Chapter II: Part 2

The Badger came forward again with his strength and worked on it, widening the path so that the multitude could march out, one by one. After his hard labor he went through, but because he was tired he lay down. He saw the skies, the sun, the mountains and all that there was on the earth. The sun went down, the stars appeared and the Night came. The Night saw him there and visited him, but the animal was asleep. The Night put forth his hands and held the Badger’s hands, touched him on his head and on his neck, then went on his way. Light came again from the east, the stars disappeared and the moon also. The Badger awoke from his sleep and saw the sun rising in the east. He felt satisfied with all he had witnessed. He turned to the people and told all this to the Mother-Corn. Immediately the Mother-Corn marched ahead and stopped at the opening. The opening was somewhat small, but she tried hard to put her head through. The next step she went through as far as her legs. Then she marched out, and all the people followed.

Nesaru from the heavens saw the Mother-Corn and talked to her. He had his mercy on her and he taught her how she should live. He gave her power to use in the times of need. The whole multitude cried for joy. The Mother-Corn started out on a long westward march. All followed, as in a triumphant procession. After many days of marching they came to a wide expanse of water. There they stood on the shore. The Fish came and told the Mother-Corn that he would make way for them. The Mother-Corn gave her consent, because she knew that the Fish had the power to do so. The Fish went into the waters, and thus the water parted. The Mother-Corn led, and they all marched on dry land, but there stood high walls of waters. After a long march they came to the shore, and the waters came together. This was the first obstacle they encountered.

They went on their march again, and here they came to their second obstacle, which was a very thick forest, that no one could go through. The Owl came and volunteered to make a way for the people. So he went and blew down trees, the path was cleared, and the people all went on. They then came to the third and last obstacle, which was a very deep ravine that no man could walk down and up. Then one bird, the Kingfisher, said he would make the way. So he did, and all the people went across. Now they went on. They came to an open prairie. Here they saw a buffalo, a very large animal, whose horns seemed to reach to the sky. The people were amazed, and were very much afraid of him. They could find no way to kill him. But the Mole, the Skunk, and the Badger agreed to work together once more. The Mother-Corn was willing to let them do so. The Fish also said that he would be the one to kill the animal. Where the animal stood there was a very beautiful lake where he had always gone to get his drink. The three went and worked under the surface of the earth. They made many holes all around the animal. The three returned, after they had made all the ground loose about the animal. The animal started, and went toward the lake for water, while the people watched, to see what would happen to him. He came to the shore, and while he was drinking the Fish went up into his mouth and into his throat and into his stomach. Inside, he worked with his fins and cut the animal very badly. The animal ran, then got into the loosened ground. Finally he fell, bled and died. The Fish then came out. All the people came and were very much surprised because of the appearance of the animal. They were afraid of him, so they worshiped him. The hairs on him were grass. The horns on him were trees, with thick bark. The end of his nose was a big, black sunflower. Most of his outside appearance was in the form of Mother-Earth. The blood from the buffalo sank down into the earth, was hardened and became a stone, and from this stone later on they made their pipes. They butchered the buffalo and divided his flesh among the different sacred bundles in different villages. They counted and kept all the joints in the animal, and they are preserved in the bundles.

Then, again, they went on westward, and after many days they stopped, and separation took place. The Mother-Corn called a council, and they all met together. The fowls, fishes, and animals all agreed that they would separate from the people. They gave as much power as they could spare to the Mother-Corn. The Mother-Corn was very thankful, because she was to get her food from any animal that she should like. Besides, she was to get all her clothing from them. At last, the Mother-Corn separated from the animals.

This will give an idea to all how the Arikara originated under the earth. Yet it seems a mystery to us, and it is for us to solve.

FOOTNOTES:

[6] Told by Hand.

6. THE ORIGIN OF THE ARIKARA.[7]

A long time ago, when I was about thirteen years old, we heard that smallpox was coming from the east, so that we all left our village and went north in order to get away from the smallpox. As we journeyed west we came to many buffalo. My father and I went to kill them. My father killed a buffalo cow. Then he called out, with a loud voice, that he had made a buffalo holy, and called a certain old man who was then the keeper of a bundle.

The old man came and sat down with us. He filled his pipe and smoked to the different gods in the heavens. After smoking he pulled up some wild sage and waved it upon the buffalo. After this he took his knife and cut the skin of the buffalo. Then we all helped skin the buffalo. After we had skinned it, the old man took his knife and took the meat from the back. Then he took the tongue out and carefully cut the meat from the tongue, breast, heart, and lungs. He carefully laid the meat, heart, tongue, and lungs aside, and said, “These things are holy. The rest of the meat I will take home and divide among other old men. You take the meat, tongue, heart, and lungs and jerk it and dry it and when we get to our village we will have the ceremony.” The holy meat was jerked and dried. My people took care of it, so that it was very fine. When we returned to the village this meat was put upon my back and some upon the back of my father, and we started for the priest’s lodge.

