For a long time the buffalo had not been seen. Every one was hungry,
for the hunters could find no food for the people.
A certain man, who had two wives, a daughter, and two sons, as he
saw what a hard time they were having, said, "I shall not stop here
to die. To-morrow we will move toward the mountains, where we may
kill elk and deer and sheep and antelope, or, if not these, at least
we shall find beaver and birds, and can get them. In this way we
shall have food to eat and shall live."
Next morning they caught their dogs and harnessed them to the
travois and took their loads on their backs and set out. It was
still winter, and they travelled slowly. Besides, they were weak
from hunger and could go only a short distance in a day. The fourth
night came, and they sat in their lodge, tired and hungry. No one
spoke, for people who are hungry do not care to talk. Suddenly,
outside, the dogs began to bark, and soon the door was pushed aside
and a young man entered.
"Welcome," said the man, and he motioned to a place where the
stranger should sit.
Now during this day there had been blowing a warm wind which had
melted the snow, so that the prairie was covered with water, yet
this young man's moccasins and leggings were dry. They saw this, and
were frightened. They sat there for a long time, saying nothing.
Then the young man spoke and asked, "Why is this? Why do you not
give me food?"
"Ah," replied the father, "you see here people who are truly poor.
We have no food. For many days the buffalo did not come in sight,
and we looked for deer and other animals, which people eat, and when
these had all been killed we began to starve. Then I said, 'We will
not stay here to die from hunger,' and we set out for the mountains.
This is the fourth night of our travels."
"Ah," said the young man, "then your travels are ended. You need go
no farther. Close by here is our piskun. Many buffalo have been run
in, and our parfleches are filled with dried meat. Wait a little; I
will go and bring you some," and he went out.
As soon as he had gone they began to talk about this strange person.
They were afraid of him and did not know what to do. The children
began to cry, and the women tried to quiet them. Presently the young
man came back, bringing some meat.
"There is food," said he, as he put it down by the woman. "Now
to-morrow move your camp over to our lodges. Do not fear anything.
No matter what strange things you may see, do not fear. All will be
your friends. Yet about one thing I must warn you. In this you
should be careful. If you should find an arrow lying about
anywhere, in the piskun or outside, do not touch it, neither you nor
your wives nor your children." When he had said this he went out.
The father took his pipe and filled it, and smoked and prayed to all
the powers, saying, "Hear now, Sun; listen, Above People; listen,
Underwater People; now you have taken pity; now you have given us
food. We are going to those mysterious ones who walk through water
with dry moccasins. Protect us among these to-be-feared people. Let
us live. Man, woman, and child, give us long life."
Now from the fire again arose the smell of roasting meat. The
children ate and played. Those who so long had been silent now
talked and laughed.
Early in the morning, as soon as the sun had risen, they took down
their lodge and packed their dogs and started for the camp of the
stranger. When they had come to where they could see it, they found
it a wonderful place. There around the piskun, and stretching far
up and down the valley, were pitched the lodges of the meat eaters.
They could not see them all, but near by they saw the lodges of the
Bear band, the Fox band, and the Raven band. The father of the young
man who had visited them and given them meat was the chief of the
Wolf band, and by that band they pitched their lodge. Truly that was
a happy place. Food was plenty. All day long people were shouting
out for feasts, and everywhere was heard the sound of drumming and
singing and dancing.
The newly come people went to the piskun for meat, and there one of
the children saw an arrow lying on the ground. It was a beautiful
arrow, the stone point long, slender, and sharp, the shaft round and
straight. The boy remembered what had been said and he looked around
fearfully, but everywhere the people were busy. No one was looking.
He picked up the arrow and put it under his robe.
Then there rose a terrible sound. All the animals howled and growled
and rushed toward him, but the chief Wolf got to him first, and
holding up his hand said, "Wait. He is young and not yet of good
sense. We will let him go this time." They did nothing to him.
When night came some one shouted out, calling people to a feast and
saying, "Listen, listen, Wolf, you are to eat; enter with your
friend."
"We are invited," said the chief Wolf to his new friend, and
together they went to the lodge from which the call came.
Within the lodge the fire burned brightly, and seated around it were
many men, the old and wise of the Raven band. On the lodge lining,
hanging behind the seats, were the paintings of many great deeds.
