6. THE ORIGIN OF THE ARIKARA.
[Man Bear’s-Tail relates killing of buffalo cow by father, who calls old woman and keeper of bundle, and describes ceremony of untying bundle. Old man tells origin of bundle and of people.] Nesaru makes giants, but being displeased with them turns them into stones. Nesaru again makes people, small and wonderful. They displease Nesaru, who tells animals to hide. He is going to make water rise from earth. Animals give power to Bear to take people under ground, with assistance of Badger, Mole, and long-nosed Mouse. Fox acts as runner and errand man. People live under ground many years. Animals decide to dig upward for land. Bears, Badgers, Moles, and long-nosed Mice dig and Mole first to get his head through. Badger enlarges hole. Fox goes through and reports what he sees outside. Bear makes hole larger and animals go through, followed by people. Woman, who says she is grain of corn, tells man they are on island. People taken under ground by Mice were grains of corn and now turned to people. Mouse leader. They cross water by aid of woman, who becomes gar-pike. Some fall into water and become fish. People pick up stones to cut with. Mouse leads people through thick timber. Some turn to owls. Earthquake forms deep chasm, which Bear enables people to cross. Whirlwind makes pathway through thick timber. People come to muddy water in “Pawnee” country. They find things to wear and eat. First bow made. Long-nosed Mouse, Bear, Mole, Badger, and Fox die, and their skins with skulls are wrapped in bundles. They receive ceremony from Pawnee. Each bundle receives different ritual. Arikara dress ear of corn as woman and throw it into river. Many years afterwards strange woman comes into lodge where bundle ceremony. People take no notice of her and she goes to other bundle lodges. In last old man recognizes her and Muddy-River-Country ceremony performed. Woman says that four world-quarters are her father, and that she will come to them in dreams and tell them about things in bundle. They are to tie her on bundle and clothe ear of corn. She turns into ear of corn. They send for other old man and tie ears of corn upon the bundles.