The bundle had been taken down by the woman who had charge of the bundle and placed in the west of the lodge. The women had all left the lodge. We entered the lodge. We were then told to take seats by the priest. The tying of the bundle is peculiar, for it is not a common tie. The man who untied the bundle was told to notice the tie closely so that he could tie the bundle up again in the same way. The bundle was untied and the things inside were spread out, the priest being particular to place the four animals that brought the people out from the earth. They were the bear, badger, mole, and a tiny mouse with a long nose. There were all kinds of birds in the bundle. There were also two pipes in it. One of the pipes was black, the bowl also being black. The bowl of the other pipe was red, the stem was white, and many bird feathers were tied along the pipe stem. The only thing tied upon the pipe was a white shell. The priest took the gourds, and told the errand man to invite four men and four women into the lodge. The women were placed according to the four world quarters. Hoes made of the shoulder-blade of a buffalo were given them. The four men were also placed by the women, and these men were given bow and arrows. The four old men now took up the gourds and the four men and women danced. This was continued until all the songs were sung. The women and men placed their implements at the altar, then went out.

Before the ceremony, many presents were given—such as ponies, blankets, buffalo robes, calicos, guns, etc. Some of these things were given to the old men, who sat on each side of the entrance. Most of the presents were given to the priest, who made offerings of willow sticks to the gods. After this, he told us the origin of the bundle and of our people:

A long time ago, Nesaru made people. They were giants. They displeased Nesaru, and he sent mighty heat upon these people, so that they turned into stones—such as we now find in the earth. This is why we call stones our grandfathers, for stones really are people, who were once wonderful and powerful.

Again, Nesaru made people. This time they were small, but were wonderful. They also displeased Nesaru, so that he sent word to all the animals to hide; that he was going to make the water rise from the earth. The animals held a great council, and it was decided to take most of the people under the ground with the assistance of the Badger, the Mole, and the long-nosed Mouse. The Fox was to act as runner and errand man.

The people lived under the ground for many years. These animals did not like to see the people live under the ground, so the Badger, the Mole, the long-nosed Mouse, and the Fox assembled. This means, not one Bear, one Badger, one Mole, one Mouse, and one Fox, but many of each kind. The animals decided to dig through the earth upwards, and see what kind of land there was above. So the Bears dug, but they all gave out. The Badgers dug and they gave out. The Moles then dug and they gave out. The little Mice then dug until they dug through the earth. Then they went back, for their noses were worn sharp.

When the Mouse came back the other animals saw that his nose was worn sharp. The Mouse said: “From this day on, my people will have long, sharp noses on them, so that people will know that through the long-nosed Mouse they came out from the ground.”

The Mole was the first one to stick his head out and see the bright sun. He was blinded. He went back into the ground, and to the animals. He told of the brightness outside of the earth, that he had been blinded. So it was decided by the animals that the Mole should always stay under ground and should never see the sun. The Mole was satisfied, so he always stayed under the ground.

The next to go through was the Fox. The rays of the sun now entered the hole, and the Fox could see, but he could not get through. So the Badger dug away until he dug through. The Fox went again, and crawled out of the ground. He made a loud shout, like a man. The Fox ran around through the country and returned to the people and reported what he had seen outside on the earth.

The animals were all satisfied. They all said, “We will lead these people out, so they can live upon the land, where they can see the sun, moon, stars and heavens.” The Bear was told by the long-nosed Mouse to make the hole larger. The Bear went to digging. The people followed. The people did not have any clothing on, neither did they have anything to eat. They did not know how they lived under ground. The Bear made the hole larger, so that there was light where the people were. The long-nosed Mouse went out first, then the other animals followed, then the people followed out.

The people were now standing upon the ground. They did not know which way to go. But there was a woman who seemed to know. She did not speak to the people. She told a man that she was not a real woman, that she was a grain of corn, and that she had understanding of what they were to do. She told the man that they were upon an island in big waters, that they were put there so that they could dig through the earth and could get out.

These people who were taken under the ground by Mice were grains of corn. Now they had turned to people. The long-nosed Mouse now spoke to the woman, and said, “Some of the people will have to remain in this water, for we can not cross this big water unless some do.” The Mouse then told a man to get into the water. When the man got into the water he turned into a long gar-pike. It now swam across the big water, but failed to reach the land. So the Mouse commanded one of the women to get into the water and to swim and join the gar-pike in the water. Now, there was a bridge across the big water. The two fish became tired and gave way, so that some of the people fell into the big water, and turned into fish. The others went on.

