I20 Field Columbian Museum — Anthropology, Vol. VIII. 



30. SKELETON WOMAN AND THE HUNTER.' 



Alfksai! A long time ago the people were living in Mishongnovi, 

 where now are the old ruins of the ancient village of Mishongnovi. In 

 the village lived a very poor youth by the name of Koch6ilap Tiyo 

 (Fire-Keeping-Up- Youth), though just why he was called that way 

 the tale does not say. He would usually sit in a corner of the 

 kiva. When the people were spinning they would throw away the 

 little pieces of impure wool that they picked from their piles of wool, 

 and of these the youth mentioned had finally made himself a bed, on 

 which he would sleep. 



One time when it was winter and very cold, there was snow on the 

 ground. The young men of the village were on the hunt, while the 

 older men were in the kiva. They asked the youth why he had not 

 gone along on the hunt. "Yes," he said, "I have no moccasins." 

 "Well, you ought to be with them on the hunt," they said. "But I 

 have no moccasins here," he replied' again. The old men said, "You 

 go into the houses and perhaps you will find a sheep pelt hanging 

 before an opening. Bring that here." So he went and found one 

 and brought it into the kiva. They soaked it in water and made him 

 a pair of moccasins. They then sent the youth to find an old piece 

 of blanket (n6m6), of which they made him some leggings or socks. 

 After he had wrapped up his feet and had put on his moccasins they 

 gave him an old patched blanket, which he also put on and tied a 

 string around the blanket for a belt. They then gave him a bow and 

 arrows and some throwing sticks. Hereupon they explained to him 

 all about the difference between the rabbit tracks and those of other 

 animals, as he had never been on the hunt before. 



So he left the village and commenced to hunt. By and by he 

 could hear the shoutings of the other hunters and he went in their 

 direction. Soon he saw tracks in the snow and began to think that 

 perhaps this is a rabbit track. He saw where the rabbit had been 

 sitting and so he finally concluded that he had discovered the tracks 

 of the rabbit and followed them for a long distance. Some of the 

 hunters who had found something began to return home, but he fol- 

 lowed the tracks. Finally he came upon a jack-rabbit who was very 

 tired. Him he killed and he was so happy over his first game that 

 he stroked the rabbit for quite a while. He then tied a string to its 

 legs, and taking it on his back he thought of returning. It was now 

 getting dark and it commenced to rain. He started back, and after 



' Told by Sikdhpiki (Shupaulavi) . 



