2i6 Field Columbian Museum — Anthropology, Vol. IV. 



This woman, seeing that he was a real young man and greatly 

 charmed by his glorious attire, started off with him without hesita- 

 tion. The young man was clothed in fine skins, and had a handsome 

 buffalo robe which was nicely quilled and ornamented. His complex- 

 ion was very fair, and he had long black hair. His footsteps were firm 

 and persevering, and his hands bold and grasping. Reaching the sky, 

 he opened a spot by pushing up a circular object. "Here we are at our 

 father's camp. Come up through this opening," said Moon. The 

 eloped woman hastily climbed up and went into the opening above and 

 landed on another soil, 



"Wife, there is the big camp-circle where my father lives with his 

 wife," said Moon, covering the opening. This he did to prevent her 

 from knowing her destination, and that she might forget the position 

 of the entrance. 



"Oh, yes, that is a beautiful camp-circle. Surely the life over 

 yonder must be grand ; for around it is that gentle hazy atmosphere, 

 besides the magnificent scenery,"' said the wife. The whole camp- 

 circle was on the left side of the river at a good distance from its 

 source. The parents of Moon camped close to the head of this river, 

 which was called "Turtle River" (turtle painted red, i. e. , Red-Look- 

 ing Water, or Pink River). Turtle River ran from north to south. 

 It did not have much timber, but there were many cat-tails, tall grass, 

 willows, and numberless birds — cranes, ducks, geese, and other species 

 of water-fowl. The current of Turtle River was moderate, but it was 

 deep. The people received their water at the head of it. 



Moon, after pointing to the camp-circle, took his wife around to 

 the four main directions of the camp, and showed her the earth below. 

 "See, that camp-circle near that big river. You are from that camp. 

 There is another one. See how nicely they look from here. Let us 

 go over there," said Moon. So they both went and stopped. "Say, 

 wife, come here. Look, there is another camp-circle. That is 

 very nice," said Moon. Thus, the eloped wife saw big camp-circles 

 below. The couple did not go to Moon's parents for some time, but 

 occupied their time in viewing the land. Finally they walked to the 

 old folks, who had pitched their tipi in the center of lodges (nSriahta- 

 baa, center-place-of-lodges or camp-circle, meaning, "on red side"), 

 and entered proudly. 



The eloped couple seated themselves "on red side" or center of 

 lodge. "Well, dear child, I am glad that you have returned safely. 

 I am very much pleased with my daughter-in-law," said the mother. 

 "Yes, she is beautiful and has very striking features," said the father, 

 quietly. The mother, who had made different wearing apparel during 