After they had gone upon the mainland the people began to pick up flint stones and use them to cut with. But another thing happened: There was darkness upon the earth. Some of the people could see plainly in the dark. These people did not know what to do, but the Mouse led the people through the darkness, and led them out from the thick timber. The people who were left in the timber turned to Owls.

The people went out of the timber and again there was trouble, for there was an earthquake. The land opened, and took some people into the ground. It left a deep chasm, so that the people were not able to move on. The Bear went to the chasm and made steps on each side, so that the people went down and climbed up on the other side.

Now they traveled west. Again there was trouble. Thick timber was in the way. The Mouse called on the gods. A Whirlwind came and made a pathway through the timber. The Whirlwind did not hurt the people, although it was mad, for the powers had not called on it for help.

Now they went on until they came to muddy water, in what is known as “Pawnee” country. Here they found many things to wear and to eat. The first bow was then made. The long-nosed Mouse died and the people skinned it, leaving the skull in the skin. The Bear then died, and its skull was also taken from it. So also with the Mole, the Badger, and the Fox. These were wrapped up in a bundle and when the Pawnee invited them to attend the bundle ceremony they went and received their ceremony. Mother-Corn and also a ceremony were given to them. All the bundles received their rituals, each being different from the others.

While they had their village here the Arikara dressed the ear of corn as a woman. They went down to the River and threw it in, the old men singing, “Mother, you are going to the island in the big water, where we came out. Find out for us what we are to do, and how we are to live. Come back to us and tell us how it was that we came here.” The corn drifted down the stream and disappeared.

Many years afterwards the Arikara were living on the Muddy (Missouri) River, when, in the fall, there came a strange woman into the lodge where they were having a bundle ceremony. The people took no notice of the woman. The woman left the lodge and went to another lodge and took her seat under the bundle. The people in this lodge fed her, but they did not notice her any more than to feed her, as they would feed any other woman. She left and went to another bundle lodge, always taking her seat under the bundle. She went to all the bundles, but none of the people noticed her. She went to the last bundle, and as she entered, the people noticed her as a strange woman.

She went to the altar and sat down under the bundle. The old man was told that a strange woman had come in. The old man took notice of her and recognized her. The old men were gathered and the ceremony that the people got from Muddy-River country was performed.

This woman was sitting in front of the bundle. When the ceremony was gone through, the woman spoke, and said: “I have returned. I found out that you people came out from the ground. You met obstacles. You came through by the aid of the animals. You went to a strange country. You met difficulties. You overcame them by the power of the animals. It was all done through me, for the four world quarter gods are my father. I prayed to the gods and to Nesaru for help for you, so that your people would live. You threw me into the river and asked me to return. I have come to you again. I shall hereafter come to you in dreams, and tell you about these things that are in this bundle. I will be present with you always. I shall leave you words. Now, before I go to my fathers in the heavens, I want to tell you to tie me upon the bundle and give presents to it by clothing the ear of corn. In all of your ceremonies, always offer it some corn and meat. It will always gladden me to receive anything you people eat. I must go.”

The woman disappeared, and there, where she sat, lay an ear of corn. People saw the corn. Other old men were sent for, so that they might also get an ear of corn to tie upon their bundles. But the people all blessed themselves with the corn that the woman had turned into. The people tied ears of corn upon their bundles. Some tied hides upon the corn and hung them up on the walls. This was done for the people who had given buffalo meat to the bundles.

So the old woman disappeared; but the old men in the tribe claimed that the woman came to them in their dreams and taught them songs and how to make sacrifices of dried or fresh buffalo meat, and also the smoke ceremony.

FOOTNOTES:

[7] Told by Bear’s-Tail.

7. THE ORIGIN OF THE ARIKARA.[8]

I sacrificed several buffalo to Mother-Corn. I used to sit and listen to the songs. Finally the old men gave me a seat with them, so I learned to sing the bundle songs. The old men then told us this story:

A long time ago, the Arikara lived under the ground. There were four animals who looked with pity upon the people, and these animals agreed to take the people up on top of the earth. These animals were the long-nosed Mouse, the Mole, the Badger, and the Fox. The Fox was the messenger to the people to tell them of what the animals were doing. The Mole was the first to dig. He ran back, for he was blinded by the brightness of the sun. The animals went out. The people came out of the earth, the Fox being in the lead. As the people were coming out there was an earthquake. The Arikara came out. The other people were again held fast by the earth.

These people who came out from the ground then journeyed west. They came to a place where the earth shook, so that there was a chasm or a steep bank. The people waited and cried. The Badger stepped forward and began digging, so that it made a pathway for the people. The people went across this place, and continued their journey.

