Chapter IX: Part 9

The friend of the Scalped-Man was afraid that the people would find out about the Scalped-Man, so he thought it was about time that the Scalped-Man should be caught; for the Scalped-Man had not been really scalped, but had been wounded a little on the top of his head, and so he had stayed away from the people and had become accustomed to stay by himself. The friend of the Scalped-Man was afraid that if the people found out that the Scalped-Man had done all the killing and capturing of the ponies he would be looked upon as a coward, for he was now a chief for having done all his great acts. So this man invited a lot of men in the night and told them that it was his intention that morning to go out and capture a Scalped-Man who dwelt in the Bad Lands; that this Scalped-Man was the one who was assisting him to get the ponies and kill people. The men in the village thought this very wrong and did not want to do it. But the man was determined.

The next morning the people went out. They surrounded the bank where the Scalped-Man lived and the man went into his cave; but the Scalped-Man was gone, for as they were holding their meeting in the night the Scalped-Man had come to the man’s lodge to listen to the council that they were having, for each night when the man was home, the Scalped-Man watched around his lodge to see if he would betray him. At this particular council the Scalped-Man had listened to all their plans about catching him. So when the Scalped-Man returned into his cave that night he picked up his things, moved them away from that country to some other place, so that after that, when the men went out to capture this Scalped-Man he was gone. The Scalped-Man was never seen any more.

FOOTNOTES:

[62] Told by Elk.

62. THE SCALPED-MAN.[63]

In olden times there were certain men who went upon the war-path. Scouts were sent ahead, and when the scouts came back they brought word that they had seen a mysterious being. The thing was dressed in coyote hide and had crawled around, but finally had stood up and walked away. The scouts said that they had watched the man and that he had disappeared in the side of a steep bank. The leading warrior said: “If that being is a Scalped-Man we will go and find him. If he has any power we want to receive it. If he can tell us where the enemy are we want him to tell it.” So the party went to the bank and hunted and hunted. They could find no place; but one man saw a dry root hanging on the side of the bank. This root he pulled and a mud door fell; and there was the entrance to the place where the strange being lived.

The men were afraid to enter the place. Among them was one young man who cared for nothing. He was dared to go into the den. The young man stepped forward and said: “Men, follow me. If he kills me you will get to see what the thing is.” So the boy led the way into the cave and there sat in the cave a man, who was crying. He was dressed in coyote skins. His head was tied with a piece of white sheeting. The cave smelt very good, for there was wild sage spread all over the cave. There was also sitting in the lodge a buffalo skull. The men now agreed to talk to the Scalped-Man and to ask him to help their war-party to be successful.

FOOTNOTES:

[63] Told by Antelope.

63. THE DEAD MAN’S COUNTRY.[64]

Six or seven years ago I was out upon the hills after my ponies. On my way back towards the camp I fainted, and lay upon the ground for a long time. Finally I felt better. I rose and walked towards home. I entered my tipi and lay down, and when I lay down I died.

As soon as I had died I saw a path leading east. There seemed to be a kind of inclosure. There was a little hole. I looked in that hole and saw lots of people in the village. I wanted to see the people and get acquainted with them. I went through this little hole. When I had gone through the hole I was in the dead man’s country. Before I entered the village a man with a robe and anointed with red ointment came in, and said: “Young man, you must not go into this village. Go on, and at the south side of the entrance you will see a lodge where you will stop. You must not enter that lodge, for it is the lodge of the dead people.” I went to the lodge, and I saw many people looking in. I stood on the south side of the entrance to the lodge. I saw that whenever a person who had died came, he entered inside the lodge and took his seat among the people in the lodge. The ground all over the lodge was covered with white clay, and it looked like ashes. There were many people in the lodge. I looked, and there the drums were resting in the east. The drums were black. The men were painted red. As they began to sing one old man came and stood out; then another man, younger than the first; then another, younger than the second; then another, until there were seven who came in this fashion. The last one to come was a little boy, whom they were about to paint. Now the drummers began to sing in a low voice. The dancers had dried willow sticks, which were representatives of their relatives who were still living upon earth. Each of the men was calling his people to the dead, so that they could come and be with them. The dry willows were used because the dead people wanted their living relatives in the world to become sick—as, for example, with consumption—and to dry up like the dry willows. When one of these dancers had to leave this place and go up to their village in the west, another man of his age would go out and take his place, and so on around. They wanted me to go into the lodge, but the man behind me said, “Do not go into the lodge.” Every time they got to a certain part of the songs they would take the willow sticks, then move them towards themselves. Then the man that was watching me said, “Come, you must not stay here; you must be going to your country.”

Now I woke up, but I remember the story well.

