Sometimes the new member selected is still a child.

In that case he is taken by the Medicine-man so soon as he reaches a proper age, and qualified by instruction and example to become a creditable member of the fraternity.
Among the Winnebagoes there seems a considerable belief in magic.

Each Medicine-man has a bag or sack, in which is supposed to be inclosed some animal, to whom, in the course of their _pow-wows_, he addresses himself, crying to him in the note common to his imagined species.

And the people seem to be persuaded that the answers which are announced are really communications, in this form, from the Great Spirit.
The Indians appear to have no idea of a retribution beyond this life.
They have a strong appreciation of the great fundamental virtues of natural religion--the worship of the Great Spirit, brotherly love, parental affection, honesty, temperance, and chastity.

Any infringement of the laws of the Great Spirit, by a departure from these virtues, they believe will excite his anger and draw down punishment.