All through the journey Mother-Corn was absent, for she had gone into the heavens to ask the gods to let the people live. The obstructions that the people met were wonderful powers. This strange being was known as Sickness (Natogo). After all the people had passed the first obstacle they sat down and gave thanks and made offerings to the gods.

Again they went upon their journey, and it stormed. In front of them was a river. They could not cross it, for it was very deep; but a Loon was sent by the gods. The Loon came to the people, and said: “Your mother is traveling in the heavens to help you. I was sent by the gods to open up this river, so you could cross and go on your journey.” The Loon flew across the river, flew back, then dived and came out on the other side of the river. The river was opened; it banked up on each side; the people crossed over and the waters came together again. Some people were left on the other side.

Again they journeyed, and they came to a place where Mother-Corn stopped and said: “The big Black-Wind is angry, for we did not ask it to come with us, neither did we make it one of the gods to receive smoke. But,” said Mother-Corn, “the Black-Meteoric-Star understands this storm; it will help us.” Mother-Corn went on, and said: “Here we are. We must hurry, for the big Black-Wind is coming, taking everything it meets.” “There is a cedar tree. Get under that cedar tree. Get under that cedar tree,” said Mother-Corn. “The Black-Meteoric-Star placed it there. The Star stands solid, for its right leg is cedar; its left leg is stone. It can not be blown away. Get under its branches.” So the people crawled under its branches. The Black-Wind came and took many people, notwithstanding.

The people came out, and they went on. They came to another difficulty—a steep mountain bank, and they stopped. The Bear came forth, and said, “I will go through this place first.” So the Bear went to digging steps for the people. Steps were made on both sides and the people went across.

After they had been gone for some time, a Dog came up, and said: “Why did you people leave me behind? I shall be the one that you shall kill, and my meat shall be offered to the gods. I shall also fix it so that all animals shall make great medicine-men of you. My father is the Sun. He has given me all this power. I will give my power to all animals, then I will stay with the people, so they will not forget my promise to them.” The people were thankful to the Dog.

FOOTNOTES:

[8] Told by Four-Horns.

8. THE ORIGIN OF THE AWAHO-BUNDLE PEOPLE.[9]

We were told by old people that our people came out from the ground. There were some people who came out from the ground, for there was an earthquake. Some of the people were thrown out and put upon the surface of the earth. There were some who were cut off, so there was crying, wailing, and many noises. The heavens heard, saw the people’s distress, so the heavens sent Mother-Corn to them. When she came to them, under the earth, she had a robe about her shoulders. This robe was painted red. There were upon the robe five moons and one star.

The people rejoiced when they saw Mother-Corn. She told them that she had come to lead them out from the earth; that on her robe she had had pictured the gods who had sent her and promised her help. She then turned around and spoke to the gods, asking them to make a way for the people to get on the earth. For several days the people waited, but no help came. At last a Badger came out, and said, “Mother, I will make a way for the people.” So the Badger began to dig and dug through the earth. The Sun saw the Badger come out, and said, “It is well. I will make your head black; also your fore legs, so that all people and animals will know that you are the one who dug for the people; and you shall also be a great burrower.”

The people came out from the ground, led by Mother-Corn. The people were facing west, and then they walked westward. As they went on, they came to thick timber. They stopped. Crying and wailing went up from the people. Mother-Corn lifted up her voice to heaven, but there was no help. Out from the company flew a Screech-Owl, who said, “Mother-Corn, I will make a pathway for your people.” The Owl flew through the timber, and made a pathway, so that the people could go through. The Owl and the Whirlwind are enemies. The Whirlwind left sickness, while the Owl gave roots and herbs to cure diseases.

The people went on farther, and a cry was raised,—“He is coming! He is after us!” It was a wonderful animal, known as “Cut-Nose.” This was an animal that had been a man, and he had gotten away from the people, but he was now trying to kill these people. His horns were long, and they seemed to touch the heavens. The people ran until they came to a chasm which they could not cross. Mother-Corn called on the heavens for help. The people began to cry and wail. For seven days the people stood. At last a bird came, and said, “I will do my part.” The bird flew through the bank, and came out on the other side. The Mole then came and tried, but did not succeed. Now the Badger was again called on, and he it was who made the banks to fall on each side, so that the people crossed.

After the people had crossed, there was rejoicing; but as they went on they came to another obstacle. There was wide, thick ice and deep water. Birds of every description tried to make a way for the people, but their power failed them. The birds faced the ice and water, but with no result. Up in the heavens was seen a bird that circled around until finally it flew downward and struck the waters, and it broke the ice. As it came towards the people, the bird said: “Mother-Corn, I shall make a way for your people. They shall cross this big lake and they shall continue the journey.” The Loon then dove, and wherever it went, the ice and the water were thrown far away. There was now dry land, so that the people crossed over.

