May, 1903. The Arapaho Sun Dance — Dorsey. 119 



the same as that used on the poles and the center-pole of the lodge. 

 The various black and red dots indicate prayers, while the grass knobs 

 placed in the eye-sockets and in the nasal cavities were said to indi- 

 cate the times when the Indians used grass garments, before the 

 appearance of the buffalo. The grass balls in the eyes and nose of 

 the skull are also said to represent the Last-Child. This Last-Child 

 is often referred to by the old men in their prayers. He is the owner 

 of the rivers and creeks. He is the water monster that abides in 

 deep places. His name means, ''to urinate" last. He is at the outlet 

 of the river or creek, the water runs off first, and Last-Child follows. 

 When Garter-Snake was being instructed of the various things to 

 apply to the big lodge, the skull was complete, with its natural eyes 

 and nostrils. That was the very first one, but since then, the body of 

 the Last-Child was substituted, which was the water grass, or flat 

 grass. The buffalo then is complete, i.e., the life is restored, when 

 these balls are being annexed, for the animal lives on the grass. ,The 

 location of these balls of grass corresponds to that of the Four-Old-Men. 



THE SKY AND EARTH. 



The two circular pieces of sod (bita, earth) symbolized the gift 

 of the powers above to the human race, the smaller sod representing 

 the present earth, the larger the future earth. (See Fig. i, Plate 

 LXn.) They are also said to stand for Father and Mother, the sky 

 and the earth, the smaller sod being the Mother, the larger one the 

 Father. They are called the "scalps," the hands of the father and 

 mother for the Arapaho race. In the sod, and represented as growing 

 out of it, were placed, as has been described, large numbers of small 

 rabbit bushes (nakhiiwushshi), so-called because the rabbits eat the 

 red berries. These bushes are typical in general of all berries and 

 fruits, plums, cherries, etc., and express the idea that there should be 

 an abundance of fruit, that the people might increase and have 

 plenty. 



From another informant this statement was obtained: "When the 

 Creator made the earth for earthly men, he also made another one 

 for Nih'a"9a!!. These two sods typify the old woman and the grand- 

 child, or river with stream. Biitaahwu, earth, signifies bare, plain, 

 exposed, without fruit. This was the appearance in the beginning, 

 i. e., there were yet no beings. Sods were made later on, after the 

 big lodge was fully matured for Garter-Snake. It can be better under- 

 stood in this way: A woman kills a creature and sheds blood and 

 brings the scalp, hide, or skin. For that reason, the tallow, being the 

 skin, bears the blood (red paint) and prosperity (black paint). It is 



