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Show HOFFMAN.] INITIATION BY SUBSTITUTION. 283 When the ordinary course of treatment fails to relieve the patient the fact is made known to the Mide' priests and he is consequently taken to the Mide'wig& n and laid upon blankets so that part of his body may rest against the sacred mide stone. Associate Mide then attend, in consultation, with the Mide- in- chief, the other members present occupying seats around the walls of the structure. The accompanying lecture is then addressed to the sick person, viz: Mi- shosh'- ya- gwa' ga- a- nin- nan gi'- de- wSn'- du- nfin ne'- tun- ga'- da- da- we'- in man'- i- domT- gis. Kit'- ti- m&'- gi- si e'- ni- dau'- a- ya- we - yln o- ma'- e- na'- sa- ba- blt bl- I-sha'- gaban'- de- a gi- bi'- sha- ban- da' « £ t na- plsh- ka- tshi- ddsh ke'- a- yti'- In- ki- go g5t- t&- so- nSn, mi'- a- ehi- gwa- go- dln'- na- wat dzhi- ma- di- a- kad'- do- ydn bi- ma- di- si- win'. The following is a free translation of the above: The time of which I spoke to you has now arrived, and you may deem it necessary to first borrow the sacred mlgis. Who are you that comes here as a supplicant ? Sit down opposite to me, where I can see you and speak to you, and fix your attention upon me, while you receive life you must not permit your thoughts to dwell upon your present condition, but to support yourself against falling into despondency. Now we are ready to try him; now we are ready to initiate him. The reference to borrowing a mi'gis signifies that the patient may have this mysterious power " shot into his body " where he lies upon the ground and before he has arrived at the place where candidates are properly initiated; this, because of his inability to walk round the inclosure. The last sentence is spoken to the assisting MidS'. The following song is sung, the mnemonic characters pertaining thereto being reproduced on PI. xvi, D. O- da - pi- nung - mung oa'- ki- wen'- dzhi man'- i- do we'- an- I- win'- zhi-gu- san. We are going to take the sacred medicine out of the ground. [ The speaker refers to himself and the assistants as resorting to remedies adopted after consultation, the efficiency thereof depending upon their combined prayers. The arm is represented as reaching for a remedy which is surrounded by lines denoting soil.] We- a'- ki man'- i- do we- an- gwls'. The ground is why I am a spirit, my son. [ The lower horizontal line is the earth, while the magic power which he possesses is designated by short vertical wavy lines which reach his body.] Rest. Nish'- u- we- ni- mi'- qu nish'- u- we- ni- mi'- qu we'- gi ma- 6- dzhig'. The spirits have pity; the spirits have pity on me. [ The Mide' is supplicating the Mide' spirits for aid in his wishes to cure the sick.] |