The Loon spoke to Mother-Corn, and said: “This is your last obstacle. You shall meet no more.” Mother-Corn began to teach the people ceremonies and rituals, after they had crossed, even giving the people things to put in bundles. When the things were together the people went through a ceremony. Corn was lacking for Mother-Corn, and Mother-Corn herself said: “Let us wait till to-night. You shall have a Mother-Corn, and you shall wrap her in a bundle. She will hear your prayer, and she will keep you from diseases and give you plenty in your fields.” That night Mother-Corn disappeared; but under the bundle was an ear of corn wrapped in a robe that Mother-Corn had had. She had taken and washed it with sweet flowers.

As they went on they found where the other bands had camped. They picked up and ate what meat had been offered as a sacrifice to the gods.

“Awaho” means “left,” “deserted,” for this band was left, and was the last people to come out from the ground. So they were called “Awaho.”

The other bands had gone ahead a long distance. When the Awaho band reached the place where the other bands had camped, they found bits of meat that had been offered to the gods. This is the way the people secured their food.

When the Awaho people made a sacrifice of meat they took a piece off and buried it, eating what remained. The ceremony of burying the piece of meat was to teach the others that this band was at first covered up and was under the earth. These last people, the Awaho, who came out from the earth, knew all the ceremonies and taught them to the others. As they went on, these people were attacked by enemies and they were nearly all killed; but the keeper of the bundle hid it under a bank. The bundle was wrapped up with calfskin. After the people had gone into camp, the women begged that they might get the bundle. So a man went with them, and they got the bundle. A ceremony was performed to purify the contents of the bundle. A wooden bowl of water and a bundle of yellow flowers were used to cleanse the sacred objects. The flowers were dipped into the water; then they shook the flowers over the fire and dropped a few drops; then the flowers were made to touch the contents of the bundle. The people then ran down to the river and bathed. The next day sacrifices of meat were made, for now the people and the bundle were cleansed. These were the first ceremonies given by these people.

We are told by old people that Nesaru made the people; that the people were bad, and that they were destroyed. But Nesaru made some animals to take kernels of corn under the ground. These kernels had been people, and were turned to corn by Nesaru. In this way the people lived under the earth for many years. This is why the animals brought them out from the ground and why they were led, with the consent of the other gods, by Mother-Corn, who was sent by a god in the heavens, who had a field of corn.

FOOTNOTES:

[9] Told by Hawk.

9. MOTHER-CORN’S VISIT TO THE ARIKARA.[10]

Many, many years ago the Arikara, according to their traditions, were journeying west, when they were told by Mother-Corn, who had led them out of the ground, that in time they must dress her up and put her into the river; and, as they should put her into the river, the priest should say, “Mother, make haste and return to us.” For many years the Arikara continued to journey west, until at last they made a permanent village of earth-lodges upon the Missouri River, opposite the city of Washburn.

The old men thought that it was now time to send Mother-Corn down the stream. She was to go to the place from whence the Arikara originally had come, and if there were rituals and ceremonies or medicines that had been left behind, Mother-Corn was taken from the bundle and painted. A dress of tanned buffalo hide was wrapped and tied about the middle of the Mother-Corn.

While the painting and dressing of Mother-Corn was going on, the crier went through the village, telling the people that Mother-Corn was going to leave them for a period of time; and that she was going to the place from whence their forefathers had come; and that the Arikara people must all bring old moccasins for their little children; and that these must be placed with Mother-Corn, so that she might carry the old moccasins to the place whence the people had come, so that the young ones might grow up in life as the Arikara people had grown through their journey, meeting different obstacles, and finally settling down into a village; that the children might grow up; that although difficulties might beset their daily walks, they might overcome them by the power of Mother-Corn, and grow up to be strong men and women.

[Rituals were now recited by Standing-Bull, which were the same as those recited when they were painting the chief.] After the reciting of the rituals the people took up Mother-Corn and took her down to the river. All the people turned out to witness the act. But before the priests threw Mother-Corn into the river, her head upstream and her feet downstream, the children’s moccasins were tied about her waist. The people offered their prayers to Mother-Corn, and after praying they all began to cry. But Mother-Corn had disappeared in the Missouri River, and had gone with the current.

Many years afterwards, a woman returned to the village of the Arikara, and as the bundle ceremonies were being given the woman visited these ceremonies. At last, when she visited one ceremony, a man recognized her as Mother-Corn. He placed her under the bundle. She let them know that she was Mother-Corn, and she taught them many ceremonies and songs that night, and she said that she always would be present with them; that she would never forget them; and that the gods in the heavens had promised her and her people length of life. That night Mother-Corn disappeared, and she has never been seen since.