FOOTNOTES:

[64] Told by White-Owl.

64. THE COYOTE WHO SPOKE TO THE EAGLE HUNTERS.[65]

One time there was a prominent warrior who made up his mind that he would take a company of boys up into the hills to catch eagles. He led them out into the hills, and there he had many holes dug for the young men. They dug a big cave in the bank of the Missouri River, and this they made their permanent home.

One night, while they were sitting around in a circle telling Coyote stories, telling things a little bit in excess of what the Coyote had done, they were startled by the bark of a Coyote just outside of their den. Presently the Coyote walked into their den and said: “You people tell things about me that are not true, but then, it is all right.” He jumped out of the den and went off. All the young men, and even the leader, were scattered, on account of this Coyote’s coming into the den. They left their den and returned to their village. They thought that it was a bad sign for the Coyote to talk, but the other people thought that it was wrong for them to be scared. They thought that the Coyote had brought a good message to them, and they should have stayed and should have caught many eagles.

FOOTNOTES:

[65] Told by Many-Fox.

65. THE GIRL AND THE ELK.[66]

One time the Arikara went hunting on the Missouri River. They made their camp in the timber. Every evening the men used to go across the river and kill Elk. One evening, after the men had come home from their hunt, they heard the Elk whistling across the river. There was a fine-looking young woman in the camp, and as soon as she heard the Elk whistling she jumped up as if something had struck her, and she said: “Oh! I like that whistling; I must go and find out what it is.” The people got hold of this woman. Every time the Elk whistled it was hard for the girl to stay away from him. For many days the Elk walked on the other side of the river, and the husband of the girl began to get jealous of the animal, for every time the Elk whistled the girl would jump up as if to run after it.

One day as they heard the Whistling of the Elk they all agreed that it was time to kill it. As they were getting ready to go across the river to kill the Elk they heard the whistling on their side of the river. There was the Elk going slowly through the timber. The men shot and shot and shot at it, but they could not kill it. The girl had to be tied up, because she wanted to go to the Elk. Finally one of the men took one of his cartridges and put in it some medicine, and said, “Now I will see if we can kill you.” This man shot at the Elk, and his bullet was effective. While the Elk was whistling through the timber the girl was being held down. She had almost gotten away from three or four strong men. After the Elk was dead they had to give the girl some medicine to keep her from running away. She was put in a sweat-lodge many times, until she got over this crazy spell.

FOOTNOTES:

[66] Told by Many-Fox.

66. HOW THE RABBIT SAVED A WARRIOR.[67]

One time the Ojibwa stole many ponies from the Arikara. The Arikara followed the Ojibwa, and they overtook the horse thieves, but a different band of Ojibwa. There were several wagon-loads of them. The Arikara attacked them and fought hard. Several Arikara were wounded, including one of their brave men, who was shot through his neck by a bullet, which passed clear through his neck. The Arikara expected that he would die from loss of blood. As the man seemed about to die he saw a Jack-Rabbit, who spoke to him, and said: “You are not to die; you are to live.” When the battle was over the man was brought to the village of the Arikara. He was taken into the medicine-lodge, and there was attended by the Rabbit medicine-man. In less than four days the man was up and around. He told the Arikara that the Rabbit had spoken to him, and told him that he was not to die from his wound. The man became well, and was one of the leading medicine-men of the Rabbit band. He lived to old age. He died only a few years ago from the bursting of a blood-vessel in the old wound.

FOOTNOTES:

[67] Told by Elk.

67. THE WOMAN WHOSE BREASTS WERE CUT OFF.[68]

In olden times when the Arikara lived in a village, there was a man who had a beautiful woman. This woman gave birth to a baby boy. One time when the child was about five years old the father went off on a hunt. While he was gone another young man, who was very handsome came and courted the woman. She liked the young man and did as he wanted her to do. They loved one another so much that they finally agreed that they would find a plan whereby either they could get rid of the husband or the woman would feign sickness and death. If she pretended to be dead she was to be placed upon an arbor instead of being buried; so the woman feigned sickness when her husband came home. She pretended to die, and they placed her upon an arbor. Her lover killed three dogs, skinned them, took the dogs up to the arbor and untied the girl. The dogs were placed upon the arbor, so that when the dog meat decayed it would smell. The young man brought leggings, moccasins, blankets, and beads, and in these the girl dressed as a boy. Her breast was tied with wide strings, so that not much of it appeared. They went off to another village, which was about four miles from the original village, where they lived happily. The young woman passed herself for a young man from the other village.

