88 Field Columbian Museum — Anthropology, Vol, V. 



brought back the praying-bush to become a man. Everything 

 had been made for him; his bed and his clothing were ready. 

 The oldest sister put the stick on the bed and laid the clothing over 

 it. This she did at night when they went to bed. Early in the morn- 

 ing all the women got up. "Praying-young-man, get up and drink," 

 said the oldest sister. Praying-young-man did not move. "Get up 

 and wash yourself," she said to him, but he did not move. "Praying- 

 young-man, get up and eat." Then he moved a little. "Praying- 

 young-man, look for the horses." Then the young man stretched him- 

 self, raised his head, and sat up. He looked very fine on account of 

 his clothes. Then he ate breakfast with the women. Afterwards he 

 went out into the timber, looking for women, and brought them back 

 into the tent. "Nioi, she is not the right one. Take her back," his 

 sisters would say. In this way he brought in women many times, but 

 his sisters always sent them back. Nih'a"ga° heard about Praying- 

 young-man ; he stole his clothes and dressed himself in them, so that 

 he looked like him. Then he went where he had heard that there was 

 a woman whom Praying-young-man was to marry. "There he is ! At 

 last Praying-young-man comes," the people said. Then Nih'a"ga'' mar- 

 ried the woman. Meanwhile the sisters went into the timber, looking 

 for Praying- young-man ; they found him, but his clothing was gone 

 (he was a stick again). Then they heard that Nih'a"<;a° had married 

 the woman. — K. 



45. NlH'A^gA^ AND THE SeVEN SiSTERS. 



A man and wife had a beautiful daughter whom the young men 

 were trying to win for a wife. ' Another girl was born to this family 

 and was a very handsome baby. An ^ old woman came along one day 

 to the tipi of this man and wife, with the message of a young man. 

 relative to marriage. "Will you please listen to me; my grandchild 

 sent me over to ask you frankly that you consider fully on your part 

 that he desires to make an engagement for your daughter. Under- 

 stand that the whole family have taken careful thought for the boy ; 

 that we have given him an outline of his duties as a son-in-law, advising 

 him to conduct himself as a gentleman hereafter ; that whether or not 

 the wish be granted, he must be good to everybody and ready to ac- 

 commodate people in case of necessity ; that if he should become your 

 son-in-law, he is to do anything for you without being told, and 

 must keep himself straight while acting as a servant (these being the 

 requirements for a proposed marriage). So I wish to obtain your con- 