FOOTNOTES:

[10] Told by Standing-Bull.

10. MOTHER-CORN’S VISIT TO THE ARIKARA.[11]

In olden times during time of need, it was the custom of the Arikara to have a ceremony in which some old man would make offerings to the gods and to the Mother-Corn. It seems that in this ceremony all the old men who were offering smoke wanted the Mother-Corn to come, so that they might have plenty of corn, for it was planting season.

Mother-Corn was pleased to have smoke with the people. She started from the east to visit these people, and came to many other camps, and finally came to these people. She went into the medicine-lodge, and all the people followed her in. She spoke to them and the people cried for joy. The woman was pretty. The people brought her all kinds of food, but she would not eat. She told them the only thing she could eat was a bird, such as a chicken or duck. She stayed with the people many days and taught them many lessons. But the people were now hungry for meat, for the buffalo roamed far away from them. They had plenty of corn, and yet they liked to have meat, but all the animals were now scarce. One wise old man took a sacred pipe and laid it before the Mother-Corn for an aid, because he knew that she had all power from Nesaru.

Mother-Corn was much pleased to smoke with them and to offer smoke offerings to the father. Then she asked certain women to make moccasins for her, and they did so. The people gathered together in the medicine-lodge, while Mother-Corn sat on the altar. She put on one pair of moccasins and arose. She walked very slowly and when she had gone about twenty steps her moccasins were worn out. Then she sat down, put on another pair and walked again. When she had walked about twenty steps her moccasins gave out again and she tried the third pair, but they too wore out. She put on the fourth pair, and that pair brought her back to the altar. Her walk around the fireplace meant that she had walked a long way off in the west, and that the way was very hard. At last she told the people that she had seen some buffalo; that in four days they were to be seen. The men watched every day after that, and early in the morning of the fourth day the buffalo were seen.

The men went out and killed many buffalo on that day and there was plenty of meat. Thus, much respect and honor was paid to Mother-Corn. After some days another party went on a buffalo hunt, but Mother-Corn stayed with those who stayed in the village. It was not many days until enemies attacked the village. But what few men were there fought very hard, and at last they were driven out of the village. They took Mother-Corn out of the medicine-lodge, but before she escaped she was killed, causing great grief among the people. The Arikara were defeated on that day. They took Mother-Corn and buried her. From the place where she was laid, grass, weeds, bushes, trees, and almost everything sprang up. When the people who had gone out on the buffalo hunt came back they were much grieved and troubled on account of the loss of Mother-Corn.

FOOTNOTES:

[11] Told by Hawk.

11. HOW THE PEOPLE ESCAPED THE BUFFALO.[12]

A long time ago, when the people came out through the ground, a woman led them through the country. This woman was known as “Mother.” The people were human beings, and they had among them all kinds of animals, except the buffalo. The people traveled over the land, and as they went by a large lake a monster came out from the lake, which looked like a buffalo, for it had horns.

The people ran, crying that this animal was coming. They said this animal was what they called “Cut-Nose”. The animal kept coming, and at the same time there seemed to come out from under him buffalo. The buffalo caught up with them and they killed some of the people. The people made canyons behind, so that the buffalo could not cross, and thus they escaped the buffalo at this time.

While they were going on, a Whirlwind came. The people prayed to Mother to help them, and she turned around and told them to give presents and smoke to the Whirlwind. The Whirlwind scattered some of the people over the country. The crowd went on again.

While they were going on, again a noise was heard from behind and the people said, “The buffalo are coming after us again, and Cut-Nose is in the lead.” The people ran until they came to a big timber, which was very thick. The Owl came, and tried to make a path for the people through the timber, but he failed. The people cried for help. The Badger worked a little, digging through the ground, but it also failed. The people then looked around for help. The Coyote and the Dog came, and they opened a way through the timber.

These people went on, and again they looked around, and they saw the buffalo coming on again. The buffalo ran after the people, Cut-Nose with them, and they began to kill the people. The people came to deep water. There was no crossing, and the buffalo were killing them. They called on the Mother for help. The Dogs came, and said, “We will try to make a pathway through this water for the people,” but the Dogs failed. The Loons came. They made an opening through the waters, and the people passed through, and the buffalo were left on the other side.

The people after crossing this big water went on, and again they looked, and there was Cut-Nose coming with the buffalo. The people ran. They came to a canyon. The people prayed to Mother to make a pathway. She called on the Kingfisher, who struck the bank on each side, but failed. The Mole came, struck the bank, and failed. The Badger then came and dug on each side of the bank. The banks fell, and thus a pathway was formed for the people. They went across, and by this canyon they made their village.