After they had stayed a long time in the village the woman grew anxious to see her child, so they painted up as men, and went and sat upon a rock that was by a spring. There they watched for the child to come to get water. One day the woman’s boy came to get water from the spring, and she recognized him. After she had seen the boy she wanted to take him up in her arms, but the young man said, “No!” The woman insisted, and said, “He will not find me out.” They went closer, and when the boy came where they were standing by the tree the woman spoke to her boy, and said, “Boy, will you let me drink out of your bucket.” The boy looked at the woman for a long time. He went into his lodge and told his father that he had seen his mother. The father would not believe it, but the boy said, “There are two people standing yonder, and one of them is my mother.”

The father thought, to make sure that it was true, that he would send for them. He had some dried buffalo meat boiled, and sent an invitation for the two young men to come and eat in his lodge. In the meantime he had sharpened a long knife and placed it under the meat. “Now,” he said, “if it is true that that woman is not a man, but my wife, I will find out. There are two things she is to do when she enters the lodge. First, when she enters and steps over the ridge inside of the lodge, he will step forward as he steps; and if she is a female she will step over the ridge with her foot sidewise. The second thing is, when they have eaten and when I offer them the pipe to smoke, I shall know she is a female if the person refuses to smoke.”

The two young men were sent for. They came, and the real young man entered the lodge, and stepped over the ridge straight forward, while the next young man, instead of walking straight forward like the first, moved her leg over sidewise. By this the husband knew that the person was not a man. He let them eat, and after they had eaten, the man filled the pipe and gave it to them. When the female took the pipe, instead of trying to smoke she put the pipe up to her mouth, and instead of drawing the smoke she blew into the pipe. The husband now took out his knife, and said: “I wanted to find you out. You are my wife.” The woman screamed, and asked him to forgive her, saying she would live with him and try to be a good woman. The young man ran away. But the husband was angry, and said: “You are dead to me any way, but rather than that your breasts be tied down to make you look like a man I will cut them off, so that your breasts will be smooth.” The husband took his knife out and cut her breasts off. The woman ran and fell at the entrance and died. She was taken up by her people and buried. The man went to the place where he supposed he had laid his wife, and there were three dead dogs. He knew by this that the two had played a trick on him. The girl’s parents never said anything, but they were glad that the woman was dead. Nothing more was said about it.

FOOTNOTES:

[68] Told by Young-Hawk.

68. THE WATER-DOGS.[69]

Once there was a young man who slept outside of the lodge. He heard dogs bark at night, and as it was moonlight he saw a dog coming out of the river carrying her little ones in her mouth, one at a time, into the hills, to a spring. This young man saw the water-dog carrying its young ones. His name was Poor-Bear. He died shortly after he saw the dogs. At another time an old woman went to get some water out of the river, at or about the same place the water-dogs were seen. As she stooped to dip the water up she heard the dogs chattering in the water. She became frightened. She went home with the water and told the story. She became sick and died shortly afterward.

These water-dogs are supposed to be very powerful in killing people. They are hardly ever seen by people, and when they are seen the person who sees them generally dies.

FOOTNOTES:

[69] Told by Two-Hawks.

69. TWO-WOLVES, THE PROPHET.[70]

On what we call “Stevenson Flat” is a good piece of timber. There the Arikara were camped a long time ago. One day everybody turned out on the hills some few miles away on a buffalo chase. While they were making preparations to go home there came up a very bad storm. The hunters were scattered in small groups, some fleeing with the wind, others heading toward their camp. Two-Wolves, a rather quiet but good-hearted fellow, was rather slow about getting away. He was left all by himself in the storm. He stayed out all night and was missed the next night. They thought that he was a victim of the bad storm. His relatives mourned for him, and when the storm was over they set out to look around for him and to bring home their meat. Two-Wolves had been pitied by a Prairie-Chicken that had saved his life. The ruling power, Waruhti, had given him power to understand the speech of Thunder. The hunters met Two-Wolves coming home, and as they rushed up to greet him and inquire of his troubles he answered that he was all right.

