Traditions of the Arikara

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1

INTRODUCTION. 8

TRADITIONS OF THE ARIKARA 12

1. THE WOLF AND LUCKY-MAN CREATE LAND. 12

2. THE SPIDERS GIVE BIRTH TO PEOPLE. 12

3. THE ORIGIN OF THE ARIKARA. 13

4. THE ORIGIN OF THE ARIKARA. 17

5. THE ORIGIN OF THE ARIKARA. 21

6. THE ORIGIN OF THE ARIKARA. 23

7. THE ORIGIN OF THE ARIKARA. 26

8. THE ORIGIN OF THE AWAHO-BUNDLE PEOPLE. 28

9. MOTHER-CORN’S VISIT TO THE ARIKARA. 30

10. MOTHER-CORN’S VISIT TO THE ARIKARA. 31

11. HOW THE PEOPLE ESCAPED THE BUFFALO. 32

12. WHY THE BUFFALO NO LONGER EAT PEOPLE. 33

13. WHY THE BUFFALO NO LONGER EAT PEOPLE. 34

14. THE GIRL WHO MARRIED A STAR. 37

15. THE GIRL WHO MARRIED A STAR. 46

16. NO-TONGUE AND THE SUN AND THE MOON. 50

17. HOW BURNT-HANDS BECAME A CHIEF. 53

18. HOW BURNT-HANDS BECAME A CHIEF. 56

19. HOW BURNT-HANDS BECAME A CHIEF. 57

20. THE TWO BOYS AND THE WATER-SERPENT. 58

21. THE BOY WHO BEFRIENDED THE THUNDERBIRDS, AND THE SERPENT. 59

22. THE BOY WHO TURNED INTO A SNAKE. 63

23. THE BOY WHO RECEIVED THE MOUSE POWER. 65

24. THE BOY AND THE YOUNG HAWKS. 66

25. THE END OF THE ELK POWER. 67

26. THE ELK RESCUES A WOMAN FROM THE BEAR. 70

27. THE BOY AND THE ELK. 71

28. THE COYOTE, THE GIRL, AND THE MAGIC WINDPIPE. 72

29. THE BUFFALO WIFE AND THE JAVELIN GAME. 74

30. THE ORIGIN OF THE WOLF DANCE. 79

31. THE MEDICINE DANCE OF THE BEAVER, TURTLE, AND WITCH-WOMAN. 82

32. THE VILLAGE-BOY AND THE WOLF POWER. 84

33. THE RABBIT BOY. 85

34. THE MAN AND THE WATER-DOGS. 89

35. THE FIVE TURTLES AND THE BUFFALO DANCE. 90

36. THE NOTCHED STICK AND THE OLD WOMAN OF THE ISLAND. 91

37. THE MAN WHO MARRIED A COYOTE. 92

38. THE MAN WHO TURNED INTO A STONE. 93

39. THE WOMAN WHO TURNED INTO A STONE. 94

40. THE POWER OF THE BLOODY SCALPED-MAN. 94

41. THE BOY WHO CARRIED A SCALPED-MAN INTO CAMP. 96

42. THE GIRL WHO WAS BLEST BY THE BUFFALO AND CORN. 97

43. THE FIGHT BETWEEN THE ARIKARA AND THE SNAKES. 98

44. THE FIGHT BETWEEN THE ARIKARA AND THE BEARS. 98

45. THE WIFE WHO MARRIED AN ELK. 99

46. THE FOUR GIRLS AND THE MOUNTAIN-LION. 100

47. THE DEEDS OF YOUNG EAGLE. 101

48. THE GIRL WHO BECAME A WHIRLWIND. 104

49. THE COYOTE AND THE MICE SUN DANCE. 106

50. THE COYOTE BECOMES A BUFFALO. 107

51. THE COYOTE AND THE ARTICHOKE. 108

52. THE COYOTE RIDES THE BEAR. 108

53. THE COYOTE RIDES THE BUFFALO. 109

54. THE COYOTE AND THE BUFFALO RUN A RACE. 109