There Mother held ceremonies for the different bundles. Other people had also received bundles, but no ceremony. The Awaho bundle people were the last to come, and they were the last to receive all the ceremonies from Mother, so that these people understood all the ceremonies. They were known as “Awaho” (Left-Behind), for these people, it seems, had been left behind when the people had come out from the ground. So, as the Awaho people went west, following up the trail, they found, when they reached the camp sites of the other people, meat offerings to the different gods. There was nothing left behind by the other people that the Awaho people were afraid to pick up, for they claimed to be under the protection of the gods, and therefore had a right to all the things that are offered to the gods. So the word “Awaho” means “Left-Behind.” Also, it means that they may take and cook again, and eat any meat offering to the gods that has been left behind. Other people who had bundles could not do this. They were afraid to touch meat that had already been offered to the gods.

FOOTNOTES:

[12] Told by Hawk.

12. WHY THE BUFFALO NO LONGER EAT PEOPLE.[13]

A young man went into a village in the night, and he heard the people talking. He could understand their talking, and by peeping into their tipi, he found out that they were Buffalo people. They were talking about killing the people. So the young man investigated. He climbed up on a high arbor that was in front of the tipi, and there he took hold of a human head. He felt around over the place and he found human meat. He climbed down from this place, and went to one of the large tipis, and here the people said, “We will soon do what we are to do. We will get these people out of the ground, and we will kill them.” Now the young man hid.

By the side of the hole where the people were to come out there was a cut in the side of a steep bank, so that, as the people were coming out of the hole, the bulls circled around them and drove the people up into the cut, where they hooked them and killed them. The young man saw the people, men, women, and children running to the cut, and as they went they were singing and crying. The people were coming out from the ground.

The young man felt sorry for the people, so that he went up among the hills. A strange man met him, and told him all about what was going on. He said: “These Buffalo have just started to eating people. I do not like it. Take this bow and these arrows, go to your home, select many young men and tell them to make bows and arrows. Lead them to this place, and kill and scatter the Buffalo so that they will not kill or eat any longer.”

The man took the bow and arrows, and the strange man stopped talking. The man found out that the strange man who was talking to him was the bow and arrows themselves. The young man then went to the village. He called many young men together and told them to make bows and arrows.

When the people had many bows and arrows the man led them to the place where the people came out from the ground. There the Buffalo were just trying to make the circle again around the hole, when these men attacked the Buffalo and commenced to kill them. Some of the Buffalo ran on to where the human meat was, and cried: “Get some of the meat and place it under your arm so that we can eat it whenever they let us alone.” But the people kept on killing, till they had scattered the Buffalo out. So they became buffalo and never ate the people any more.

The young man saved the people, and these people came out from the ground and made their home close to the village; but finally the last people who came out from the ground went south, away around by the mountains. Later they came back to Dakota, and joined their brothers again, where they have been ever since.

FOOTNOTES:

[13] Told by Star.

13. WHY THE BUFFALO NO LONGER EAT PEOPLE.[14]

A long time ago, while the Arikara lived together in the village, it was customary to hunt in the spring. The story I am about to tell was told to me by my father; for I was very small when this story was told by the priests:

On one of these hunts, the people failed to find any buffalo. Women and children began to cry from hunger. The men took long journeys hunting buffalo, but they could not find any buffalo. At last the chief was approached by the women and asked to call on the priests for aid.

The chief then took the sacred pipe from his bundle, filled it and took it to the lodge of the priests of the Knot-in-the-Tree (Critatao) bundle. The chief priest took the pipe, smoked it, and offered the smoke to the gods. After smoking, he said: “It is well. We will open the bundle and call on the gods to help us get buffalo. We will make an offering of gifts to the gods, so they will send buffalo.” The chief was glad, and went to his own tipi. The chief then called on the crier to tell all the people to be silent. The priest had his tipi cleaned and the bundle was taken down and the other priests were sent for. After the priests were seated and all the chiefs had entered, the priests took up the gourds and began to recite a ritual that had been given to the people by the Buffalo. After the giving of presents—native tobacco, black handkerchiefs, robes, and blankets—the priests stopped singing. The chief priest then went out and cut a long pole, brought it to the lodge and tied gifts upon the pole. The pole was then set in front of the lodge. Gifts were placed upon the pole for the southeast God, the southwest God, the northwest God, and the northeast God.

Again a ritual was recited for the buffalo to come. As they recited the ritual the errand man stood by the pole and would strike at the pole with an ash stick that he had in his hand. “Come, buffalo,” he would say, at the same time striking the pole. “You spoke to our people and promised to come when the people were in need of food.” After reciting the ritual the priests recited other rituals.

