Traditions of the Arikara

by George A. Dorsey

Burnt-Hands went home with his friend and pulled off the meat and the white buffalo hide. “Here, grandmother, is what I promised you, and a lot of meat. You now know that I can hunt and bring home game.” His grandmother was at once overjoyed. She thought about the pretty girl who always showed them charity. She sent out for Last-Child, who came in. “You have always been kind to us, and I have always been thankful. I want you to have this hide, and to have a robe made for yourself. You are young yet, and it will become you more than me.” Burnt-Hands was talked about all over the village, but they did not know that he had been blessed by a Bear.

A long time after this chase the chief gave out an order for everybody to go on an elk chase. Red-Bear had been accustomed to collect all the elk teeth. This was his object for the hunt. Burnt-Hands heard the order and began to make preparations for the hunt. He promised his grandmother an elk-tooth dress. Burnt-Hands told his grandmother that if any trouble arose on his account she must flee into the timber, and on through other timber, and there wait for him. The next day the chase was to come off. The hunters had great luck and were talking happily in the woods. There was a cry here and there for Red-Bear to come and get his teeth. Burnt-Hands and his friend were together. He told his friend to take the teeth out for him, for he did not know how. His friend was a little afraid to do it, but Burnt-Hands said it would be all right. The men, too, rather hesitated to let him have the teeth. They told him that Red-Bear had spoken for all the teeth; but he paid no heed to it, and told his friend to take them. Burnt-Hands had collected a lot of teeth, and so had Red-Bear. The hunters had chased the elk on to a smooth piece of ice and had killed several there. Here, Burnt-Hands and Red-Bear saw each other doing the same work. They met on the last elk, and Burnt-Hands spoke and said: “You have enough teeth. You will keep off and let me have these.” Red-Bear gave an angry grunt, and said, “A child like you cannot have much to say.” As Red-Bear leaned over to take the teeth Burnt-Hands took his war-club and struck him on the head. He took him by the feet and dragged him to the air-hole. “Father, this is what you asked of me.” A great yell was raised, and war was made on the boy.

The boy fled to the village and peeped in, to see if his grandmother had done what he had told her to do. She was gone, and he followed her and found her beyond the second timber as he had directed. “Now,” said he, “take one of these bear claws off my wrist and open the little bag of paint.” This she did, and he began to sing and perform the ceremony. He adorned his grandmother and himself according to the instruction of his Bear father. The people had all turned out to kill him for what he had done. Still others were calling it wrong to harm the boy, and reminded the people of what bad ruling Red-Bear had done.

Burnt-Hands and his grandmother had turned into Bears, and were making a big noise, growling and grunting. Nearer and nearer the warriors circled around the timber, shouting and yelling. The boy told his grandmother to be first to attack. So she did so. She caught Red-Bear’s brother and four or five others of his near relatives. “Now, I will attack,” said Burnt-Hands, “for you must be tired.” He picked out the leaders and the influential men of the village and scalped them and tore them up. The warriors began to retreat. A cry was raised to end the fight, as many had been killed, but how to stop the boy and the old woman they did not know. They assembled and filled the peace-pipe. They gave it to Last-Child to take to the boy and the old woman. She took the pipe and came toward them, they growling wildly. The boy knew it was the girl. He told his grandmother not to charge at her. The boy accepted the peace-pipe and both smoked it. This ended the fight.

Burnt-Hands asked his grandmother how old she would like to be. She said, “About thirty-eight,” and so she was. The boy made himself about twenty-two, and when all was quiet he married Last-Child. Burnt-Hands came to be chief, and had Black-Bear as his slave. The people lived happily under his rule.

FOOTNOTES:

[18] Told by White-Bear.

18. HOW BURNT-HANDS BECAME A CHIEF.[19]

Once there was an old woman and her grandson. They were very poor; they had nothing. The boy’s name was Burnt-Hands. Some warriors got together in the village and planned to go on the war-path. Burnt-Hands heard of it. He told his grandmother that he wanted to join the warriors on the war-path. She told the boy that when he went he must never tell Coyote stories on the war-path. She gave him a round burnt clay ball that had a handle to it. She told Burnt-Hands to go; that the clay ball with the handle was his war-club; that when on the way, when he should become hungry he should place it upon the fire, put kernels of corn upon it, and roast them.