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.