May, 1903. The Arapaho Sun Dance — Dorsey. 221 



my wife when I saw her, and both of them were searching for fire- 

 wood," said Moon. "I am very proud of your success, but I want 

 both of you to know this in order that you may be careful, and 

 besides, prepare for delivery. The fact is, I don't like the method of 

 sudden deliveries, and have decided to remedy it. It is not humane 

 for women to give birth unexpectedly. They must know the first sign 

 of the offspring. It would not be justifiable to have improper births. 

 Women do not want to give birth from an insect, beast, or by any 

 other animal; therefore, remember this, my dear son, that you may 

 count that the time for your wife from the time she has menstrual flow 

 to the time of delivery, shall be eight months of pregnancy. In 

 this way the child may be brought to life in nine months. In the 

 beginning the child preceded in the flow of blood, but toward the last, 

 or at the outcome, the greater flow of blood shall precede the child, 

 from the first to the tenth finger. Bear in mind that the time shall be 

 from the last quarter to the first quarter of the moon — from the day 

 you started away from us to the day you finally arrived," said the 

 father to Moon. This was through the kindness and generosity of 

 the father and mother upon the children. Sun and Moon. 



The young child was growing rapidly, for his father provided 

 fresh beef for him. The human wife was very industrious and quick 

 to learn. Seeing the old woman at various kinds of work, she soon 

 picked up an extensive knowledge of the mode of life. When her 

 husband started off to hunt she would make sinew thongs for tahnirig. 

 She would make sinew threads for her mother-in-law and herself. 

 When her husband saw her working on the sinew; industriously, she 

 said with anxiety, blowing her nose and placing the things in front of 

 hier: "I am making these strings preparatory to tanning the hides that 

 you have brought over. I have already given some to your mother." 

 "When I am gone away from home if you should go out for exercise 

 with your digging-stick, I want you to be careful about yourself. 

 There are good eating foot-potatoes, •elk-potatoes, hog-potatoes, and 

 four-potatoes. (The foot-potato is a long pointed root, therefore it is 

 called foot or leg potato; the elk-potato is an oblong plant or root 

 which is somewhat whitish in color. The hog-potato is a black root; 

 it has a dark skin, with real white seed, something like a turnip in 

 shape; the four-potato has on each root or plant two seeds, three 

 seeds, four seeds, five seeds, six seeds, and seven seeds.) But there 

 are some dead withered plants in some localities, that I do not want 

 you to touch. Remember that when you get enough potatoes you are 

 to come home at once. I think you are somewhat lonesome, or 

 worried, so it is best for you to get out and amuse your boy," said 



