Oct., 1903. Arapaho Traditions — Dorsey and Kroeber. 107 



again. "Oh, say, stop, Nih'a"9a" ! You are too swift for us. We 

 think that ytcu are giving- us a poor chance for the women. Had you 

 not better put a heavier weight on your ankles and wrists," said the 

 young men. "All right ! You may fasten on the weights if you desire.'' 

 said Niha'^ga". "Oh, Nih'a"9a" is light and very swift, therefore he 

 can surely outrun all of us,'' said the young men in earnest voices. So 

 finally they began the race again to the camp, the young men taking the 

 lead, while Nih'a"?a" stopped and began to untie the stones and rocks. 

 "Oh, partners, remember my tipi stands in the center and bears the 

 painting outside of a pipe of peace, but you can run for the other 

 places," said he in a loud voice. The young men, running as fast as 

 they could, did not pay any attention to him. When the young men had 

 reached the tipis and selected every cne, Nih'a^ga'^ came in panting. 

 He went to the painted tipi and peeped in and saw the woman with a 

 man. N,ih'a°Qa° told the man in the tipi that he had once l>een in the 

 tipi but that he had run away. Then the owner of the tipi ordered 

 Ni!h"a"(;a" away. He was greatly disappointed and walked away to the 

 east part of the camp and came to a well tanned tipi, which was owned 

 by an old woman. He went in and found the old woman sitting alcue. 

 "Well, grandson, where are you going?" said the old woman. "Oh, 

 no, old woman ! Don't you know that I am your brother-in-law?" said 

 N.ih'a°Qa'^. 



So instead of having the first choice for a wife, Nih'a°^a" married 

 this old woman. — D. 



Told by Cut-Nose. 



52. — Nih'a'^ca^ and the Mice's Sun Dance.' 



Nih'a^qa" was out on the prairie. As he was going he came to 

 a sun-dance. He went up close ; the drum was sounding softly, and he 

 could hear the shouting. "Ya, let me look at the dance," he said. There 

 was continuah shouting from inside an elk-skull lying there on the 

 prairie. Then Nih'a"ga° shoved his head in at the hole in the skull. The 

 mice that had been playing inside all ran out, and N'h'a"Qa" stuck fast 

 with his head in the skull. He felt aimlessly about him. "What kind 

 of a tree are you ?" he said to whatever he touched. ' This is 'dog- 

 wood,' " it was said to him. Then he went on again. "My friend, what 

 kind of a tree are you?" he asked. "This is 'bow-wood' '"' "Indeed!" 

 Then he asked again : "My friend, what kind of a tree are you ?" "This 

 is 'Pawnee-wood.' "* "Well, I am getting closer [to the river]," he said. 



• Informant A. Text. 

 » Black-jack. 

 » Dogwood. 



