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Show BOFFIIAlf. j INITIATION SONGS. 217 uli'- a- shi'- gwa ki'- tshi- an'- wa- bin- da- man tshi- o'- we- na'- bi- an. Now is the time I look around where we shall be [ sit]. and all go to such places as are made, or reserved, for them. The new member then goes to the pile of blankets, robes, and other gifts and divides them among the four officiating priests, reserving some of less value for the preceptor and his assistant; whereas tobacco is carried around to each person present. All then make an oflfering of smoke, to the east, south, west, north, toward the center and top of the MidS'wig& n- where Ki'tshi Man'ido presides- and to the earth. Then each person blows smoke upon his or her Mide' sack as an oflfering to the sacred mi'gis within. The chief MidS' advances to the new member and presents him with a new Mide' sack, made of an otter skin, or possibly of the skin of the mink or weasel, after which he returns to his place. The new member rises, approaches the chief Mide', who inclines his head to the front, and, while passing both flat hands down over either side, says: Mi- gw& tsh', ni- ka'- ni, ni- ka- ni, ni- ka- ni, na- ka'. Thanks, my colleagues, my colleagues, my colleagues. Then, approaching the next in rank, he repeats the ceremony and continues to do so until he has made the entire circuit of the Mide'- wig& n. At the conclusion of this ceremony of rendering thanks to the members of the society for their presence, the newly elected Mide' returns to his place and, after placing within his Mide' sack his mi'gis, starts out anew to test his own powers. He approaches the person seated nearest the eastern entrance, on the south side, and, grasping his sack in a manner similar to that of the officiating priests, makes threatening motions toward the Mide' as if to shoot him, saying, " y&, h6', h6', h6', htf', h6\" gradually raising his voice to a higher key. At the fourth movement he makes a quick thrust toward his victim, whereupon the latter falls forward upon the ground. He then proceeds to the next, who is menaced in a similar manner and who likewise becomes apparently unconscious from the powerful effects of the mi'gis. This is continued until all persons present have been subjected to the influence of the mi'gis in the possession of the new member. At the third or fourth experiment the first subject revives and sits up, the others recovering in regular order a short time after having been " shot at," as this procedure is* termed. When all of the Mide' have recovered a very curious ceremony takes place. Each one places his mi'gis shell upon the right palm and, grasping the Mide' sack with the left hand, moves around the inclosure and exhibits his mi'gis to everyone present, constantly uttering the word " h6', h6', h6', h6'," in a quick, low tone. During this period there is a mingling of all the persons present, each endeavoring to attract the attention of the others. Each Mide' then |