Si! This day, my father, thou game animal, even though thy trail one day
and one night hast (been made) round about; however, grant unto me one
step of my earth-mother. Wanting thy life-blood, wanting thy flesh,
hence I here address to thee good fortune, address to thee treasure.
All ye woods that fill (the country) round about me, (do) grasp for me
strongly. [This expression beseeches that the logs, sticks, branches,
brambles, and vines shall impede the progress of the chased animal.] My
fathers, favor me. Grant unto me the light of your favor, do.
The hunter then takes out his fetich, places its nostrils near his lips,
breaths deeply from them, as though to inhale the supposed magic breath
of the God of Prey, and puffs long and quite loudly in the general
direction whither the tracks tend. He then, utters three or four times a
long low cry of, "Hu-u-u-u!" It is supposed that the breath of the god,
breathed in temporarily by the hunter, and breathed outward toward the
heart of the pursued animal, will overcome the latter and stiffen his
limbs, so that he will fall an easy prey; and that the low roar, as of
the beast of prey, will enter his consciousness and frighten him so as
to conceal from him the knowledge of any approach.
The hunter then rises, replaces his fetich, and pursues the trail with
all possible ardor, until he either strikes the animal down by means of
his weapons, or so worries it by long-continued chase that it becomes an
easy capture. Before the "breath of life" has left the fallen deer (if
it be such), he places its fore feet back of its horns and, grasping its
mouth, holds it firmly closed, while he applies his lips to its nostrils
and breathes as much wind into them as possible, again inhaling from the
lungs of the dying animal into his own. Then letting go he exclaims:
Ha! e-lah-kwa! hom tae-tchu, hom tcha-le. Hom ta ta-sho-na-ne,
All! Thanks! my father, my child. To me thou seeds (of earth)
k'iae-she-ma an-ik-tchi-a-nap-tu. Hom ta te-k'o-ha-na, o-ne, yaethl
water (want) meet (grant) do. To me thou light trail over
(favor)
k'ok-shi, an-ik-tchi-a-nap-tu.
good meet (grant) do.