55. THE COYOTE AND THE DANCING CORN. 110

56. THE COYOTE AND THE TURTLE RUN A RACE. 111

57. THE COYOTE AND THE STONE RUN A RACE. 111

58. THE COYOTE AND THE ROLLING STONE. 112

59. THE COYOTE AND THE ROLLING STONE. 114

60. HOW THE SCALPED-MAN LOST HIS WIFE. 115

61. THE GENEROUS SCALPED-MAN AND HIS BETRAYER. 115

62. THE SCALPED-MAN. 117

63. THE DEAD MAN’S COUNTRY. 118

64. THE COYOTE WHO SPOKE TO THE EAGLE HUNTERS. 119

65. THE GIRL AND THE ELK. 119

66. HOW THE RABBIT SAVED A WARRIOR. 120

67. THE WOMAN WHOSE BREASTS WERE CUT OFF. 120

68. THE WATER-DOGS. 121

69. TWO-WOLVES, THE PROPHET. 122

TO. HOW THE MEDICINE-ROBE SAVED THE ARIKARA. 124

71. THE MEDICINE BEAR SHIELD. 125

72. THE CRUCIFIED ENEMY. 128

73. HOW A SIOUX WOMAN’S SCALP WAS SACRIFICED. 128

74. THE WARRIOR WHO FOUGHT THE SIOUX. 129

75. THE CAPTURE OF THE ENEMY’S BOWS. 130

76. THE WOMAN WHO BEFRIENDED THE WARRIORS. 130

77. THE ATTACK UPON THE EAGLE HUNTERS. 131

78. THE ATTACK UPON THE EAGLE HUNTERS. 132

79. THE MOURNING LOVER. 133

80. CONTEST BETWEEN THE BEAR AND THE BULL SOCIETIES. 133

81. HOW WHITE-BEAR CAME TO BELONG TO THE BEAR SOCIETY. 134

82. THE TALE OF A MEMBER OF THE BEAR SOCIETY. 135

ABSTRACTS. 138

1. THE WOLF AND LUCKY-MAN CREATE LAND. 138

2. THE SPIDERS GIVE BIRTH TO PEOPLE. 138

3. THE ORIGIN OF THE ARIKARA. 138

4. ORIGIN OF THE ARIKARA. 138

5. THE ORIGIN OF THE ARIKARA. 139

6. THE ORIGIN OF THE ARIKARA. 140

7. THE ORIGIN OF THE ARIKARA. 140

8. THE ORIGIN OF THE AWAHO-BUNDLE PEOPLE. 141

9. MOTHER-CORN’S VISIT TO THE ARIKARA. 141

10. MOTHER-CORN’S VISIT TO THE ARIKARA. 141

11. HOW THE PEOPLE ESCAPED THE BUFFALO. 141

12. WHY THE BUFFALO NO LONGER EAT PEOPLE. 142

13. WHY THE BUFFALO NO LONGER EAT PEOPLE. 142

14. THE GIRL WHO MARRIED A STAR. 142

15. THE GIRL WHO MARRIED A STAR. 143

16. NO-TONGUE AND THE SUN AND THE MOON. 144

17. HOW BURNT-HANDS BECAME A CHIEF. 144

18. HOW BURNT-HANDS BECAME A CHIEF. 145

19. HOW BURNT-HANDS BECAME A CHIEF. 145

20. THE TWO BOYS AND THE WATER-SERPENT. 145

21. THE BOY WHO BEFRIENDED THE THUNDERBIRDS, AND THE SERPENT. 145

22. THE BOY WHO TURNED INTO A SNAKE. 146

23. THE BOY WHO RECEIVED THE MOUSE POWER. 146

24. THE BOY AND THE YOUNG HAWKS. 146

25. THE END OF THE ELK POWER. 147

26. THE ELK RESCUES A WOMAN FROM THE BEAR. 147

27. THE BOY AND THE ELK. 147

28. THE COYOTE, THE GIRL, AND THE MAGIC WINDPIPE. 147

29. THE BUFFALO-WIFE AND THE JAVELIN GAME. 148

30. THE ORIGIN OF THE WOLF DANCE. 148

