The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1919-10-24

pile before the chief, then shut the door curtain.
The chief then announces, Nov we will purity
ourselves" and throws some cedar twigs on the
hot stones. then a splash of water, upon which a
understanding steam arises. He then cries, "t1re,
water, cedar-purify u.s." takes a stick from ms
bundle and lays it aside, whereupon all the candi-
dates cry "Hooo.' He then throws on more twigs
and another splash of water, then lays aside TIE
second stick-and so on until all the STICKS nave
been laid aside, twelve in al, then pours on n 'ot
of water until the stones give no more stenm.
Then the chief rises and says, 1T Is nnisiieu'
and walks out, followed by the others, ana All
plunge into the water. They emerge and dress.
A little later each candidate is approached ny a
mysterious person in Indian dress and is led out
into the dark woods, where he finds a hideous
creature, the Misingw, or Living Solid Face, boil
ing a little kettle over a small fire. The Mlslng"
cries, Hon. Hon, Hon, Hon." and shakes his
rattle at the candidate, then dips him.up a wooden
ladle full Of the herb brew, which the candinate
drinks from a little wooden bowl.
Breakfast Before Sunrise.
After all have taken this BLACK drink" they are
supposed to sleep out In the woods, if The
weather permits. Before dawn next day they
must rise and get their breakfasts (preferhpiy
prepare their own) and clothe themselves only in
a breechcloth and an old blanket. All breakfasts
must be eaten before sunrise, the sun must NOT
see them eat on this day OF fasting"
Nnpn all are Ituuy tlcy Iiit III CIV 'S N"NNA
and the Oshkosh smear the face of each with
ground charcoal. Then the boys are taken out to
their posts. each out Of sight Of all the others. and
left to fast and mediate.
About the middle Of the morning a strange man,
dressed as n farmer, and carrying q gun, ap-
proaches each boy. He announces himself the
owner of the property and orders the boy off as a
trespasser. Four times he repeats this order,
then, failing, he goes on to the next boy.
At noon boys come along and stop near the
candidates post to eat a sandwich or so-then
offer him one. Four times they offer him one to
eat. then failing, go on to the next boy.
Along in the afternoon the chief himself comes
out, ostensibly to inspect the fasters; he loohs
around TO see If anyone is watching, then tells the
boy confdentially that he has felt sorry for him
and has struggled him out a bite to eat. Four
times he offers him food, and failing goes on to
the next. This makes II temptations in all.
From time to time the Misingw visits the posts
and peers at the candidates from bushes or from
behind trees.
After the sun goes down a whoop is raised, Mt
which the candidates come in, wash the mourning
naint from their faces, dress in gala attire, eat
their supper and gather in the Big House, where
fires have been lighted by the Oshkosh and the
hearths swept with turkey-wing brushes. The chief
Is in gala attire. with the right half of his face
painted red with red ochre, and the other half
black with powdered charcoal. The chief stands
with his DHCK 10 Ine west uOoT " III dig iiouSc
and says:
Admitted to the Tribe.
INV sons, we have tasted as did our Unami
grandfathers-only they tasted four or more days
and nights absolutely without food-sometimes
longer. Now we are going to admit such of you
as stood the test to the rank Of warrior of the
Unami tribe"
One by one the candidates come up before him
and are solemnly admitted to the tribe and they
are robed in the turtle cape and have their faces
painted.
When all have been taken into the tribe, the
chief takes his place and an Oshkosh brings him a
bundle Of speech sticks. Then he announces:
II will now read from these picture writings the
II blessings which l pray may be ours as warriors
of the Unami tribe He then reads the sticks.
AS he finishes each and lays it aside, the tribe
cries, "Hooo!' until all have been read. Then.
led by the chief and the six Oshkosh, they march
in a line completely around the two fires from
left to right, then outside, where they line up fac.