Wa-zha´-zhe çka: Fee, with a mussel shell. The mussel is the life symbol of this gens. The members of the gens will recite their wi´-gi-e relating to the power of the mussel to resist death, and to its consent to aid the little ones to reach old age. The Wa-zha´-zhe çka are a water people. (See 36th Ann. Rept. Bur. Amer. Ethn., p. 94, lines 1 to 29.)
Ṭa I-ni-ḳa-shi-ga, the Deer People: Only a fee is sent to them. The members will recite their Wa-dsu´-ṭa I-hi-thoⁿ-be Wi´-gi-e, which tells of the various places of the earth where the deer will reveal themselves to the little ones to give them help to reach old age. (See 36th Ann. Rept. Bur. Amer. Ethn., p. 97, lines 44 to 103.)
When the Sho´-ḳa had delivered the last fee every Noⁿ´-hoⁿ-zhiⁿ-ga who knows his wi´-gi-e begins to recite it in a loud voice. None of the wi´-gi-es are alike and none of the members of a gens recite in unison, consequently there would be a volume of sounds most bewildering to the uninitiated.
The wi´-gi-e recited by the members of the Iⁿ-gthoⁿ´-ga gens at this time is called Zha´-zhe Ḳi-ṭoⁿ Wi´-gi-e, freely translated, the Name Wi´-gi-e. It is in three parts. The first, which includes sections 1 to 8, is called Zha´-zhe Ḳi-ṭoⁿ, the taking of names; the second, which includes sections 9 and 10, is called U´-noⁿ U-tha-ge, the telling of the means by which to reach old age; the third, which includes sections 11 and 12, is called U´-noⁿ-bthe U-gi-dse, the story of the search for the life-giving foods.
1. Verily, at that time and place, it has been said, in this house, 2. The Hoⁿ´-ga, a people who possess seven fireplaces 3. Spake to one another, saying: O, younger brothers, 4. The little ones have become persons, 5. Should not the little ones go below to become a people? they said to one another. 6. Then, at that very time, 7. They said: There are four great gods 8. To whom we shall appeal for aid. 9. Verily at that time, 10. They spake to the god of day (the sun) saying: 11. O, my grandfather, 12. Our little ones have become persons, 13. Should they not go below (to the earth) to become a people? 14. At that very time 15. The god of day replied: You say the little ones should go below to become a people, 16. When the little ones go below to become a people, 17. They shall always live to see old age, as they travel the path of life.