31. MEDICINE DANCE OF THE BEAVER, TURTLE, AND WITCH-WOMAN. 149

32. THE VILLAGE-BOY AND THE WOLF POWER. 149

33. THE RABBIT BOY. 149

34. THE MAN AND THE WATER-DOGS. 150

35. THE FIVE TURTLES AND THE BUFFALO DANCE. 150

36. THE NOTCHED STICK AND THE OLD WOMAN OF THE ISLAND. 150

37. THE MAN WHO MARRIED A COYOTE. 150

38. THE MAN WHO TURNED INTO A STONE. 150

39. THE WOMAN WHO TURNED INTO A STONE. 151

40. THE POWER OF THE BLOODY SCALPED-MAN. 151

41. THE BOY WHO CARRIED A SCALPED-MAN INTO CAMP. 151

42. THE GIRL WHO WAS BLEST BY THE BUFFALO AND CORN. 151

43. THE FIGHT BETWEEN THE ARIKARA AND THE SNAKES. 151

44. THE FIGHT BETWEEN THE ARIKARA AND THE BEARS. 152

45. THE WIFE WHO MARRIED AN ELK. 152

46. THE FOUR GIRLS AND THE MOUNTAIN-LION. 152

47. THE DEEDS OF YOUNG-EAGLE. 152

48. THE GIRL WHO BECAME A WHIRLWIND. 153

49. COYOTE AND THE MICE SUN DANCE. 153

50. THE COYOTE BECOMES A BUFFALO. 153

51. THE COYOTE AND THE ARTICHOKE. 153

52. THE COYOTE RIDES THE BEAR. 154

53. THE COYOTE RIDES THE BUFFALO. 154

54. THE COYOTE AND THE BUFFALO RUN A RACE. 154

55. THE COYOTE AND THE DANCING CORN. 154

56. THE COYOTE AND THE TURTLE RUN A RACE. 154

57. THE COYOTE AND THE STONE RUN A RACE. 155

58. THE COYOTE AND THE ROLLING STONE. 155

59. THE COYOTE AND THE ROLLING STONE. 155

60. HOW THE SCALPED-MAN LOST HIS WIFE. 155

61. THE GENEROUS SCALPED-MAN AND HIS BETRAYER. 155

62. THE SCALPED-MAN. 156

63. THE DEAD MAN’S COUNTRY. 156

64. THE COYOTE WHO SPOKE TO THE EAGLE HUNTERS. 156

65. THE GIRL AND THE ELK. 156

66. HOW THE RABBIT SAVED A WARRIOR. 156

67. THE WOMAN WHOSE BREAST WERE CUT OFF. 156

68. WATER-DOGS. 157

69. TWO-WOLVES, THE PROPHET. 157

70. HOW THE MEDICINE-ROBE SAVED THE ARIKARA. 157

71. THE MEDICINE BEAR SHIELD. 157

72. THE CRUCIFIED ENEMY. 158

73. HOW A SIOUX WOMAN’S SCALP WAS SACRIFICED. 158

74. THE WARRIOR WHO FOUGHT THE SIOUX. 158

75. THE CAPTURE OF THE ENEMY’S BOWS. 158

76. THE WOMAN WHO BEFRIENDED THE WARRIORS. 159

77. THE ATTACK UPON THE EAGLE HUNTERS. 159

78. THE ATTACK UPON THE EAGLE HUNTERS. 159

79. THE MOURNING LOVER. 159

80. CONTEST BETWEEN THE BEAR AND THE BULL SOCIETIES. 159

81. HOW WHITE-BEAR CAME TO BELONG TO THE BEAR SOCIETY. 160

82. THE TALE OF A MEMBER OF THE BEAR SOCIETY. 160

TRADITIONS OF THE ARIKARA

Collected under the Auspices of the

Carnegie Institution of Washington

BY

GEORGE A. DORSEY

Curator of Anthropology, Field Columbian Museum

INTRODUCTION.

