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Show BOfTMAN.] INITIATION SONGS. 219 Nin - nik- ka - ni man'- i- do. 1 too have taken the medicine he gave us. [ The speaker's arm, covered with mi'gis. or magic influence, reaches toward the sky to receive from Ki'tshi Man ido the divine favor of a Mide's power.] Ke- k& k' - o- I- y an'. I brought life to the people. [ The Thunderer, the one who causes the rains, and consequently life to vegetation, by which the Indian may sustain life.] Be- mo'- se ma- ko - yan. I have come to the medicine lodge also. [ The Bear Spirit, one of the guardians of the Mide'wiwin, was also present, and did not oppose the singer's entrance.] Ka' - ka- mi' - ni- ni' - ta. We spirits are talking together. [ The singer compares himself and his colleagues to spirits, i. e., those possessing supernatural powers, and communes with them as an equal.] O- ni' - ni- shlnk- ni'- yo. The mi'gis is on my body. [ The magic power has been put into his - body by the Mide priests.] Ni man'- i- do ni'- y& n. The spirit has put away all my sickness. [ He has received new life, and is, henceforth, free from the disturbing influences of evil man'idos.] As the sun approaches the western horizon, the Mide' priests emerge from the western door of the Mide'wig& n and go to their respective wig'i warns, where they partake of their regular evening repast, after which the remainder of the evening is spent in paying calls upon other members of the society, smoking, etc. The preceptor and his assistant return to the MidS'wig& n at nightfall, remove the degree post aud plant it at the head of the wig'iwam - that part directly opposite the entrance- occupied by the new member. Two stones are placed at the base of the post, to represent the two forefeet of the bear Man'ido through whom life was also given to the Ani'shina'beg. If there should be more than one candidate to receive a degree the entire number, if not too great, is taken into the Mide'wigan for initiation at the same time; and if one day suffices to transact the |