said: The Otter then went round the interior of the Mide'wigan ( No. 34), and finally seated himself in the west, where Mi'nabo'zho shot into his body the sacred mi'gis, which was in his Mide' bag. Then Mi'nabo'zho said, " This is your lodge and you shall own it always ( Nos. 35 and 36), and eight Mide' Man'idos ( Nos. 19- 26) shal guard it during the night." The Otter was taken to the entrance ( No. 37) of the second degree structure ( No. 88), which he saw was guarded by two evil man'idos ( Nos. 39 and 40), who opposed his progress, but who were driven away by Mi'nabo'zho. When the Otter entered at the door he beheld the sacred stone ( No. 41) and two posts ( Nos. 42, 43), the one nearest to him being painted red with a green band around the top, and another at the middle, with a bunch of little feathers upon the top. The other post ( No. 43) was painted red, with only a band of green at the top, similar to the first degree post. Nos. 44 and 45 are the places where sacred objects and gifts are placed. This degree of the Mide'wiwin is guarded at night by twelve Mide' Man'idos ( Nos. 46 to 57) placed there by Ki tshi Man'ido, and the degree is owned by the Thunder Bird as shown in Nos. 58, 59. The circles ( Nos. 60, 61, and 62) at either end of the outline of the structure denoting the degree and beneath it are connected by a line ( No. 63) as in the preceding degree, and are a mere repetition to denote the course of conduct to be pursued by the Mide'. The points ( Nos. 64, 65, 6( 5, and 67), at the termini of the shorter lines, also refer to the feasts and lectures to be given in case of need. |