A long time after this had happened Two-Wolves began to practice his power. The men began to be interested in him. He always had his lodge full. A few of the wonderful things that he did are these: Once a man named Two-Bears had a herd of ponies. They were badly disturbed by a horse owned by a man named Roving-Coyote. One day as Two-Bears was driving his herd to water, this horse acted very badly, cutting out the mares and chasing the horses. Two-Bears grew tired of the horse’s behavior and took a strong, sharp-pointed ash stake and threw it at him. The horse was badly injured by the pin and died. Roving-Coyote, wondering who could have killed his horse, made up his mind to find out. He took the matter to Two-Wolves. “Aye! I want to find out who shot my pony. I do not want to make any trouble, but I want to know who did it.” “Yes,” said Two-Wolves, “my father will be the one to decide, but I will perform the ceremony to him.” He called all the men together that belonged to his fire. He then asked the crier to call all over the village: “O! people of this village! Two-Wolves wants the man who killed the horse belonging to Roving-Coyote to report to his lodge.” The crier repeated this over and over. When all had heard he went into the lodge again. While the ceremony had been going on black clouds rose in the west, and “Ah ho! Ah ho!” was repeatedly said by Two-Wolves. “Now my father is coming.” He called again for the man to hurry, saying there was no use of secrecy and that he should know. Another call was given, and the Thunder was heard in the distance. Two-Bears did not believe that Two-Wolves could learn anything from Thunder, and so would not come. Thunder told Two-Wolves that Two-Bears was the man who had killed the horse. When Two-Bears did not come, Two-Wolves sent his servant to tell him to come right away. When he had come he was greeted heartily by Two-Wolves and placed beside him. “I am glad you have come. Now I want to say that my father says you are the man that killed Roving-Coyote’s horse.” “Yes,” said Two-Bears, “I know now that you are a wonderful man. I did what you have accused me of. Ah! my friend,” said he to Roving-Coyote, “you know how trying your horses are sometimes, and we lose our temper and are sorry for it afterwards. I did kill your horse with a picket pin, but I did not think you would find it out. I have nice ponies, and you may have your choice for my deed.”

Another time an old brave named Wolf-Chief could not believe that such a thing as to understand the speech of Thunder was possible. Whenever he heard a call from Two-Wolves he would remark: “Now, what has that young rascal heard from the Big-One. We are gifted with power from different sources and we do not send out criers to make it public. Oh! grandson, if you will show us that you are something more than a man to go on the war-path and bring home scalps and ponies, then we will believe your doings.” Two-Wolves heard all of these things, but never said anything. One day as it was raining and thundering Two-Wolves heard his father speaking, telling him to get Wolf-Chief and speak to him about his making fun of him, and to have him kill a black dog that he had and perform the ceremony with the feast. Two-Wolves sent out a crier to call for the man that would not believe Two-Wolves’ prophecies. The caller passed by Wolf-Chief’s lodge and Wolf-Chief remarked, “Well, that young rascal has something up again.” Again the crier was out saying that the man who ridiculed Two-Wolves was wanted at Two-Wolves’ lodge, right away. At the third call he did not come, but Wolf-Chief knew he was the man wanted. Two-Wolves then sent a servant to tell Wolf-Chief that he was wanted. When the servant arrived at Wolf-Chief’s he found the old brave making arrows. “Nawa, you look as though you had something to say,” said Wolf-Chief. “Yes,” said the servant, “you are wanted at Two-Wolves’.” “I will come,” said he. He laid his work aside and went on to answer the call. He was greeted cheerfully and seated beside Two-Wolves. “I called you here to remind you that I have heard all the ridicule you have made, but I did not mind it until my father himself spoke to me of it, and that is why I have you here. You are to stop your jesting and make a feast for my father’s ceremony with the black dog my father said that you have.” “Ah, my grandson! You are wonderful. I know now, and I will do as you have asked me, and the servant will go with me and bring the dog you speak of.”

Two-Wolves sent out only one war-party, and it was a failure. He gave out notice that he was to be a leader of a war-party. The party was held back on account of the rain, and he prophesied that there was a party of five enemies near on foot, and if they did not hurry they would miss them. On their way they saw the footprints of five men that had already passed. Two-Wolves was disappointed by the slowness of the party, and on their way he gave notice that no bird of any kind should be killed. This same day, the picket men found a bunch of buffalo. They gave chase and killed several. Strike-Enemy sacrificed one buffalo to his sacred bundle. The men got together around the meat. An eagle flew around them. It came nearer and nearer. They knew that the prophet had forbidden any birds to be killed. The temptation was so great that finally one took his musket and shot the eagle. Two-Wolves on hearing this was displeased. He warned the party to remain together, for they were to meet a party of seven. Sure enough, the scouts saw seven men in a party, but the men saw the scouts and they escaped. Two-Wolves called the party together and told them that he was discouraged by their errors and would not go further. They returned home. Two-Wolves lived a long time, doing good work, discovering thieves, and prophesying many wonderful things. At last he was taken sick and died.

FOOTNOTES:

[70] Told by Strike-Enemy.

70. HOW THE MEDICINE-ROBE SAVED THE ARIKARA.[71]

A long time ago I joined a war-party. We went south, into the western part of the Sioux country, known as Nebraska. We came to an old village site. At this village site we found four large mounds where there had stood the four lodges of the bundle lodges. On the east side was a mound. The old men sat down by this mound and smoked. The oldest of the men told us that once the Arikara lived here; that while they were having their medicine ceremonies in one of these lodges a Sioux or one of some other tribe came and went through the village.

