Her children.
She will see them,
She will see them.
This song was also composed by Mo′‛ki, “Little Woman,” the wife of Grant Left-hand. On account of her frequent trances and consequent leadership in the Cheyenne Ghost dance, she assumes the title of the Crow Woman, i. e., the woman messenger from the spirit world. The story of her own and her husband’s connection with the Ghost dance is of interest for the light it throws on the working of the Indian mind, especially with regard to religion.
Mo′‛ki is a young Cheyenne woman married to a young Arapaho, Grant Left-hand, about 30 years of age, a former Carlisle student, and the son of Nawat, or Left-hand, the principal chief of the southern Arapaho. Notwithstanding several years of English education, Grant is a firm believer in the doctrine and the dance, and the principal organizer and leader of the auxiliary “crow dance” in his own tribe, while his wife is as prominent in the Ghost dance among the Cheyenne, and has composed a series of a dozen or more songs descriptive of her various trance experiences in the other world.
Her first child died soon after birth, and the young mother was keenly affected by the bereavement. Afterward a boy was born to them, and became the idol of his parents, especially of the father. He grew up into a bright and active little fellow, but when about 4 years of age was suddenly seized with a spasm in the night and died in a few minutes, almost before his father could reach his bed. This second loss brought deep sorrow to them both, and the mother brooded over it so that there was serious fear for her own life. Then came the Ghost dance and the new doctrine of a reunion with departed friends. The mother went to the dance, fell into a trance, met her children as in life, and played with her little boy. On awaking and returning home she told her husband. He could hardly believe it at first, but it required but little persuasion to induce him to attend the next Ghost dance with her, because, as he said, “I want to see my little boy.” He himself fell into a trance, saw his children, and rode with his little boy on the horse behind him over the green prairies of the spirit land. From that time both became devoted adherents and leaders of the Ghost dance; their trances have been frequent, and every dance is welcomed as another opportunity of reunion with departed friends. The young man was deeply affected as he spoke of his love for his children, the sudden death of the little boy, and their second meeting in the other world, and as his wife sat by his side looking up into our faces and listening intently to every word, although she understood but little English, it could not be doubted that their faith in the reality of the vision was real and earnest. Every Indian parent who has lost a child, every child who has lost a parent, and every young man and woman who has lost a brother, sister, or friend affirms a similar reason for belief in the Ghost dance.
CHEYENNE GLOSSARY
A′ae′vä—for Hoĭ′vă.
A′gach—for O′go‛chi.
A′gachi′hi—for O′go‛chi.
A′guga′-ihi—for Ogo′‛gaĕ.
Ahe′eye′—an unmeaning exclamation used in the songs.
Ähiya′eyee′heye′—ibid.
Ä′ko′yo—the Cheyenne name for the bä′qăti gaming wheel. See [Arapaho song 49].
Ä′‛koyonĭ′vă—with the ä‛ko′yo wheel.
Äkwi′u—for ä‛ko′yo, the Cheyenne name of the bä′qati wheel.
Ä′minûqi—my (female) comrade (vocative).
Anskowĭ′nĭs—a Cheyenne division. The meaning of the name is unknown.
Cheyenne—the popular name for the Cheyenne tribe. It is derived from their Sioux name Shaie′na or Shai′ela, “red,” and figuratively “alien.”
Dzĭtsĭ′stäs—“our people;” the name used by the Cheyenne for themselves.
Eähe′eye′—an unmeaning exclamation used in the songs.
Ehän or Ehäni—for Ĭhänh.
Ehe′ee′ye′—an unmeaning exclamation used in the songs.
Ehe′eye′—ibid.
E′hevo—for Ï′hiwo.
E′heyowo′mi—yellowish.
Ehoi′otsĭst—he brings it. Another form is Ehoi′otso. Nä′hoiotsĭ′st, I bring it.
Ehoi′otso′—another form of Ehoi′otsĭst.
E′nää′ne—for Hĭnä′änĭ.