The Arikara traditions in this volume were collected during the year 1903, with funds provided by the Carnegie Institution. The work was part of a systematic and extended study of the mythology and ceremonies of the various tribes of the Caddoan stock. All of the tales here presented were secured through James R. Murie, of the Skidi band of Pawnee. The slight differences in language between the Arikara and Skidi were soon overcome by Mr. Murie, who, when a boy at school, had learned to speak Arikara fluently.

The Arikara belong to the Caddoan linguistic stock, and were formerly closely allied with the Skidi band of Pawnee, from which tribe they separated about 1832. After that time they made their home at various points along the Missouri River until, in 1854, they were placed on what is known as Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota, along with the Mandan and Minitaree or Grosventres, the latter two tribes being of Siouan stock. With the Mandan the Arikara had been closely associated even before their removal to the Fort Berthold Reservation. Their dwellings and general mode of life had much in common with the Skidi. Like the Skidi, they constructed the earth-lodge, and their social organization and religious ceremonies in general were also similar to those of the Skidi. Inasmuch as the author has prepared a somewhat extended discussion of the Skidi in his introduction to the Traditions of the Skidi Pawnee, it will not be necessary here to do more than to refer to that volume.{1}

The Arikara today number about 380, as against 435 in 1890, and 725 in 1880. Owing to the continued severe hostility of the Indian Department, but little evidence of their former method of life remains. It is said that the last earth-lodge in use fell into ruins in 1900. In possession of certain members of the tribe are some of the sacred bundles or altars; but the people have been so intimidated that their religious ceremonies are, as a rule, held secretly.

In physique they seem hardier than their Skidi brethren on the south, and in disposition, more tractable. In dealings with the Government they have, as a rule, proved themselves men of high honor, and not since about 1820 have they manifested an unfriendly disposition toward the whites.

An examination of the tales here presented shows, as we might expect to find, many points of resemblance with those of the Skidi and other Pawnee tribes. It is apparent at once, however, that the mythology of the Arikara contains many elements not found among the Skidi. This is possibly due to contact with the Mandan, and perhaps, though to a less extent, with the Minitaree. To what extent the Mandan have influenced the Arikara cannot be known, as no extended account of their mythology is available.

Inasmuch as investigation is now being carried on among additional tribes of the Caddoan stock, the usual references to the mythologies of other tribes have been omitted in the present volume. At the completion of this investigation the tales of all the tribes of the stock will be considered from a comparative point of view, while other resemblances to the traditions of other tribes will, at the same time, be pointed out. It seems sufficient at present merely to indicate in a general way the character of the tales here presented.

In the first and second tales, each of which tells of the creation of the earth by the Wolf and Lucky-Man, as well as in the creation of people by the Spiders, through the assistance of the Wolf, we have a story of origin not known to any of the other bands of Caddoan stock, and it is possible that this account is due to foreign influence. The story of the appearance of people upon earth, or of the emergence, is presented in a number of variant forms (Nos. 3 to 13). All these myths are of undoubted Arikara origin, and apparently are uninfluenced by the mythology of any other tribe. The difference of these tales from all similar tales among the Skidi is very interesting, and shows that the Arikara possessed a well-defined mythology of their own before their separation from the Skidi. The next two tales (Nos. 9, 10) bear additional testimony to the importance of the cultivation of corn among the Arikara, while in tales 11, 12, and 13 is related, in varying versions, the escape of the Arikara from the buffalo. The fundamental principle of this myth is widespread and extended to many of the Plains tribes.

