Chippewa Customs

CHARMS

DENSYOIlIll] CHIPPEWA qUSTOMS MUSIC 107 This subject has received such extended consideration by the writer that repetition seems unnecessary. The drum is the only accompanying instrument except in the Miele and djasakid songs, when a rattle is sometimes used. The wooden flute in former times was played by the young men. In addition to Mide songs and those connected with the treatment of the sick, either by Mide or djasakid, there are songs of social dances, game songs, war' songs, love songs, and little melodies for the entertainment of children. There are also songs connected with many of the old stories, including some of those concerning Winabojo. DANCES The Chippewa, like other tribes, danced before they went to war and celebrated their victories in the scalp dance. Among their social dances were the begging dance, in which they went fr'om house to house, or tent to tent, begging food for a feast (Bull. 53, pp. 229233 ), and the woman's dance, in which many gifts were exchanged (Bull. 45, pp. 190-196). Dancing formed an important part of the initiation ceremonies of the Midewiwin. CHARMS The Chippewa, more than many other tribes, believed in the use of "charms." Constructively these were of two classes, i. e., charms that comprised several units or materiais and charms consisting only of herbs. The first of these classes included charms using figurines, outline drawings, or a hair or part of the clothing of the person to be affected, together with certain herbs. Into both classes there entered the belief that the supreme test of the power of a substance was its ability to act independently of its material presence. Thus an herb applied externally might cure the bite of a reptile, but it was considered evidence of great power if an herb carried in a packet could protect a man so effectively that he would not be bitten by the reptile. The old-time Chippewa appear to have believed that matter has two sorts of proper'ties-one tangible and the other intangible. The medicine men, through their dreams, learned the intangible as well as the tangible properties of matter, their use of the former being designated as "charms," or included in the general term of " medicine." Certain herbs were believed to cure the sick and also to act as "charms." Among these is Latlllfj1'1/Ji8 venosUS' Muh!., the roots of whic4 were used as a dressing for wounds and were also carried on 108 BUHEAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [BULL. 86 the person to secure safety and success. Evil as well as good was said to be accomplished by these means and the Chippewa had certain antidotes to counteract evil charms. Some of the antidotes acted by material presence and others acted independently of such contact. Figurines were used in many of these and ranged from 1 inch to 6 or more inches in height. This subject will be considered under the following classification: (a) Love charms, (b) charms to attract worldly goods, (c) charms to insure safety and success, (d) charms to influence or attract animals , (e) protective charms, (f) charms to work evil, and (g) antidotes for evil charms. (a) Love charms.-(l) The most common form of love charm consisted of two figurines made of wood representing a man and a woman. (PI. 39, a.) These were about an inch in height and were tied together with a hair or a raveling from the clothing of the person to be affected. With the figurines ,vas tied a tiny packet of " love-charm" medicine, one of the usual ingredients being the seeds of Onosmodium hispidissimum Mackenzie. The figurines thus prepared were placed in a little bag and carried by the person wishing to create the influence. It was said this charm would attract a person from a considerable distance, and that it could be prepared with special herbs in such a manner that "in four days the man to be influenced will suffer a headache so severe as to cause nosebleed." Medicine was sometimes placed on the lips of the figurines. It was said that" a wife who feels that the heart of her husband is being alienated may place medicine over the heart of the male figurine, wear the charm, and regain his affection." (2) Another form of love (or "attraction") charm was shown to the writer by an informant. It consisted of a little dust or powder in a buckskin packet. The powder was colored vermilion and in...