TRADITIONS OF THE OSAGE. 



i. — The Buffalo and the Rabbit. 



The Buffalo and the Rabbit were once living together in the 

 woods. While going around, they found a female Squirrel, living 

 in a tree. So one day these two men went to see the Squirrel, but 

 she would have nothing to do with them. 



So one time the Rabbit went by himself to talk to the Squirrel. 

 The Rabbit said, "You like that old Buffalo? I can just do anything 

 with him. But the Squirrel said to the Rabbit, " Just as if you 

 could do anything w)ith that Buffalo!" "Well," said the Rabbit, 

 "I will ride him up here to-morrow." But the Squirrel laughed 

 at him. 



The Rabbit went home and played sick. When the Buffalo 

 came back he saw the Rabbit with his head tied up with a rag, and 

 he said to him, "Brother, what is the matter with you?" And the 

 Rabbit said, "Brother, I am awfully sick." And the Buffalo said, 

 "Too bad, brother. What can I do to help you?" The Rabbit said, 

 "I want to take a ride and go by where the Squirrel lives ; then 

 I may get better, if I see her." So the Rabbit saddled up the Buf- 

 falo and put a big bell on him and a red feather on his tail and 

 told the Buffalo that he would like to have a whip. So the Buffalo 

 got for him a dog whip, and they started off. The bell began to 

 ring just before they came in sight of the Squirrel. So the Squirrel 

 saw them coming, and said, " Whv, look at that old Rabbit riding 

 the Buffalo!" 



Just as he rode up, the Rabbit said, "See what I told you." 

 And he began to whip the Buffalo with the whip. Then the Buf- 

 falo bucked and kicked, and the Rabbit jumped and ran into the 

 brush, and the Buffalo ran right after him. 1 



2. — The Grasshopper and the dancing Turkeys. 

 "Grandmother, let's allow the Turkeys to have a dance," said 

 the Grasshopper}. So he called the Turkeys, and they all came to 

 dance. After they had started to dance, the Grasshopper told them 

 all to shut their eyes. So they shut their eyes, and the Grasshopper 

 broke their necks, one at a time. But one of the Turkeys hap- 



1 Also Pawnee. 



O 