Now, there was one lodge where all the people, except one young woman who had just married, had gone to see the medicine-men’s ceremony. While she was keeping the fire up and had the entrance fast, she saw at the top of the opening a man, an enemy, peeping down and looking at her. She sat and watched the enemy. He crawled from the lodge, then dug in the side of the lodge. She kept running around, until she went to the fire and poured water over it, so that the fire went out. After a while her husband came. She told him about the enemy. The young man accused his wife of having her lover around. The next day the young man went to the timber and gathered a lot of dried willows and some dry grass. This he took to his lodge. He placed the dry wood by the entrance. That evening the young man hid in the lodge, and allowed his wife to remain in the lodge as before. When it became dark, the enemy came and looked through the opening he had made the night before. The enemy then walked to the entrance and found the entrance open. So he walked in. The husband then arose from his hiding place. He caught the enemy from behind, so that he held his arms. The woman took the grass and willow limbs and threw them upon the hot coals, so that there was a big blaze. She then went out and screamed, “My man has an enemy in our lodge!” The men ran into the lodge, and there was the young man, holding on to the enemy. The enemy was overpowered, and a seat was given him.

The man had long hair. His face was painted. Bunches of medicine were tied upon his head. On his right arm was tied a rattlesnake skin. On his left arm was tied the shell of a turtle. The tail was upon it. The man made signs and said: “Next month, all of you people will be killed by the southern tribe of Indians. You make fun of me, but it is true. I came to capture a woman.” The man was then taken to the Awaho-bundle’s lodge. There they had singing. In a few days the man was placed upon a scaffold of four ash timbers, and his hands and feet were tied with strong buffalo strings. He was left upon the scaffold to die, but the man was a wonderful man, for he shook his arms and the strings became loose. The people saw it, and they tied him again. Every time the man shook his arms he broke loose. One of the old priests was selected to stab the man to death. The man was left upon the scaffold, and his body dried.

One night as the medicine-men were having their ceremony this man who had been put upon the scaffold came into the lodge. All the medicine-men ran out of the lodge. Word was sent to the man who was the keeper of the wonderful robe.[72] He went into the lodge and found the dead man lying upon a buffalo robe. The man wrapped the dead man in the robe and packed him to the river. He threw him into the river, saying, “You wonderful man, I throw you into the river, and your bones shall stay here.” The man went to the lodge. Sweet grass and wild sage were burned in the lodge. The medicine-men then resumed their performances. In about a month the medicine-men’s ceremony was over. Each medicine-man took his medicine things to his lodge and wrapped them up.

The month came to an end and the Indians looked for the enemy. One fine day the Indians saw the Sioux coming from over the hills. There were so many that the people became scared. The keeper of the holy robe sat down in his lodge. The men were going out to meet and fight the enemy. The enemy were so numerous that the medicine-man with the holy robe and the robe’s belongings made medicine-smoke, then laid down the gourd [rattle]. He took the robe and wrapped it about his body, the hair side turned out. The inside had the sun, moon, and stars upon it. He then took an eagle wing in his left hand, the gourd in his right hand, went out and climbed upon the top of his lodge. By this time the enemy were close to the village. This man upon the lodge then shook himself, and shook the robe towards the sun, then he closed the robe. While he was doing this the enemy noticed some of their men fall off from their horses, bleeding from their lungs and seeming to be out of their heads. The enemy saw the man upon the lodge. They became scared. A shout was heard. The enemy gave way and ran; for the power of the man was so great that whoever came under his power ran into the village, powerless to defend himself. The enemy gave way, and there was great slaughtering. The village was saved.

The wonderful man went into his lodge and made sweet-smelling smoke, passed his robe over the smoke several times, then wrapped it and hung it up. The gourd was then passed over the smoke and hung up by the robe. The medicines were then passed over the smoke and put away. The man had red clay all over his body while going through this performance. He also passed smoke all over his body, and said: “I am satisfied. Our village is saved. The enemy are killed. Scalps will be brought in, so we can have great rejoicing.” Scalps were brought, and there was great rejoicing. There were three different kinds of scalp dances given by the women. One was a dance learned from the Cheyenne, another from the Grosventre, and another from the Pawnee. Of course, they had their own scalp-dance, but these three were the best dances.

Some years after, some of the Sioux visited the Arikara, and they told of the strange man, and that he was a Wichita. The Sioux also said that at that time many tribes had got together to annihilate the Arikara.

FOOTNOTES:

[71] Told by Sitting-Bear.

[72] The tribal medicine of the Arikara.