E′shoĭn—he has come. Nä′hoĭn, I come.
Etätu′hamo′tu—for Ĭtätu′hamo′‛t.
E′täwu′hotä′nu—for Ĭtäwohwĭtä′nu.
Evĭ′sts-Unĭ′‛pahĭs—“smoky lodges” (Clark), a Cheyenne division.
Ewo‛va′shimä′nĭsts—he has renewed it, he has changed it. Näwova′shimä′nĭsts, I have renewed it.
E′yahe′eye′—an unmeaning exclamation used in the songs.
E′yehe′—ibid.
E′yehe′e′yeye′—ibid.
Eyeye—ibid.
Ga!—caw! an imitation of the cry of the crow.
Gatsalghi—the Kiowa Apache name for the Cheyenne.
He!—an unmeaning exclamation used in the songs.
He′eye′—ibid.
Hestäno′wh—the people, among the people.
Hestutu′ai—for Ĭ′hĭstutuai.
Hesutu′äh—for I′s-hotu′-ai.
He′wă′-Tä′niuw’—“hairy men;” the name of a principal division of the southern Cheyenne, and also used to designate all of the southern Cheyenne collectively.
He′wowĭtä′su—the whirlwind.
Hi′äma-Wihu′i—for Hiä′mh-Wihu.
Hiä′mh-Wihu—God; literally the “white man” (wihu) “above” (hiä′mh). See Cheyenne song 7.
Hia′wŭhi—the devil. See Cheyenne song 7.
Hi′hi′hai′yai′—an unmeaning exclamation used in the songs.
Hĭnä′änĭ—that is it; it is that one. Compare Hĭtä′änĭ.
Hinisa′nŭhi—for Hĭnĭ′sonh.
Hĭnĭ′sonh—her (his) children. Compare Nänĭ′sonästs.
Hĭtä′änĭ—here it is. Compare Hĭnä′änĭ.
Hitä′niwo′ĭv—“cloud men,” the Cheyenne name for the Arapaho. From hitän, man, and wo′ĭv, cloud.
Hi′tsina′yo—for Hĭ′tsino′n.
Hĭ′tsino′n—his wing. There is no word for wing alone.
Hi′yeye′—an unmeaning exclamation used in the songs.
Hmĭ′sĭs—“eaters,” the name of one of the most important divisions of the northern Cheyenne, and also used collectively in the south to designate the whole of the northern band.
Hohe′—the Cheyenne name for the Asiniboin. The name is originally from the Sioux language, and is said to mean “rebels.”
Hoĭ′vă—the earth, the ground.
Hoo′isi′yonots—the Cheyenne name for the qaqa-u′nûtha, or throwing sticks, used in the game of the bä′qati. See [Arapaho song 49].
Ho‛so′ewo′năt—dancing with it, dancing by means of it. Nä′ho‛so, I dance.
Hotă′m-itä′niuw’—“dog men;” the name of a division of the Cheyenne and also of one order of their military organization.
Ĭ′hänh—our father. Compare Ni′hûw’e.
Ĭ′hĭstutuai—buffalo head; hotu′-ai, buffalo.
Ĭ′hiwo—he says, he says so. Nä′hĭv, I say, I say so.
Ihiwo′uhi—for Ĭ′hiwo.
Ihoo′‛ts—she (he) is going there.
Ĭnĭ′mäihă′—he is circling around. Nävĭ′shinĭ′maih, I am circling (going) around; nänĭ′ma-ia, it is circling around.
Ĭ′nisto′niwon—he (she, it) is humming, or making a rolling noise. Nänĭsto′nivă, näshĭnisto′niva, I am humming, etc.
Ĭ′s-hotu′-ai—a half buffalo, i. e., the upper half of a buffalo hide, including the head and horns, worn in the Crazy dance. See Cheyenne song 10. From ĭs, half, and hotu′-ai, buffalo.
Ĭ′sium-itä′niuw’—“ridge people” (Clark), a Cheyenne division.