In the next series of tales (Nos. 14 to 28) we have a general account of the period of transformation following the emergence, and which may be characterized in general as transformer legends. As with the Skidi, the poor boy among these tales is the culture hero, while Coyote, the great transformer of the Northwest, takes a very inferior part. At least three well-defined transformers appear in this series; the first in importance is the boy offspring of the woman who climbed to heaven and married a Star. His greatest work is freeing the land from the presence of the four destroying monsters. Only second to Star-Boy in importance is Sun-Boy (No. 16), whose special merit consists in the fact that he made long life possible, though only after a series of memorable contests with his powerful father. The third transformer is Burnt-Hands, the Burnt-Belly of the Skidi. Like Burnt-Belly, this poor boy, through the aid of certain animals, becomes powerful, kills the mean chief, and calls the buffalo, thus saving his tribe from despotism and famine, and at the same time furnishing by his life a perpetual example to the poor of the Arikara of the value of honest and long-continued effort. In tale No. 20 are related the deeds of two boys who slew the water-monster, one of whom, perhaps, was Burnt-Hands. The deeds also of two brothers, and perhaps the same as those just referred to, are related in the next two tales (Nos. 21 and 22), where we have the additional element of one of the boys turning into a water-monster and taking up his home in the Missouri River, an incident which is of widespread distribution among the Pawnee tribes. The first of these two stories might also foe considered as a rite myth, for it has certain reference to the origin of the ceremony of the medicine-men. In the next tale (No. 23) the value of the deeds of the poor boy, who, as in a similar Skidi tale, recovers a mouse’s nest and so receives power from the mice and rats, is not so apparent. To be sure, for a while, his power is used advantageously, and he is instrumental in fighting the enemies of his tribe, but he finally abuses his power, and in an encounter with the bear this power comes to an end. A similar fate befalls the hero of another tale (No. 34), who, in befriending some young hawks, obtained the power of the hawks, which power, for a while, was rightly used, but eventually, abusing it, he suffered death. This tale, also, might be considered a rite myth. In tales Nos. 25 and 26 is related how the young man recovered the young women from the power of the bear, through the assistance of the magic flute of the elk. In the second of these two tales some of the women become elks. The story of the man who obtained the elk power is related in tale 27, which also relates how certain people, after entering the water, became animals. In a number of tales presented Coyote figures prominently, but only in No. 28 does he appear as a transformer, where, by his action with the magic windpipe, the seven brothers become bumblebees.

Tales Nos. 29 to 42 may be considered rite myths, inasmuch as they refer either to the origin of a ceremony or of a particular rite or to incidents, which were perhaps connected with a ceremony. Myths of this nature apparently are not as common among the Arikara as among the Skidi. It is possible, however, that this apparent difference will not prove to foe real, for as yet no extended and systematic study has been made of the Arikara ceremonies.

In tale No. 29 is found an interesting account of the origin of the well-known ring and javelin game of the Plains, which among the Arikara, as among the Skidi and Wichita, is really part of the ceremonial calling of the buffalo. The tale also relates to the origin of the buffalo dance. In the next three tales (Nos. 30-32) is related the origin of the wolf dance and of the medicine-men’s dance and of the special medicine of one of the medicine-men. In tale No. 33 is related the origin of the rabbit power, presumably the tale of the origin of some special medicine. In tale No. 34 we have perhaps the account of the origin of some band. Here, as in certain other tales, we have the magic power, derived in this instance from the water-dogs, which led to the separation of the people. Tale No. 35 appears to relate to certain incidents of the buffalo dance, while the next tale gives a mythical account of the well-known musical instrument consisting of a stick which was rubbed by another stick or by a bone, one end of the first stick resting upon a hollow object acting as a resonator. Tale No. 38 has reference to some personage in the medicine-men’s ceremony. In Nos. 38 and 39 we have an account of the man and the woman who turned to stone and who as such afterward played a prominent part in the medicine-men’s lodge. In tales Nos. 40 and 41 we have an account of magic power derived from scalped-men, presumably being accounts of the origin of some special medicine. Tale No. 42, which tells of the power given a young girl through the skull and corn of the altar, which she used for replenishing the impoverished stores of her tribe, seems to be the fragment of some rite myth.

