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Show HOFFMAN.] MIDE' SONGS. 195 Mo- kf- yan- na'- a- witsh'- i- gum'- mi. When I rise it give* me life, and I take it. [ The arm reaches into the sky to receive the gifts which are handed down by the Good Spirit. The short transverse line across the forearm indicates the arch of the sky, this line being an abbreviation of the curve usually employed to designate the same idea.] Wen'- dzhi- ba'- pi- a0'. The reason why I am happy. [ Asking the Spirit for life, which is granted. The singer's body is filled with the heart enlarged, i. e., fullness of heart, the lines from the mouth denoting abundance of voice or grateful utterances- singing.] Rest. Zha- zha- bui - ki- bi- nan wig'- e- wam'. The Spirit says there is plenty of " medicine M in the Mide' wig'iwam. [ Two superior spirits, Ki'tshi Man'ido and Dzhe Man'ido, whose bodies are surrounded by " lines of sacredness," tell the Mide' where the mysterious remedies are to be found. The vertical waving lines are the lines indicating these communications; the horizontal line, at the bottom, is the earth's surface.] Ya- ho'- hon- ni'- yo. The Spirit placed medicine in the ground, let us take it. [ The arm of Ki'tshi Man'ido put into the ground sacred plants, etc., indicated by the spots at different horizons in the earth. The short vertical and waving lines denote sacredness of the objects.] Nl- wo'- we- ni'- nan ki'- bi- do- nan'. I am holding this that I bring to you. [ The singer sits in the Mide'wiwin, and offers the privilege of entrance, by initiation, to the hearer.] Mide' nl- ka'- nak kish'- o- we'- ni- mi- ko'. I have found favor in the eyes of my mide' friends. [ The Good Spirit has put life into the body of the singer, as indicated by the two mysterious arms reaching towards his body, i. e., the heart, the seat of life.] In the following song ( PL ix, C), the preceptor appears to feel satisfied that the candidate is prepared to receive the initiation, and therefore tells him that the Mide' Man'ido announces to him the assurance. The preceptor therefore encourages his pupil with promises of the fulfillment of his highest desires. |