The buffalo came about three days after the ceremony. The chief ordered the crier to go through the village and let the men know that a whole buffalo was needed for the ceremony. The men went out, and a whole buffalo was brought into the ceremonial lodge. All the people were then invited, and the old priest told the people the following story:

There was a village of Buffalo. They were human, but had horns. When the Buffalo wanted meat they met in a tipi where there was the sacred bundle known as Knot-in-the-Tree. In this tipi a ritual was recited. It took them four days and four nights. The third night, the Buffalo gathered about the tipi where the ritual was recited. The fourth day, the four Buffalo who sat singing the ritual arose and went to the side of a hollow cottonwood tree that stood by the side of a steep bank. By the tree was an ash pole. Here the whole village of Buffalo stood around the hollow tree. Another ritual was recited, then the pole was taken up and the tree was struck three times. The fourth time, the people were heard crying, and some were singing. The first to come out was a man by the name of Cut-Nose (Kritstaricuts). This man seemed to be wonderful, for he always escaped his enemies. Next came a multitude of people. They escaped and ran over the prairie, the Buffalo killing them. Cut-Nose ran and returned to the hollow tree and crawled in, when the flood of people stopped coming out. The people were killed, and were taken to the tipis, where they were cut up, and their meat was placed upon the arbor they had built.

In one of these runs there was one boy among the people who was very handsome. A Buffalo cow chased the boy away out among the hills, but finally gave him up. The boy kept on running until he came to a deep ravine. There was a thick bush of dogwood covered with grapevines, in which the boy hid. Now and then the boy would go hunting, killing small birds for his food.

One day, as the boy was crossing a ravine, he saw sitting on the side of a hill a fine-looking woman. The woman’s hair was not braided, and she wore a buffalo robe. The robe looked white. There was a peculiar look about her that attracted the young man. The woman arose and started west. The young man followed. Towards evening the young man came to a bottom land, and there he saw a fine tipi. The young man went to the tipi, and there in the tipi sat the same woman. The woman spoke to the young man, and said, “Come in.” The young man went into the tipi and sat down. The young man was hungry, and looked at the woman pitifully. The woman put her hand under her robe and pulled out a lump of pemmican. She handed the pemmican to the boy, and the boy ate the pemmican. When he was filled he hid the pemmican under his arm. The woman spoke to the boy, and said, “You may lie with me; cover yourself with part of my robe.” So the boy lay down and went to sleep. When he woke up the woman was sitting by him, but there was no tipi. The woman then talked to the boy, and said: “I ran after you, but I did not intend to kill you. My people are Buffalo, and there is a way for them to become real animals. I selected you to be the one to turn them to buffalo, and then my people will not eat your people any more. My father is the chief of the Buffalo, and I learned by listening how your people can be saved. I want you to go with me to where my people are, and you will learn how my people kill your people. We must go and pass between the bulls who are stationed upon high hills. There are four circles of Buffalo bulls. We will have to pass through these stations unobserved.”

They began the journey, and they went between the Buffalo bulls who were stationed as sentinels. They went through all the circles of the Buffalo, and now the next thing was to enter the tipi where the ceremonies were held, for this was the place where the woman’s father lived. The woman covered the young man with her robe and they entered the tipi. Some of the Buffalo in the tipi, who were awake, said, “I smell human flesh,” but others said, “It is because we have just had a killing.” So nothing more was said about the smell of human flesh. The next day the boy was covered with buffalo robes, and, as all of the Buffalo went out, the boy felt safe.

In the evening the Buffalo came back to the lodge. They were human, only they had horns and tails. These people brought in fresh meat and it was the human meat. Now they cooked the meat and ate. After eating they lighted the fire. It died out, then the girl said, “Let us go out, I want to show you something.” So they went out. The boy saw arbors everywhere in the village. The girl told him to climb upon one of these arbors, and he did so. There he saw fresh meat of human and some bodies not yet cut up. The boy was scared. He told the Buffalo woman that he did not want to go into the tipi any more. The woman said: “Now you have seen bodies of people. These people eat your people, and for this reason I have brought you here to help your people, so they can overcome the Buffalo and kill them. When your people have killed the Buffalo and have driven them far, then they will eat of the grass which Nesaru intended that they should eat.” The woman continued, and said: “Then your people will come out of the ground, and you will teach them the ceremony the Buffalo used to sing before they went out to kill you. Come, go with me into the timber. You must make many bows and arrows.” So they went into the timber, and the woman said: “Now you remain here. Do not be afraid, for the Buffalo are now going to sit and sing the songs, calling your people together where the tree is. Come, now go with me to where your people come out.”