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Show HOFFMAN.] INITIATION CEREMONIES. 235 he! he! he! he! and pretends to swallow it, this time only reeling from its effects. He is now restored to a new life for the second time; and as the priests go to seek seats he is left on the southern side and seats himself. After all those who have been occupied with the initiation have hung up their mide' sacks on available projections against the wall or branches, the new member goes forward to the pile of tobacco, blankets, and other gifts and divides them among those present, giving the larger portions to the officiating priests. He then passes around once more, stopping before each one to pass his hands over the sides of the priests' heads, and says: Mi- gweteh' ga- shi- to win bi- nia'- dt- si- wTn,' Thanks for giving to me life, after which he retreats a step, and clasping his hands and bowing toward the priest, says: Ni- ka'- ni ni- kani ni- ka'- ni ka- nia, fellow niid § ' fellow mid § ' fellow mldS', to which each responds hau', en. The word hau' is a term of approbation, en signifying yes, or affirmation, the two thus used together serving to intensify the expression. Those of the Mid § ' present who are of the second, or even some higher degree, then indulge in the ceremony of passing around to the eastern part of the inclosure, where they feign coughing and gagging, so as to produce from the mouth the mi'gis shell, as already narrated in connection with the first degree, p. 192. This manner of thanking the officiating Mide' for their services in initiating the candidate into a higher degree is extended also to those members of the Mide'wiwin who are of the first degree only, in acknowledgment of the favor of their presence at the ceremony, they being eligible to attend ceremonial rites of any degree higher than the class to which they belong, because such men are neither benefited nor influenced in any way by merely witnessing such initiation, but they must themselves take the principal part in it to receive the favor of a renewed life and to become possessed of higher power and increased magic influence. Various members of the society indulge in short harangues, recounting personal exploits in the performance of magic and exorcism, to which the auditors respond in terms of gratification and exclamations of approval. During these recitals the ushers, appointed for the purpose, leave the inclosure by the western door to return in a short time with kettles of food prepared for the mide' feast. The ushers make four circuits of the interior, giving to each person present a quantity of the contents of the several vessels, so that all receive sufficient to gratify their desires. When the last of the food has been consumed, or removed, the mide' drum is heard, and soon a song is started, in which all who desire join. After the first two or three verses of the song are recited, a short interval of |
