Oct., 1903. Arapaho Traditions — Dorsey and Kroeber. 81 



flesh, which reminded him of his experience. He at once furnished 

 them with food, and the wife and children ate it. All got enough that 

 day. 



"Now, my wife, I am going to kill Nili'a"ga''," said the man. So 

 he entered the parfieche, which was empty, and partly closed himself 

 in, having taken with him a knife. He lay in the parfleche at the side 

 of the wall, close to the bed. watching and waiting for Nih'a"<;a° to 

 arrive. 



Nih'a"Qa" came and took his seat with his wife, awaiting a meal. 

 He was first given the best food and lastly the waste was given to the 

 children to eat. The children did not eat. "Did you feed them with 

 decent food? They don't eat that food. I want you to tell me," said 

 the husband angrily. While Nih''a"Qa° was making trouble, this man 

 in the parfleche had loosened the strings and gradually worked him- 

 self out. He at once jumped on the cruel husband, stabbed him, and 

 killed him. The body was cut up in several pieces and thrown outside. 



Thus Nih'a°Qa° was killed, but he became alive again. He then 

 walked off and came to a big lake and stopped to rest. ^'Now I want 

 to know what will become of my children after they die ? whether they 

 will come back to life or not?" said he. So he took up a stick and 

 threw it in the water, and it came back on the surface. "Well, the 

 people will come back again," said he. He took a buffalo chip and 

 threw it in the water and it came out on the surface. "Well, the 

 people will come back after they die," said he. He took the pith of 

 wood and threw it in the water and it came out on the surface ; and he 

 said, "The white people will come back again," He then went oflf 

 a little distance and took a pebble and threw it in the water, and it 

 remained under the water. "That is the way it shall be with my chil- 

 dren. They will be gone forever; because this earth is too small. If 

 they should live forever, they would be crowded, but this pebble 

 answers well." Thus the people lived to a certain period and died 

 forever. 



The peak reduced its height after the man was brought down by 

 the flying geese. The length of life was decided by Nih'a^^a", by 

 throwing sticks into the water; when they came up to the surface, it 

 meant that the people would live forever. But though it was the wish of 

 the people to live long, when they threw the stone into the water it re- 

 maind below, and thus approved of the disappearance of the people. 



This story also refers to the manner of treatment to be shown 

 by a stepfather and stepmother toward their children. The husband 



