Every member of the society carries a bag of herbs, the use of which he has learned, and if called upon to heal the sick, he works the cure by singing the right song before giving the medicine. The medicine is not usually swallowed in proper fashion as a child takes a dose, but it is carried by the sick person, or is placed among his belongings, or a little wooden figure is carved roughly by the Medicine Man and must be carried around with the herbs to heal the patient. But the song, and it must be the right song for the occasion, counts as much as the medicine. Wouldn’t you like to be an Indian? Often the Medicine Man is called upon for a love-charm, for which there is a song. There are also songs of cursing which are supposed to work an evil charm when used with a certain kind of cursing herbs. Both men and women may become members of the Great Medicine Society, and they must go through eight degrees or stages in which they are taught the use of the medicines and the songs. Each member of the society has his own set of songs, some of which he has composed himself and others he has had to buy for large sums of money or goods. No man is allowed to sing another man’s song unless he has bought the right to it. With the sale of a song goes the herb to be used with that particular song. The ceremony is very elaborate. It lasts for several days, and sounds very much like a story book. The Chippewa Indians have had a written picture language by means of which they read the different songs. These pictures were usually drawn on white birch-bark. Here are a few samples: [Illustration: INDIAN SONG PICTURE In form like a bird it appears. ] [Illustration: INDIAN SONG PICTURE On my arm behold my pan of food. ] [Illustration: INDIAN SONG PICTURE Wavy lines indicate “the song.” Straight lines indicate “strength.” ] [Illustration: INDIAN SONG PICTURE I have shot straight. ] [Illustration: INDIAN SONG PICTURE The sound of flowing water comes toward my home. ] When we tell you about American music we will speak again of the Indian and how we have used in our own music what he has given us. THE NEGRO AND HIS MUSIC The place of the negro in the world of music has been the cause of many questions: Is his music that of a primitive man? Is it American? Is it American Folk Music? As we tell you the story of music we shall have to speak of the negro music from all these different sides. But, for you to understand why there is a question about it, we must tell you where the negro came from and what he brought from his primitive home.