4. ORIGIN OF THE ARIKARA.
Mother-Corn is assisted by Badger, Gopher, long-nosed Mouse, and Mole to get people out of ground, as in No. 3. People see where other people helped out of ground by Buffalo. They start on journey and are stopped by obstacles, as in No. 3, and are helped by Kingfisher, Owl, and Loon. Some people stay behind as Worms, Birds, Fish, and Loons. [Mother-Corn offers smoke and sends animals for offerings to gods.] Prairie-Chicken kills wild-cat, which represents heavens, and brings it to Mother-Corn for offering. Three Stars in East bring Mother-Corn stone for pipe to form smoke. Pipe is made and filled with native tobacco. Prairie-Chicken takes pipe in succession to gods in Southeast, Southwest, Northwest, and Northeast, and to Nesaru, all of whom smoke the pipe. Prairie-Chicken says sand blown by wind made white spots on its feathers. Smoking by Nesaru is to show consent to Mother-Corn having people on earth and that gods are to protect them. Dog comes and tells Mother-Corn that Whirlwind is angry for being slighted in smoke ceremony. Mother-Corn appeals to Nesaru and the gods for assistance. Woman says she will protect the people, and turns into Cedar-Tree. Big-Meteoric-Star falls from heavens by Cedar-Tree to assist. Whirlwind comes and people all run in all directions, and when Whirlwind strikes them it changes their language. People who stand on Cedar-Tree and Rock are Arikara. Wind strikes Mother-Corn and she vomits four times, water and ears of corn of different color. Whirlwind tells Mother-Corn it has left behind diseases, but says when they offer smoke to the gods they are to give it smoke last, that it may not come very often. Cedar-Tree asks Mother-Corn that it may be known as “Wonderful Grandmother” and be placed in front of the medicine-lodge. Big-Meteoric-Star asks to be known as “Wonderful Grandfather” and sit by Wonderful Grandmother in front of medicine-lodge. Dog asks, as he brought the news, to guard camps and villages and to be offered in ceremonies, and his fat to be used by medicine-men. Mother-Corn gives corn for seeds that corn may be offered to gods. People who scattered to be their enemies—to the southwest, “Sahe;” to northeast, “Pechea;” to the east, “Wooden-Faces;” to south, “Witchcraft-People.” Mother-Corn stays with people until she has taught them bundle ceremonies. She tells them to tie all children’s moccasins together on her back. Then they are to take her to river and throw her in. People do not understand and keep up singing in night. At daylight they find Mother-Corn has turned to ear of corn, with buffalo robe tied to it. People place children’s moccasins with corn and throw them with Mother-Corn and robe into river. Many years afterwards Mother-Corn returns and teaches more bundle ceremony songs and finally disappears.