Traditions of the Arikara

by George A. Dorsey

24. THE BOY AND THE YOUNG HAWKS.

Small boy discovers hawk’s nest with four eggs. Eggs are hatched and boy feeds birds with insects. Boy goes to take birds home when he sees man who calls birds his sons and says he will be rewarded for taking care of them. Boy takes feathers from young birds to put on his arrows. He becomes good hunter and on war-path fights where the arrows are thickest. He becomes known as brave, but finally does wrong among his people. Many try to kill him, but always forget, until one man capable of killing him does so.

25. THE END OF THE ELK POWER.

Four strong young men, of whom only oldest is married, go to trap eagles, leaving woman and child at home. On their return woman is missing. Eldest unmarried brother is filled with pity for child and goes to cry near timber, where is old skull of buck elk. On second night voice tells him woman and three others captured by Bear and that he has received Elk power. He is to go again and receive instructions. Pretty-Voice goes again and learns ceremony of Elks. He is to blow whistle and all females will come to him. He goes near Bear’s home and whistles four times. Women run out of den and they go away with Pretty-Voice. Bear follows and he orders party to stop. Pretty-Voice shoots arrows at Bear without effect. He then throws himself on ground and becomes Elk. Elk and Bear fight, and Bear admits his defeat. Elk again becomes man and Pretty-Voice wins great honor by capture of women. He causes ill-feeling by using his magic whistle to attract girls and then married women. Men shoot at him, but nothing can harm him. Sioux attack village, but they can do nothing while Pretty-Voice is living. Men come on friendly visit and Pretty-Voice secures Sioux girl by his ceremony. She gets to know secret of his power and then runs away. She obtains necessary things and then starts at head of war-party to kill Pretty-Voice. Inhabitants of village are defeated and Pretty-Voice finally falls. His mother wishes to collect his flesh, as he had told her, but men will not let her. They make big fire and destroy his body. White fog seen to arise from place for many days after.

26. THE ELK RESCUES A WOMAN FROM THE BEAR.

Poor young man and chief’s daughter run away together. They live alone and man kills deer and elk. He goes to catch eagles and while away Bear comes and takes wife away. Elk tells man and teaches him how to transform himself into Elk. Gives him whistle to attract female elk. Bear leaves den and man blows whistle. Wife and other women rush out to him. Bear comes and attacks Elk, which puts its head down and sticks horns into body. Man shoots and kills Bear. Man takes his wife and Elk other women, who become Elk.

27. THE BOY AND THE ELK.

Young man goes to place where animal skull near lake to cry because no girl will marry him. He hears flute and Elk comes. Elk tells boy to take teeth from skull and gives him flute which will attract girls to him. He goes home, tries flute, and girls come. After he is married, women also come and men kill him. One of his relatives takes teeth and flute. Boy is left unburied and several days afterwards he goes to mother’s tipi. He sends mother to society of Young-Dogs for tobacco. Men afraid of him. Boy goes away followed by relatives. They go into river and all turn into animals. Young man who had flute and elk teeth does not go and is the only one who lives.

28. THE COYOTE, THE GIRL, AND THE MAGIC WINDPIPE.

Beautiful girl lives alone in timber. Has plenty of buffalo meat and some wonderful bundles. Coyote becomes her errand man. When out of meat girl tells Coyote to cover his head up as her brothers are coming. Girl waves buffalo windpipe over smoke and dust in it turns to her seven brothers. They take bows and arrows and girl goes on to lodge, yells and waves towards west and south. Buffalo come and brothers kill them. They return to lodge and girl puts them again into windpipe as dust. Coyote sees performance and decides to steal windpipe. Coyote goes away with windpipe, and while he sleeps girl has brothers bring him back again. This occurs three times. Fourth time girl lets Coyote carry thing off. He goes up hill near village and howls for people to come and kick with him. Several young men go and Coyote turns windpipe upside down, but, instead of dust and boys, swarm of bumblebees come out. Young men run into timber, bees go into hollow tree, and Coyote goes away as coyote.