May, 1903. The Arapaho Sun Dance — Dorsey. 123 



buried her brother-in-law alive, after tempting him to have intercourse 

 with her. Badger-Woman failed to get her brother-in-law's affection, 

 and dug a hole underneath the bed, so that when this young man came 

 home in the evening and took his seat, he fell into the hole, and Badger- 

 Woman covered him up and made the bed again. Any of the Rabbi t- 

 tipi people can pack the badger. The beating on the badger during 

 the ceremony punishes the Badger- Woman for her crimes." 



Another and more plausible explanation of the Badger-pack is to 

 the effect that it is symbolic of the earth, the beating of which, during 

 the five songs, represents the primal division of the earth and espe- 

 cially the dissemination of vegetation or seeds. These seeds are usu- 

 ally represented by five or seven buffalo chips, symbolic of the gifts of 

 this animal, in this ceremony represented by beads and calico, which 

 at the time of the unwrapping of the pack are given away — scattered 

 among the Rabbit-tipi servants. 



The symbol of the buffalo chip as food is explained by the myth 

 where Found-in-Grass gathered buffalo chips over the divide, left 

 them in a heap, looked back, gave a command, and they became a 

 great herd of buffalo. 



OPENED-BRAINS' KNIFE. 



The knife with double-edge blade, and which occupied a position 

 near the skull, corresponds in its color symbolism to that which has been 

 stated for the lodge in general. The knife typifies a weapon of defense 

 for the tribe, and, as has been noted, is used to mark the center-pole 

 and the four rafter-beams before they are painted. In accordance 

 with a myth this was the "stone knife that Opened-Brains used on the 

 woman's stomach. He, was not satisfied with dishes until this preg- 

 nant woman lay down in front of him, when he ate his meal, and acci- 

 dentally (but for a* purpose) struck her stomach with his knife." 

 Opened Brains, or Tangle-Hair, was a supernatural being who was 

 , conquered by Found-in-Grass. 



A somewhat different account of the knife, obtained from another 

 informant, is as follows: "There were two young men traveling across 

 the ocean on the water monster (Garter-Snake), and before landing on 

 the other side, one of them, who was very foolish, played on the 

 monster. The other one succeeded in getting across, but the foolish 

 young man was pulled down in the water. For some time this young 

 man who was by himself wept over his partner. 



"One day, while he was walking along the shore with closed eyes, 

 Thunderbird came up to him and asked him, 'What are you crying 

 about?' 'Well, my partner was captured by the water monster,' 



