Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1919-10-23

pile before the chief then shut the door curtain.
The chief then announces, Now we will purify
ourselves and throws some cedar twigs on the
hot stones then a splash of water, upon when
sweet smelling steam arises. He then cries, FIRE
water cedar-purify u.s." takes stick from MS
bundle and lays it aside, whereupon all the canul-
dates cry "Hooo." He then throws on more tWlgs
and another splash of water, then lays aside the
second stick-and so on until all the sticks nave
been laid aside twelve in all, then pours on iot
of water until the stones give no more steam
Then the chief rises and says, ut is finished,
and walks out, followed by the others, and all
plunge into the water. They emerge ana uress.
little later each candidate is approached by q
mysterious person in Indian dress ana Is lea OUT
into the dark woods where he finds hideous
creature, the Misingw, or Living SOLID race DOLL
ing a little kettle over small fire. The MisingW
cries Zion, Hon. Hon, Hon." and shakes his
rattle at the candidate, then dips him up wooden
Indie full of the herb brew, which the candidate
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, II the
weather permits. Before dawn next day they
must rise and gets their breakfasts (preferaDly
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.
When all are ready they line up before the chief
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, ana
left to fast and mediate
About the middle of the morning strange man.
dressed as farmer, and carrying gun. ap-
proaches each boy. He announces himself the
owner Of the property and orders the boy OF as
trespasser. Four times he repeats this order,
then, falling, he goes on to the next boy.
At noon boys como along and stop near the
toe sandwich SO-tneN
offer him one. Four times they offer him one to
eat, then falling go on to the next boy.
Along in the afternoon the chief himself comes
out ostensibly to inspect the fasters; he looks
around to see If anyone is watching then tells the
boy confidentially 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 IL 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. at
which the candidates come in, washthe mourning
paint from their faces, dress in gala attire, cal
their supper and gather in the Big House, where
ares 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 hall
black with powdered charcoal. The chief stands
with his back to the west door of the Big House
and says:
Admitted to the Tribe
"My sons we have tasted as did our Unam
grandfathers-only they tasted four or more days
and nights absolutely without food-sometime'
longer Now we are going to admit such of yol
as stood the test to the rank Of warrior Of thu
Unami tribe"
One by one the candidates come up before hin
and are solemnly admitted to the tribe and the!
are robed in the turtle cape" and have their face
painted.
When all have been taken into the tribe thu
chief takes his place and an Oshkosh brings him
bundle of speech sticks. Then he announces
II will now read from these picture writings tn
12 blessings which pray may be ours as warrior
of the Unami tribe" He then reads the sticks
AS he finishes each and lays 1t aside the trib
cries, "Hooo!" until all have been read. Then
led by the chief and the six Oshkosh they marcl
in a line completely around the two fires fron
left to right, then outside where they line up fac
ing the east and cry "HoooW IL times, whicl
finishes the ceremony.