Ĭta′supuzi—“spotted arrow quills;” the Hidatsa name for the Cheyenne (Matthews).
Ĭtätu′hamo′‛t—he causes them to swim. Nä′tuham, I swim; nä′tätu′hăm, let me swim.
Ĭtäwohwĭtä′nu—he makes them better.
Itu′simo′moĭts—it will tremble, or shake. Nä′momoĭts, I tremble.
I′votäomo′mĕstä′o—they are crying. Nä-qai′m, I am crying; nähĭ′simaqä′niwom, we are all crying. Compare Nänĭ′stohew’.
I′yahe′yahe′e—an unmeaning exclamation used in the songs.
Iyo′häĭ—he (she, it) is rising. Nä′ohä, I rise.
Ma′etu′mŭn—red paint. Ma′etŭmh, paint.
Mä′ĭnoyo′hi—Turtle river; for mä-ĭ′nh, turtle (plural, mäĭno′nh), o′‛hĭ, river. Mäpĭ′vă, water.
Mä′noyo′h—for Mä′ĭnoyo′hi.
Mänoyu′hii—for Mä′ĭnoyo′hĭ.
Mäpĭ′vă—water.
Maranshobishgo—“cut-throats;” according to Long, the name applied by the Cheyenne to the Sioux. The form is incorrect, as there is no r in the Cheyenne language. According to Hayden, the Cheyenne call the Sioux Oo′homoi′o.
Mätä′sĭvamämowĭstä′nowĭt—when you (plural) are living together again. Nävĭstä′nowimonh, I live with him; nama′mowĭ′stä′nowĭn, we are living together.
Mä′tesemä′moestä′nowet—for Mätä′sĭvamämowĭstä′nowĭt.
Matsĭ′shkota—“corpse from the scaffold;” an unidentified Cheyenne division, on the authority of Clark (Grinnell).
Miayŭma—“red lodges,” an unidentified Cheyenne division, on the authority of Clark (Grinnell).
Mĭ′stävĭ′inût—“heavy eyebrows;” another name for the Hotă′m-itä′niuw’, q. v.
Mo′‛ki—“little woman;” a Cheyenne woman prominent in the Ghost dance.
Mo′nshimonh—The Cheyenne name of the dice game, called ta′-usĕta′na by the Arapaho. See [Arapaho song 64].
Na′eso′yutuhi—for Na′suyut.
Nä′hew’—I say.
Nä′hewu′hi—for Nä′hew’.
Nä′hĭsimaqä′niwom—we are all crying. Compare Ivotä′omomĕstä′o.
Nämi′io‛ts—I am coming in sight.
Nä′miots—for Nämi′io‛ts.
Nänĭ′ma-i′ă—it is circling around. Compare Ĭmĭ′mäihă′.
Nä′nise′näsĕ′stse—for Nänĭ′sonästs.
Nänisĭ′näsĭsts—for Nänĭ′sonästs.
Nä′niso′näsĭ′stsi—for Nänĭ′sonästs.
Nänĭ′sonästs—my children. Compare Arapaho Nänĭ′sanaû. Nänĭ′soniwo, your children; hĭnĭ′sonh, his, or her, children.
Nänĭ′soniwo—your children. Compare Nänĭ′sonästs.
Nänĭ′stohew’—I make the sound, I make a cry. Compare I′votäomo′mĕstä′o.
Näsee′nehe′—for Näsĕĭn-hnă.
Näsĕĭn-hnă—I waded in.
Nä′shĭnisto′niva—I am now humming. See Ĭ′nisto′niwon.
Nä′suyut—I come to him.
Nä′tosĭ′noeyots—I shall have it with me. Nä′tänoeyo′tsĭ′nots, I have it.
Nä′vihomh—I looked at him, I saw him. The present tense has the same form: Näviho′t, I look at it; näviho′sänh, I looked on. Compare Tsĭtäwo′moh.
Näviho′sänh—I looked on (present tense, same form). Compare Nä′vihomh.