71. THE MEDICINE BEAR SHIELD.[73]

I was fourteen winters old when my father died. I did not go to see him buried, for I was feeling very bad. After the people had come away from where my father was buried I went to the place. There was the grave. The people had stuck two forks in the ground and placed a pole across the forks. Then some poles were placed on the sides, and instead of piling stones and dirt over the grave a buffalo robe was spread over it, so that there was no dirt. Stones were placed on the robe where it touched the ground. I cried and cried, and in the evening I fell asleep. I dreamed I had seen a Bear standing by my father’s grave, and I was scared. The Bear spoke, and I always believed that it was my father who spoke to me, and said: “My son, the shield was upon the grave; some one has removed it. Find it; it is yours.” I slept a long time, for when I woke it was nearly daylight. I stood up and cried again, and stood by the grave all day. I was young. There were many enemies in the country, but I did not care. In the evening I saw clouds coming from the west. Soon a rain storm came, but I did not go home. When it began to pour I ran to a steep bank. There was a crevice. I crawled in there and lay down. It was now dark. I did not go to sleep, for I kept my eyes upon the grave. There was a lightning flash. The flash struck near the grave. I saw standing by the grave a Bear, its paws upward toward the sky. It became dark again. I kept my eyes upon the grave. Again the lightning flashed and again the lightning struck by the grave, where I saw the lightning come together and form a circle with a black mark upon the center. On each side of the black mark were black spots, as if the circle had eyes and nose. I watched the circle, and I was satisfied that the black center mark was a Bear. The two marks I saw were Bear’s ears. On each ear I saw branches of cedar and pine. As it was dark the circle gradually disappeared, and I saw in its place a rainbow. Then it disappeared. The rain storm passed, and I crawled out from the place and went to the grave and began to cry. I cried all night, and also the next day. In the evening I fell asleep. In my dream I saw my father, who told me that a shield was placed upon his grave, and that Howling-Wolf had taken the shield from the grave. My father further told me that the shield belonged to me and that I must get it and make another one such as I had seen the night before. He further told me to go home and get the shield.

I awoke in the morning and went home. I asked my people who took the shield from my father’s grave, and they told me that some one had taken it from the grave. I told them who had it, and my mother went to the lodge of the man, who said, “Yes, I took it, but I threw the cover away, for I intended to make a new cover for it.” The frame of the shield was given up by the man to me. I took it home, and I had my people make another cover, a cover I had seen myself upon my father’s grave. You see the picture of the Bear as I saw it. It is throwing up white-dust. The left side of the shield is a Bear’s ear. Inside of it are cedar berries. The right ear has pine cones in it. I hunted, and I killed a deer. The deer skin was tanned and these things were put upon the tanned buckskin—the picture of the Bear and Bear’s ears. On a buffalo hunt I killed a buffalo bull and made the inner shield. This I did by getting the whole breast hide of a bull. After I got it I spread it upon the ground. I took all of the meat off. I then dug a hole and made a big fire in it. When the fire went down and there were only coals and hot stones I spread the hide over the bed of coals and drove stakes around the hide, so that the hide when it shrunk pulled the stakes up. As the hide shrunk it became thick. While hot, I cut around the rim until I got it of the right size. Now a ceremony was in order. Songs were sung while the covering of the shield was being painted as you now see. The red, downy eagle feather was put there for the first lightning, which was very red. The ears were put upon the shield, so the shield would have understanding. There are three songs that are sung when the shield is being made. The shield was made, and I hung it up. In the night I took it into the lodge. Before sunrise I would take the shield and hang it up so that it faced towards the east.

When I saw fifteen winters I joined a war-party. After we had gone several days we saw a Sioux coming. We hid away in a ravine and as he came near where we were I jumped up, holding the shield in front of me. Another man in our party shot and hit the Sioux in the breast. I struck the Sioux with my bow and counted my first coup. I returned to where the Sioux fell, for I had run beyond. I jumped upon the Sioux and took only his scalplock. This I took to my grandfather, who took the scalp to the lodge of the holy bundle. The ceremony of offering the scalp to the gods was performed. After this ceremony the chiefs had their ceremony, and I was made a chief. I was invited to sit among the great chiefs. An old man arose and, taking up a buckskin shirt, called me to him. He put the buckskin shirt upon me. He said: “My son, I put upon you a dress that is white; there are no marks upon the shirt. It is fringed upon the sleeves and body with ermine. You are now a young chief. See that you are always brave and as you strike enemies and scalp them make marks upon your shirt, so that these chiefs who are present here will be proud that you wear their shirt. When you come to old age this shirt will be covered with many marks, representing your deeds in battles.” After this ceremony I again joined other war-parties. I gave many scalps to my grandfather. When the enemy attacked our village I wore my shield, and though the enemy shot at me I was never hit. When the battle would be over there would be young men brought in from the battlefield wounded.

