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Sgë! Nâ'gwa hitsatû'ngani'ga hitsiga'tugï'. Titsila'wisû'nuwâgi'`lï tege'tsûts`gû'`lawïstï'. Tsuli'stana'lû ûlë' waktûï, agi'stï une'ka itsû'nyatanilû'ïstani'ga. Gûnwatu'hwïtû' nûnna'hï degûndâltsi'dâhe'stï. uWâ'hisâ'nahï tigiwatsi'la. Tutsegû'`lawistï'tege'stï. Ûntalï' degû'nwatanûhï, uhisa'`tï nige'sûnna. Tsuwatsi'la dadâl`tsi'ga. A`yû A`yû'ninï tigwadâ'ita. Yû!





This formula, from A`yûnini's' book, is for the purpose of catching large fish. According to his instructions, the fisherman must first chew a small piece of Yugwilû' (Venus' Flytrap--Dionæa muscipula) and spit it upon the bait and also upon the hook. Then, standing

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The prayer is addressed directly to the fish, who are represented as living in settlements. The same expression as has already been mentioned is sometimes used by the doctors in speaking of the tsgâ'ya or worms which are supposed to cause sickness by getting under the skin of the patient. The Blue Cat (Amiurus, genus) is addressed as the principal fish and the bait is spoken of as the "white food," an expression used also of the viands prepared at the feast of the green corn dance, to indicate their wholesome character. "Let the paths from every direction recognize each other," means let the fishes, which are supposed to have regular trails through the water, assemble together at the place where the speaker takes his station, as friends recognizing each other at a distance approach to greet each other, uWâhisâ'nahï tigiwatsi'la, rendered "our spittle shall be in agreement," is a peculiar archaic expression that can not be literally translated. It implies that there shall be such close sympathy between the fisher and the fish that their spittle shall be as the spittle of one individual. As before stated, the spittle is believed to exert an important influence upon the whole physical and mental being. The expression "your spittle has become agreeable" is explained by A`yûninï as an assertion or wish that the fish may prove palatable, while the words rendered "there shall be no loneliness" imply that there shall be an abundant catch.

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