Nävĭ′sevûqewo′nit—I prepare myself with it.
Nävĭ′shinĭ′maih—I am going (circling) around. Compare Ĭnĭ′mäihă′.
Nävĭ′sivämä—they are hurrying me along. Nä′vĭsitä′n, I hurry.
Niäsătă′nonh—we have put him away, or aside. Nä′satonh, I have put him aside.
Niererikwats-kûni′ki—the Wichita name for the Cheyenne. See also Shiĕda.
Ni′ha—for Ni′hûw’e.
Ni′ha-i′hihi′—for Ni′hûw’e.
Nihi′hininh—he is our father. Compare Ni′hûw’e.
Ni′hûw’e—my father. Ni′hûw’, father; Ni′hûw’e, my father; nihi′hinonh, he is our father. Compare I′hänh and Arapaho niqa, father.
Nĭ′mĭ′stätu′häm—you should take a swim or bath. Nätu′ham, I swim or bathe.
Nĭ′nh-nitä′n—he asks, or tells, us to do it. Nänh-itŭ′, I ask, or tell, him to do it.
Ninĭni′etäni—for Nĭ′nh-nitä′n.
Nĭshivä′tämä′ĭnh—he has taken pity on us, he has blest us, he has sympathy for us. Näshivä′tämh, I pity him.
Nĭ′shivä′tämoni—for Nĭshivä′tämä′ĭnh.
Nĭshkă′nh or N‛shkă′nh—our mother. Na′‛ku, mother; na′‛kui, my mother.
Nĭstäko′naoe′vo—it will strengthen you. Nä′hĭko′nähi, I am strong; nähĭko′nă-mäni′hu, I strengthen him.
Nĭstsävĭ′siwomätsĭ′nowă—so that, in order that, you shall see each other; Näwo′m, I see him; näwo′t, I see it.
Nĭ′stsishihi′yohoni′mäni—for Nĭstsishi′yoho′nĭ′mänh.
Nĭstsishĭ′nutsĭmă′nh—let us seek her, or ask for her. Nähĭ′nutsĭnh, I am looking for her.
Nĭstsishi′yoho′nĭ′mänh—let us go and play shinny. Näho′qu, I am playing shinny; ohonĭ′stuts, shinny. See [Cheyenne song 9].
Nĭ′stsistä′nä—for Nĭ′stsĭstä′nowän.
Nĭ′stsĭstä′nowän—our life, or existence. Näwŭ′stänĭ′hivĭ′stŭts, my existence.
Nĭ′stsivĭ′shiwomä′tsĭnoh—by that means I shall see you (plural). Compare Tsĭtäwo′moh.
Nĭ′tusimĭ′tänun—he (she, it) will give it to us. Nĭ′mĭtûts, I give it to you; nä′mĭt, I give it to him.
Nuka′eshe′väoe′tse—This form occurs in Cheyenne song 1. The correct form and rendering are uncertain, but it is doubtfully rendered “the summer cloud.” It seems to contain the word ĭshi′v, day.
O′go‛ch or O′go′‛chi or O′go‛ki—the crow. In the Ghost dance the crow is the messenger of the spirit world. The messiah and God are frequently spoken of as “The Crow.” See [Arapaho song 36].
Ogo′‛gaĕ—“the crow woman;” from o′go′‛chi, crow.
Ohonĭ′stuts—the shinny game. See [Cheyenne song 9] and [Arapaho song 7].
O′ivima′na—“scabby;” a Cheyenne division.
Otä—now! well!
Otä′si-Tä′niuw’—“pierced-nose people:” the Cheyenne name for the Caddo.
O′tätawo′m—greenish.
O′täta′womemäpewä—for Otä′tawo′m-mä‛p-ĭ′va. In the greenish (bluish) water, or river. O′tätawom, greenish; mä‛p, water.
O‛tu′gŭnŭ—a Cheyenne division. The meaning of the name is unknown.
Owa′‛ni—living things, creatures, animals (including quadrupeds, birds, insects, etc).