Another time my people had what is now known as the “sun dance.” My grandfather took me in and placed me upon the ground. He spoke to the old warriors, and said: “Medicine-men and warriors, I bring this young man into this lodge. I want you, medicine-men, to paint him and place this lariat rope upon the pole, and cut upon his back so that he will swing. Warriors, in cutting upon his back, tell of your great deeds, so that my grandson will overtake your great deeds in his life and become a great man. I have many ponies to give you, and his mother and relatives will give you presents.” Two of the medicine-men arose and painted my body. Then one of the medicine-men spoke, and said: “Warriors, the young man is ready to be cut upon the back.” One warrior arose and came to where I lay. This warrior told of his great deeds, then cut me upon my right shoulder-blade. It hurt, but I kept courage. The next man then came and put a stick through the cut and tied it with the buckskin string. The next warrior came and told of his great deeds, then cut upon my left shoulder and ran the stick through, tying the buckskin. Each of these men received a fine pony from my friends, also all the gifts brought in by my friends. The warriors now pulled the lariat rope, so that I now swung about four feet from the ground. I swung there one day and one night. One of my related warriors seeing me swing there so long arose, and said: “Medicine-men and warriors, this is the youngest man ever brought into such a lodge as this. I have a present of a fine racing pony for him. Now cut these strings.” When he said this, many of my friends came in and spread presents of robes and other presents. No sooner would the giver place the presents than some one would come and take them away. A warrior arose and came where I hung. He told of fighting a duel with a Sioux and how he had cut him up with a knife. This man’s name was Bloody-Knife. He cut the strips of skin, and I fell to the ground. I was taken out of the lodge. Then I was fed with pounded corn and tallow. A few days after, the Sioux attacked our village and again I counted coup and also struck the enemy. I had an easy time in battle; I think it was because of the sufferings I went through in the ceremony. I danced the sun dance many times after that, but always suffered, for the old medicine-men had died and young men took their places.

FOOTNOTES:

[73] Told by Strike-Enemy.

72. THE CRUCIFIED ENEMY.[74]

Many years ago there stood a village made of earth-lodges. In the village there were some people who wanted to go on a buffalo hunt. They were mostly young men and young women. The older people were left in the village. After many days the enemy were seen in the distance.

The old people who remained in the village were somewhat confused and frightened. When the enemy approached, the men marched out and fought them desperately. Finally the people of the village retreated. They all got inside of their lodges. The men stood by their doors, fighting the enemy. In one of the lodges sat an old man. He was putting on his medicine paint and costumes. After he had finished he went out, having a gourd in his hand, but no weapon. He went on top of the lodge and sang some of his most sacred songs, that there might come aid from some of the gods. When the enemy saw him they were much amazed, and very much afraid of him. Some one said that he knew the old medicine-man, and that they could not do anything to him, for he was a medicine-man who had the power to mesmerize. So they all ran, crying: “We can not do anything with him! Hurry on, before he works on us!” The old man ran behind them. One young man on the enemy’s side was wounded and brought into the village. He was taken into the medicine-lodge, and they all saw him. He had been one of the bravest men, and had all kinds of medicines on his head and around his neck. Finally it was agreed that he should be tied up to a wooden cross and be placed outside of the village. They did this, and the man died. After a while he lost all of his flesh, but the bones were left on the cross.

Many young men used to go outside of the village near the cross to play at games. One day while they were playing, the bones of the man on the cross fell to the ground, rose up and ran toward the village. Everybody ran away, because of the ghost. The ghost ran toward the medicine-lodge and ran inside, but no one would go in, for everyone was afraid. At last one brave man came forward who dared to go in. He looked all around and found the man from the cross under some blankets upon the altar. He called to the others. They all came in and saw the ghost lying there. They gathered the bones and bundled them up in an old basket, then threw them away. After this had passed, the party that had gone on a buffalo hunt returned with lots of dried meat. Of course, the people who stayed were very glad to see them again. The happenings and results were told to them.

FOOTNOTES:

[74] Told by Hawk.

73. HOW A SIOUX WOMAN’S SCALP WAS SACRIFICED.[75]

In the fall there were five or six of us who went on the war-path. We came to the Pine Ridge Agency, and there hid, close to where the Sioux got their water. Two women came down to the spring to get water. We all ran towards the women. The women ran. One young man caught up with one woman, grabbed at her hair, took his knife, and took the scalp off from the right side of the woman’s head. The woman ran into the camp.

