Traditions of the Arikara

by George A. Dorsey

Poor boy tells grandmother to make him bow and arrows that he may join buffalo hunt. He says he will bring back some tongues and hearts. Boy sings about being selected to stand in front and make motions to direct hunters, and he is selected. He kills buffalo and turning back pulls out buffalo beards and bunch of hair from shoulder. His robe is taken and he sings about snowstorm coming. He goes to grandmother and throws hairs on ground and several tongues and hearts appear. Blizzard kills many men who had made fun of young man. On next buffalo chase he again stands in front and is first to kill buffalo. He takes hair as before and it becomes tongues and hearts. People find out boy is wonderful, and give him pony. He marries chief’s daughter, and becomes great warrior and chief.

20. THE TWO BOYS AND THE WATER-SERPENT.

Two boys are accused of eating up pots of corn. They watch at night near inclosure surrounding village and see long serpent come and stick its head into smokehole of lodges. Next day they make many arrows and at night when serpent has its head in lodge they shoot at it. Serpent goes to river, water of which roars and rises, and serpent is found dead when river goes down.

21. THE BOY WHO BEFRIENDED THE THUNDERBIRDS, AND THE SERPENT.

Boy gifted with powers by four-world-quarter gods kills so many antelope he is called Antelope-Carrier. Wood-Rats have given him bow and four differently colored arrows. He wanders from home, and while asleep two Thunderbirds carry him up high mountain. He finds nest with four young Thunderbirds. Mother Thunderbird comes and tells him of serpent with two heads that lives in lake and eats her young. She promises him lightning and control of all birds if he will help to kill monster. He promises and Thunderbird, after telling him when serpent would come out of lake, flies away. Fog rises from lake one day and boy sees monster with two heads crawling out of lake. Storm comes from west and Thunderbirds return, making lightning, which strikes serpent. Lightning throws it back, but it again crawls up. Monster opens its mouth to swallow boy. He shoots black arrow into its mouth. Monster falls and bursts open. Other head comes and boy shoots red arrow into its mouth and head broken in pieces. Thunderbirds come with all kinds of birds, which feast upon serpent. They give boy power as objects which he swallows. Boy chief of all birds and kills all bad animals. Two boys, joined together with rawhide, go to shoot birds. One shoots at white object, like mushroom, moving up and down and strong wind carries them far away to an island. They go west and come to lodge of old woman. She makes cakes, four for the great serpent, who will carry them across by water. Serpent comes and carries them across, stopping each day when hungry. They give it cake and soft-shell turtle (lice) from its head. Wild boy jumps before they come to land and is swallowed by serpent. Other boy asks serpent to open its mouth wide and he drags swallowed boy out. Boys travel to Missouri River bottom. They put log of wood on fire and it is serpent. Foolish boy eats chunk of meat and he gradually turns to serpent. Other boy takes him to Missouri River and turns him loose there. Antelope-Carrier hears of serpent and hunts him with all his birds. Serpent uses his power and carries him into his den. Antelope-Carrier is made to vomit up all his power, except lightning in his eyes. Serpent remains in river and gives its powers to people, and songs and medicine-men’s ceremony.

22. THE BOY WHO TURNED INTO A SNAKE.

Idiot boy and son of chief go on war-path. They have to return through want of food, and come to water-serpent. It is so big they can not get around it, and idiot proposes to burn it. Serpent burns in two. Idiot eats of serpent meat and his body gradually becomes colored red and blue. By fourth day his legs are grown together and become snake’s tail. Other boy carries him to lake, where fishes object to him, and finally they come to the Missouri River. He rests in middle of river and people by giving him presents cross over without danger of drowning.

23. THE BOY WHO RECEIVED THE MOUSE POWER.

Young man stays behind when people go hunting. He goes through village and hears crying. He goes to lodge and sees woman wrapped in buffalo robe, who tells him people have taken her children. She says they are in sacred bundle robe, and asks him to go and bring her children back. He does so and gives nest with children to woman. She tells him to return at night and then becomes mouse. Young man goes to lodge at night and finds woman there. Rats come in human form and priest gives him war-club and power to become mouse at any time, and little box of medicine. Woman tells him he is now her son and says they are not to kill mice as they are his relatives. Young man becomes great warrior. In enemy’s camp he turns into mouse and drives ponies out of camp after cutting ropes. He becomes so bold that people become afraid of him, but finally he and young man who has power of Bear fight and kill one another.