iio Field Columbian Museum — Anthropology, Vol. V. 



it all off. He accidentally ran the knife into his head, which made it 

 bleed. 



So he started out again and finally reached his tipi. Just before he 

 got close to his tipi, he cried very bitterly. When he reached home he 

 told his wife that he was glad to see her again, saying, "They told me 

 that you were massacred by the enemy, so I went and mourned for you, 

 and for this reason you will notice I have cut off my hair short." 



Because Nih'a"ga" had his hair cut short as in mourning for His 

 family, the method has been followed by the Indians. — D. 



Told by Hawkan. Evidently a shorter version of No. 53. 



55. — NiH'A'^gA'^ CUTS HIS Hair.* 



Nih^a"ga" came to a camp. Two women were sitting outdoors, 

 sewing. As he passed by them, they said: ''Well, Nih'a^qa'*, where 

 are you going ? Come here, let us louse you. We will louse you a little 

 while." "But I am in a hurry, my sisters-in-law," said Niha"(;a". 

 "Listen, Nih'a"ga", come here ; we will louse you for a little while only." 

 "Well,,then, let it be/' said Nih'a"ga", "Am I right, my sisters-in-law — 

 am I to lay my head on your laps ?" ^ "Yes,' my brother-in-law 

 Nih'a"(;a", let it be as you wish. Come, sit down and put' down your 

 head." As he was being loused, he put his hands on them. "How 

 fat you are. I should like to do something dirty." "You speak ob- 

 scenely. You talk in vain, Niya"ga", they said to him. After a while, 

 as he was being loused, he gradually fell asleep. Soon he was snoring. 

 Then, "Come, my friend, go and get burrs," the women said to each 

 other. When they came back Nih a^qa" was still snoring. "Here are 

 lice for our brother-in-law ; or he can do without lice if he pleases," * 

 they said, and put the burrs in his hair. When they had put all the 

 burrs on his head they left the old man. After a while Nih'a"ga" woke 

 up. "Ugh ! It hurts ;" he said as he scratched his head. "I wonder 

 what it can be that is so sharp? How it hurts !" he said, and scratched 

 his head again. But the burrs only hurt him the more. Then Nih'a^qa" 

 got up. "What a fool I have been! What shall I do now?" he said. 

 He started at random down the river. After a while he came to a 

 tent. ' "Ah, Nih'a^ga", where are you going? You have curly hair 

 now!" "Yes, my hair is curly, — I have so many lice. That is why I 



' From a text by informant A. 



^Hiitcaawunan. 



^'Hahou, often equivalent to "thanks." 



* Hicabihin hantihii iteibeit nahawaeig hiintihii tciiteibit, 