We returned to our leader and gave the scalp to him. The leader then said, “We must hurry home.” We walked all day and all night, and another day and night. The next day we found the thick timber, and there we lay down to rest. When we woke up, the leader took the fat off from the scalp. He then called one of the men. He then cut the fat, making it into five pieces. Facing the east, he placed four of the five pieces in his hand—one on each corner of his palm—and the fifth piece he placed in the center of the palm. He then took the pieces, one at a time, beginning with the one on the southeast corner, then the southwest corner, then the northwest corner, then the northeast corner, and placed them in a similar position upon the ground, which was to show that the scalp was to be offered to the gods. We then went home.

We gave the scalp to one of the high priests, who held the scalp ceremony. At this ceremony we used the fire-sticks to make the fire for burning this scalp. The scalp was burned. After the burning of the scalp the people turned out, passing their holy bundles and medicine bags over the smoke. The priest stood to the west of the burning scalp and recited a ritual, calling on the gods. The young men and children who wanted their names changed gave presents to the priests, who changed their names for them.

FOOTNOTES:

[75] Told by Sitting-Bear.

74. THE WARRIOR WHO FOUGHT THE SIOUX.[76]

When the Indians used to live at the Fort Berthold village a few of them moved about ten miles west of Fort Berthold, on the Missouri River bottom, in the timber. This was in the winter time. Strike-Enemy and some others went to the Fort Berthold village.

When Strike-Enemy was about a mile from the village he was attacked by a hundred or more Sioux. He held them back, for he had a rifle. He reached the fort; then the Sioux surrounded it. The people in the fort all fought the Sioux. It seems that one man had gone out to hunt antelope. He had killed one antelope, and was bringing it towards the fort. He could not see ahead, for he was carrying a whole antelope upon his back; but when he heard a noise he saw that the Sioux had attacked the fort. He threw down the antelope and ran. This all happened in the winter time when the snow was on the ground. The Sioux found the man’s tracks, and they followed him. They caught up with the man about six miles west of the fort. Here he stopped, and the first Sioux he came to he killed. He then jumped on the enemy he had killed and cut him open with his knife, cut his arm off at the shoulder and commenced to hit the man on his head with his own arm. The Sioux were shooting at him from behind with their arrows. The hunter did not pay any attention to the shooting. He stood up, gave a big yell, like that of a bear, and the Sioux ran. Then the hunter again cut the Sioux upon the breast and began to put blood upon his face. When he straightened up, the Sioux saw that he had a piece of liver in his mouth. He chased them and took away all their ponies. He caught one pony, got on it, and ran after them. The Sioux say that they were scared, for they had never seen anybody acting in this way, for the hunter seemed like a bear. He gave them back their ponies, then went away, but the Sioux would not come near him. He took only one pony and went into some timber. That night a blizzard set in. The next day he was found frozen. He still had the arrows in his back. The Arikara and Sioux both tell this story.

FOOTNOTES:

[76] Told by Strike-Enemy.

75. THE CAPTURE OF THE ENEMY’S BOWS.[77]

In olden times the young men in a village went on the war-path. While they were gone the Sioux came down to the village and captured all their old women and children, killing many. A young man returned to the village and found out what had happened. He found his brother coming from a thickly timbered place, who told him that his father was in hiding in the timber. These three were the only ones around the village. The young man was angry. He told his father and brother that he wanted them to follow him to the Sioux. This they did.

One evening they came up with the enemy, who were in camp by a creek. The young man said, “We will attack this camp.” The three went through the timber. They saw the big campfires, mostly of their people, but there were some Sioux warriors stationed out, watching. The young man looked up at the stars, then at the trees, and at everything. Then he said to the two—his father and brother—“We must make an attack, give a big war-whoop, and make it sound as if there were many people.” So the three gave the war-whoop and attacked the camp. The oldest man, at the same time, yelled: “My people, do not run, but pick up your bows! We are here!” When they gave the war-whoop the trees all seemed to give the war-whoop—even the grass gave the war-whoop. The stars seemed to give the war-whoop. War-whoops sounded all through the timber. The birds and everything seemed to give the war-whoop. The enemy were frightened. They ran. The people stayed behind. They captured the enemy’s bows and several of their people. Then they followed the enemy. The next day they came up with them and killed a great many. The people then took the enemy’s bows and arrows and took them up on a high hill. They set them up, with one bow in the middle and all the other bows resting on it. So all the bows and arrows were set upon the high hill. The hill was known after that as “Enemy’s-Bows-Upon-a-High-Hill.”

FOOTNOTES:

[77] Told by Yellow-Bear.

76. THE WOMAN WHO BEFRIENDED THE WARRIORS.[78]