Tales Nos. 43 to 48 are of miscellaneous character, and are not easily referred to any of the categories above mentioned. The first two in this series, which recount contests between the Arikara and the snakes and the Arikara and the bears, are perhaps rite tales, or they may relate to a still earlier time in the mythologic era. The next tale tells of the wife who married the elk and afterward rendered great assistance to her people. This tale in its general features is similar to a widespread myth found among the Plains tribes. The story of the four girls who were pursued by the mountain-lion, as told in tale No. 46, is also equally widespread, though it is here presented in an abbreviated form. The next tale, which tells of the boy who could transform himself into an eagle, and who became a great chief and warrior, is similar in general to No. 32, but contains no rite element. The story of the whirlwind girl (No. 48) contains certain elements not yet known to exist among any of the Plains tribes.

Tales Nos. 49 to 59 relate almost exclusively to animals, and in all of them the Coyote plays a prominent part, always as a mean trickster, not as a transformer, and committing deeds which generally result disastrously to himself. These tales in general are similar to those of the Skidi and other bands of the Pawnee.

Tales Nos. 60 to 68 may be characterized in general as traditions, in which the element of superstition or strange beliefs play a prominent part.

Tales Nos. 69 to 82 possess no element of magic power. They are to be considered as traditions or war tales, from which may be gained certain information interesting in a general study of the Arikara. Tale No. 71, and the last of the series, No. 82, are especially interesting, as relating the story of the medicine war shield and the personal experience of a member of the Bear society.

GEORGE A. DORSEY.

CHICAGO, July 1, 1904.

TRADITIONS OF THE ARIKARA

1. THE WOLF AND LUCKY-MAN CREATE LAND.{2}

There was a big lake. On this lake were two Ducks swimming around. They saw the Wolf coming from the southwest. Then they saw in the north, Lucky-Man coming. The Wolf and Lucky-Man met on the shore of the lake.

The Wolf challenged Lucky-Man to see who could endure the rain the longest. The Wolf hung up his own skin, while Lucky-Man hung up all kinds of feathers on a long stick. It commenced to rain. The Wolf finally gave in. He said: I am beaten, but now I want you to create with me. I want to make land. I want you to make land, and whatever things should live an it. Then the Wolf said, I will take the north side of the Missouri River, and I will make land. The Wolf called a Duck, and said, Now, Duck, can you dive away down under the lake and fetch me some dirt from the bottom? The Duck said, Yes. The Duck dived and brought up mud and placed it before the Wolf. The Wolf then threw the mud in the north, and said, Form into land, and let it be prairie, and let the buffalo roam over this prairie! And it was done.

The Wolf told Lucky-Man that it was now his turn. Lucky-Man then turned and called the Duck and told it to bring up the mud from the lake. He brought up even more than he had brought up for the Wolf. Lucky-Man threw this dirt on the south side of where the Wolf had made his land. Hills and mountains were formed. The buffalo were seen on the land. Lucky-Man said: When the people come they shall choose to live on the south side of the Missouri River, for there are hills and valleys, so that their ponies, dogs, and buffalo can find shelter in the hills and mountains. You made your country level; in the winter time the buffalo will be driven away from there by the storm.

The Wolf made the land on the north side, and Lucky-Man made the land on the south side; so there was a channel between the two countries, and that is where the Missouri River bed is. The first thing they knew, the stream of the Missouri began to flow along the dividing line of the two countries they had created.

2. THE SPIDERS GIVE BIRTH TO PEOPLE.{3}

There was once an old Spider-Man who lived by himself with his wife. One day the Wolf and his friend went to visit these old folks. The Spider-Man was dirty, his eyes were red, he had no hair on his head, and he was very dirty all over, and he emitted a bad odor. His wife also was very dirty; her hair was thin and very coarse. The Wolf had never seen people who looked like these people.

