2. Noⁿ´-poⁿ-da, Deer gens, of the Wa-zha´-zhe subdivision, to recite
their wi´-gi-e relating to one of their life symbols, the water. (36th
Ann. Rept. Bur. Amer. Ethn., p. 98, lines 1 to 25.)
3. I´-ba-ṭse Ṭa-dse, Wind People, of the Hoⁿ´-ga subdivision, to recite
their wi´-gi-e relating to one of their life symbols, the maize.
4. Tho´-xe, Buffalo-bull gens of the Ṭsi-zhu great division, to recite
their wi´-gi-e relating to the maize. Tho´-xe is the gens that gave
to the people the maize and the squashes. (36th Ann. Rept. Bur. Amer.
Ethn., p. 279, lines 54 to 110.) The Tho´-xe authorized the I´-ba-ṭse
and certain other gentes to use the Maize ritual in their child-naming
ceremonies.
5. Çiⁿ´-dse-a-gthe, Wolf gens of the Ṭsi´-zhu great division, to recite
their wi´-gi-e relating to their life symbol, the sun. The Dog-star is
also one of their life symbols. (36th Ann. Rept. Bur. Amer. Ethn., p.
118, lines 1 to 36.)
WA-ZHO´-I-GA-THE (LIFE SYMBOL) WI´-GI-E
The Sho´-ḳa returns to the house of the father and reports that he
has given notice to all the gentes named to attend the ceremony. Then
Shoⁿ´-ge-moⁿ-iⁿ proceeds to recite the Wa-zho´-i-ga-the Wi´-gi-e of his
gens, a name which means, The Taking of Bodies; that is, The Taking of
Life Symbols. The reciting of this wi´-gi-e is for the benefit of the
father and the child.
THE TAKING OF LIFE SYMBOLS.
FREE TRANSLATION
1
1. The people spake to one another, saying: Lo, the little ones
have nothing of which to make their bodies,
2. Take heed, O, younger brothers, and see what can be done.
3. Then to the youngest of the brothers they spake, saying:
4. The little ones have nothing of which to make their bodies, O,
younger brother.
5. Hardly were these words spoken,
6. When the young messenger stood before the God of Day (the sun),
to whom he spake, saying:
7. O, my grandfather!
8. The God of Day replied: My grandchild!
9. The messenger spake: The little ones have nothing of which to
make their bodies, O, grandfather.
10. The God of Day spake: I am a person of whom the little ones
may well make their bodies,
11. I am a god who has power to resist death.
12. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
13. They also shall have power to resist death, as they travel the
path of life.
14. Even among the gods,
15. There is not one who is able to see my path.
16. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
17. Even the gods
18. Shall not be able to see their path, as they travel the path of
life.
2
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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