74 Field Columbian Museum— Anthropology, Vol. V. 



men were ordered to jump the stream ; whoever should Hght on the 

 water was to be the guilty one, was the order by the parents. Nib a^ga'' 

 was jumping the creek with much ease, long before the trial began. 

 All the young men jumped the stream, until this sasshechabihi came for 

 his turn. He jumped, and lighted in the center of the stream. "Oh ! 

 That is the guilty man," said the crowd, hitting him with clubs and 

 putting his head under water. "Agete, amici mei, hoc membrum est — " 

 said the little animal. "Oh! Stop people," said some. "Let us hear 

 what he says; it might be a different party," said others. "Ohi that is 

 a partner of mine, he worships me. that is all ; drown him, for he needs 

 to be punished," said Nih'a^ga"^. The fourth time, this animal called out 

 that 'Nih^a"<;a'^ was the guilty party, but Nih'a^ga'' had escaped. The 

 people ran after him, but, since he was a swift runner, he got away. — D. 



Told by Adopted. 



38. — NlH'A.'^gA'^ AND THE MoUSE.' 



The people had gathered for the ofiferings-lodge (sun-dance), and 

 it was cried out that the tents should be in a circle. The people began 

 to go, to get the trees, limbs, and branches that constitute the lodge. 

 There was a beautiful young girl that had long been unwilling to 

 marry. Now, as she was out gathering wood, she thought : *T will 

 marry at this gathering of the people. Then all will know that I am 

 married ; but at any other time the report would not be spread about." 

 When she came back the lodge was already erected. She went to an 

 old man and told him: "Nuntia me nupturam saltatori qui minimo 

 pene solis feriis inveniatur. Dum saltant, virum eligam." Quod cum 

 '•Nih'a"ca'' audisset ceciitcabihi (avem minimam) adiit eiusque penem 

 utendum rogavit. The bird answered, 'T want to enjoy myself looking 

 on; do not trouble me." Nih'a°Qa° then asked niha^niihi ("yellow- 

 bird"). This bird also said to him: "Do not trouble me. I want to 

 look at the dance." Nih'a'^ga'^ said, "I wish it only for a short time," 

 but the bird answered, "I want to look on without being disturbed. 

 I want to appear just as I am." Nih'a.''<;a'^ then saw a rabbit coming 

 to look at what was going on. "My friend," he said, "stop ! I want 

 to speak to you!" "What do you want, Nih'a''ga" ?" said the rabbit. 

 "Tuum penem utendum volo ut solis feriis saltare possim ; meum tu 

 habebis." "Minime ; meum tradere non possum" respondit lepus ; 'T 

 want to look on and see the dance. Do not trouble me." Then a mouse 

 came running near Nih a^ga'', who said to it, "Here, my friend, stop !" 

 But the mouse ran on. Then Nih'a^ga'^ caught it. "You are the one 



'From informants J. 



