M. R. HARRINGTON — SACRED BUNDLES OF THE SAC AND FOX INDIANS. 249

One of my interpreters, an educated man, often tells in per- fect good faith how, traveling along a lonely road one night he encountered what appeared to be a stray dog, but which suddenly changed before his eyes to a tall Indian, naked but for a breech clout, across whose shoulder was dimly seen the strap and pouch used by the “night travelers,” or witches, who, it is believed, customarily go about in this guise . 1 To the Indian, a “witch” may be either a man or a woman, a member of the society of sorcerers.
Few will acknowledge membership in such a society, and fewer still will give up any of its paraphernalia to a collector. One small bundle of witch medicine was secured, however, with its little carrying pouch and shoulder strap (PI. XXXVII, A), from an Indian who asked me as a special favor not to use his name in connection with it. It had formerly belonged, he said, to old Ma' wa ci, now dead.
If a “witch” has an enemy he wishes to get out of the way, he tells the other members of the society how this man has treated him. After holding a meeting, if they all agree that he shall be killed, the first step is to draw a picture of a man on the ground, which represents the intended victim. A little stick or similar instrument is thrust into the figure in whatever part of the body they wish affected in the vic- tim, and a little of the mixture from the bundle sprinkled on the place; this is supposed to cause pain in the corresponding part of his body. Then they set the time when the victim is to die.
It is believed, that witches can assume the forms of four different animals — the bear, dog, owl and mole in succession. Some claim that the raccoon should be placed in this list instead of the mole, and opinions seem to differ as to the exact list. When in the form of a mole, they can approach their enemy unseen, underground, the Indians say.
1 Such a pouch is mentioned in Jones’ “Fox Texts.” Publications Am. Eth. Soc., Vol. 1, p. 157.
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250 UNIVERSITY MUSEUM — ANTHROPOLOGICAL PUBLICATIONS VOL. IV.
The membership and activities of the society are kept secret. The bundle is known as ma ni to wa thi wa ni\
Our specimen shown in PI. XXXVII was wrapped in three layers of calico of different patterns; then a woven sack (B), 4" x 5 ", made mainly of ravelings from woolen fabrics, on one side of which are two deer-like figures in black on a gray ground, flanked by zigzag patterns in red, green, gray and yellow. On the reverse side between similar zigzags are four smaller deer standing separately, above a herd of four deer, the number of animals determined by the number of heads — a rare pattern. On this side the deer are gray and the back- ground black. Within this is a little buckskin pouch (A), 2 \" x 2 \", provided with a flap, lined with silk, and solidly beaded with patterns in black, white, blue, red, green, yellow, pink and purple. To the pouch is fastened a carrying strap of blue and pink ribbon 3' 7 \” long intended to pass across the shoulder. Inside is a mole skin (the mole is one of the animals whose form can be assumed by a witch) in which is a paper package of Indian tobacco for incense, and another containing two little buckskin packets of red paint mixed with magic herbs together with a little wooden paddle for applying it. The mole skin may be seen projecting from the pouch in the illustration.
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