Pägănä′vo—“striped arrows,” from päga, arrow, and nävo, striped; the Shoshoni and Comanche name for the Cheyenne. See also Shiä′navo.
Pĭnû′tgû—a Cheyenne division. The meaning of the name is unknown.
Psam—the “crazy dance” of the Cheyenne; psa, crazy. It is somewhat different from the Arapaho crazy dance. See [Cheyenne song 10] and [Arapaho song 43].
Sa-sis-e-tas—the name used by the Cheyenne to designate themselves, according to Clark. It should be Dzĭtsĭ′stäs q. v.
Shiä′navo—another Comanche name for the Cheyenne, probably a derivation from the word Cheyenne.
Shiĕda—another Wichita name for the Cheyenne, probably a derivation from the word Cheyenne. See also Niererikwats-kûni′ki.
Shĭshino′wĭts-itä′niuw’—“snake people,” the Cheyenne name for the Comanche.
So′wănia—“southerners;” Cheyenne name sometimes used to designate the southern portion of the tribe in Oklahoma.
Staitan—a name used by Lewis and Clark to designate a tribe identical with the Cheyenne. It is a corruption of the Cheyenne word hĭstä′itän, “I am a Cheyenne.”
Sŭtasi′na or Sŭta′ya—“strange talkers” (Clark), one of the most important Cheyenne divisions and formerly a distinct tribe.
Tseä′nehä′sĭ—for Tsi′änu′iäs.
Tsenovi′tätse′stovi—for Tsenowĭ′tätsĭ′stowĭ.
Tsenowĭ′tatsĭ′stowĭ—where there was gambling. Nä′now’shĭ, I gamble.
Tsi′änu`iäs—(when) he flew down. Nä′miha′-u, I fly; nä`nuiha′-u, I fly down.
Tsĭnitai′womai′wosihi—for Tsĭ′unĭtai′womai′w’s.
Tsinitai′wosi′hi—for Tsĭunĭ′taiw’s.
Tsi′shistä′hisihi—for Tsĭshĭ′stäs.
Tsĭshĭ′stäs—where she belongs, i. e., her home. Compare Dzĭtsĭ′stäs, the name given by the Cheyenne to themselves.
Tsĭsoso′yotsĭ′to—while I was going about. Näsoso′yots, I go about, I ramble about.
Tsĭ′stamo′nohyot—when I first reached him, when I arrived where he was. Näta′hyot, I shall reach him.
Tsĭstäwo′moh—she (he) will see them. Näwo′m, I see him; stawo′matsĭ′mh, I see you; tsĭtäwo′‛t, he (she) will see it; nĭ′stsivĭ′shiwomätsĭnoh, by that means I shall see you (plural). Compare Nä′vihomh.
Tsĭtäwo′‛t—she (he) will see it. Compare Tsĭstäwo′moh.
Tsĭ′ŭnĭtai′womai′w’s—where they are painted in different colors; tsĭŭnĭ′taiw’s, different; mai′-tămh, paint.
Tsĭŭnĭ′taiw‛s—different, various.
Tû′‛gani—the Cheyenne name for the Wichita; evidently a derivative from their Comanche name, Do′‛kana, tattooed people.
Ugu′chi′hihi—for O′go′‛chi.
Veta′chi—for Vĭchk.
Vĭchk—grease, used in painting or anointing the face and body.
Vĭ′nänätu′uwă—kill a beef or buffalo for him (imperative). Nä′nätun, I kill it; nä′nätu′uh, I kill it for him; hoiwo′ĭts, a beef.
Wităpä hät or Wităpä′tu—the Cheyenne name for the Kiowa; from their Sioux name Wi′tapähä′tu, people of the island butte.
Wĭ′tapi′u—“haters” (Clark); a Cheyenne division.
Wosĭ′vă—a mountain.
Yä′häyä′—an unmeaning exclamation used in the songs.
Yu′suwu′nutu—for Ho′so′ewo′năt.