Food was placed before the guests--pemican and berries and dried
back fat--and after they had eaten the pipe was lighted and passed
around the circle. Then the Raven chief spoke and said, "Now, Wolf,
I am going to give our new friend a present. What do you think of
that?"
"It shall be as you say," replied the Wolf; "our new friend will be
glad."
From a long parfleche sack the Raven chief took a slender stick,
beautifully ornamented with many-colored feathers. To the end of
the stick was tied the skin of a raven--head, wings, feet, and tail.
"We," said the Raven chief, "are those who carry the raven
(M[)a]s-to-p[=a]h´-t[)a]-k[=i]ks). Of all the fliers, of all the
birds, what one is so smart as the raven? None. The raven's eyes are
sharp, his wings are strong. He is a great hunter and never hungry.
Far off on the prairie he sees his food, or if it is deep hidden in
the forest it does not escape him. This is our song and our dance."
When he had finished singing and dancing he placed the stick in
the sack and gave it to the man and said, "Take it with you,
and when you have returned to your people you shall say, 'Now
there are already the Bulls, and he who is the Raven chief
said, "There shall be more. There shall be the All Friends
([=I]k[)u]n-[)u]h´-k[=a]h-ts[)i]), so that the people may live,
and of the All Friends shall be the Raven Bearers."' You shall
call a council of the chiefs and wise old men, and they shall
choose the persons who are to belong to the society. Teach them
the song and the dance, and give them the medicine. It shall be
theirs forever."
Soon they heard another person shouting out the feast call, and,
going, they entered the lodge of the chief of the Kit-Foxes
(S[)i]n´-o-pah). Here, too, old men had gathered. After they had
eaten of the food set before them, the chief said, "Those among whom
you have just come are generous. They do not look carefully at the
things they have, but give to the stranger and pity the poor. The
kit-fox is a little animal, but what one is smarter? None. His hair
is like the dead grass of the prairie; his eyes are keen; his feet
make no noise when he walks; his brain is cunning. His ears receive
the far-off sound. Here is our medicine. Take it." He gave the man
the stick. It was long, crooked at one end, wound with fur, and tied
here and there with eagle feathers. At the end was a kit-fox skin.
Again the chief spoke and said, "Listen to our song. Do not forget
it, and the dance, too, you must remember. When you reach home teach
them to the people." He sang and danced. Then presently his guests
departed.
Again they heard the feast shout, and he who called was the chief
of the Bear society. After they had eaten and smoked the chief said,
"What is your opinion, friend Wolf? Shall we give our new friend a
present?"
"It shall be as you say," replied the Wolf. "It is yours to give."
Then spoke the Bear, saying, "There are many animals and some of
them are powerful; but the bear is the strongest and greatest of
all. He fears nothing and is always ready to fight."
Then he put on a necklace of bear claws, a band of bear fur about
his head, and a belt of bear fur, and sang and danced. When he had
finished he gave the things he had worn to the man and said, "Teach
the people our song and our dance, and give them this medicine. It
is powerful."
It was very late. The Seven Stars had come to the middle of the
night, yet again they heard the feast shout from the far end of the
camp. In this lodge the men were painted with streaks of red, and
their hair was all pushed to one side. After the feast the chief
said, "We are different from all others here. We are called the
Braves (M[)u]t´-s[)i]ks). We know not fear; we are death. Even if
our enemies are as many as the grass we do not turn away, but fight
and conquer. Bows are good weapons, lances are better; but our
weapon is the knife."
Then the chief sang and danced, and afterward he gave the Wolf
chief's friend the medicine. It was a long knife and many scalps
were tied on the handle. "This," said he, "is for the All Friends."
To one more lodge they were called that night and the lodge owner
taught the man his song and dance, and gave him his medicine. Then
the Wolf chief and his friend went home and slept.
Early next day the Blackfeet women began to take down the lodge and
to get ready to move their camp. Many women came and made them
presents of food, dried meat, pemican, and berries. They were given
so much that they could not take it all with them. It was long
before they joined the main camp, for it had moved south, looking
for buffalo.
When they reached the camp, as soon as the lodge was pitched, the
man called all the chiefs to come and feast with him, and told them
what he had seen, and showed them the different medicines. Then the
chiefs chose certain young men to belong to the different societies,
and this man taught them the songs and dances, and gave its medicine
to each society.