Lupus ab homine quaesivit quem ad modum cum uxore concumberet. Homo respondit: Non dicere sed ostendere volumus. Recte, dixit Lupus. Cum autem hominem mulieremque conspexisset, illum tantum genitalia esse, itemque mulierem repperit; quocirca fetorem emiserunt. Atque uterque de genere araneo fuit.

Deinde Lupus: Efficiemus ut pulchriores videamini, et concumbere aliter ac nunc possitis.

The Spider-Man and the woman were both willing. So the Wolf and his friend went and got some wild sage and fixed up some medicine. They dipped the wild sage into the water and rubbed it all over the two Spider people. As he rubbed the wild, sage over them they became very different, they looked better, and they did not smell bad. Deinde Lupus virum docebat quem ad modum cum uxore concumbere conveniret, quidque facere oporteret ut liberos gignere posset. Nisi Lupus hæc fecisset, ut aiunt, nulli de genere humano geniti essent. Namque ille Araneos docuit quem ad modum concumbere oporteret ut liberos gignerent. Qui autem ex eis geniti sunt humani fuerunt, unde homines omnes sunt.

3. THE ORIGIN OF THE ARIKARA.{4}

There were large people living upon the earth long ago, who were so strong that they were not afraid of anybody, but they did not have good judgment. They made fun of all the gods in the heavens.

Nesaru looked down upon them, and was angry. Nesaru said: I made them too strong. I will not keep them. They think that they are like myself. I shall destroy them, but I shall put away my people that I like and that are smaller.

So the animals were made to assist some people to turn into corn and they were taken under ground into a cave, which was so large that animals and people lived down there together. The large people were killed by the flood. The people who were taken in under the ground knew nothing of the flood, for they were not people; they were grains of corn.

Nesaru in the heavens planted corn in the heavens, to remind him that his people were put under ground. As soon as the corn in the heavens had matured, Nesaru took from the field an ear of corn. This corn he turned into a woman and Nesaru said, You must go down to the earth and bring my people from the earth. She went down to the earth and she roamed over the land for many, many years, not knowing where to find the people. At last the thunders sounded in the east. She followed the sound, and she found the people underground in the east. By the power of Nesaru himself this woman was taken under ground, and when the people and the animals saw her they rejoiced. They knew her, for she was the Mother-Corn. The people and the animals also knew that she had the consent of all the gods to take them out.

Mother-Corn then called upon the gods to assist her to lead her people out of the earth. There was none who could assist her. She turned around to the people, and said: We must leave this place, this darkness; there as light above the earth. Who will come to help me take my people out of the earth? The Badger came forth, and said, Mother, I will help. A Mole also stood up, and said, I will assist the Badger to dig through the ground, that we may see the light. The long-nosed Mouse came, and said, I will assist these other two to dig through.

The Badger began to dig upwards. He became tired, and said, Mother, I am tired. Then the Mole began to dig. The Mole became tired. Then the long-nosed Mouse came and dug until it became tired. It came back. The long-nosed Mouse said, Mother, I am tired. The Badger began to dig upward. When he became tired the Mole went up. The Mole said, I was just about to go through when I became tired. The long-nosed Mouse then ran up, and said, I will try. The long-nosed Mouse stuck its nose through the earth until it reached up to its ears, and it could see just a little light. It went back, and said, Mother, I ran my nose through the earth, and it has made my nose small; all the people that I shall belong to shall have these long noses, just like mine, so that all the animals will know that it was I who dug through the earth first, making my nose small and pointed.

The Mole was so glad that it tried again. It went up to the hole, dug through the hole and went through. The sun had come up from the east. It was so bright that it blinded the Mole. The Mole ran back, and said, "Mother, I have been blinded by the brightness of that sun. I cannot live upon the earth any more. I must make my home under the earth. All the people who wish to be with me will be blind, so that they cannot see in the daytime, but