68 Field Columbian Museum — Anthropology, Vol. V. 



to the Bull-Bat. The Bull-Bat then flew up in the air, made a rush at the 

 stone and broke a piece off from it. "That's right ! Go for it, partner ! 

 You will soon become the hero if you break from it a bigger chunk." 

 Again the Bull-Bat flew away and circling about him in the air, made 

 another rush at the stone, this time breaking off a larger piece. 

 Nih'a"9a", thankful for this, began to feel encouraged. "That's right, 

 partner ! Go for him ! He is small and weak," said Nih'a^qa"^ to the 

 Bull-Bat. So the Bull-Bat flew up again and made another rush at the 

 stone, breaking off a great chunk. This time Nih'a°ga° began to move 

 his eyes and head and to look better. Said he, "Now, partner, please 

 get this stone off from my back. I cannot endure it much longer. 

 It is hurting me more and more. I know you will do it the next effort 

 you make." So the Bull-Bat flew away, and after circling about in 

 the air, made a furious attacTc upon the stone, so that it broke into 

 pieces. 



Nih'a^Qa'^then got up, and, drawing a deep sigh', addressed the 

 Bull-Bat : "Thank you ! I was well aware that you could perform 

 this wonderful deed, if you would only come to me. Now do not be 

 bashful. I would like to kiss you for helping me. Just step over here 

 anyhow and let me hug and kiss you." So the Bull-Bat approached 

 Nih'a'^qa", but instead of Nih'a"<;a"'s expressing his affection toward 

 the Bull-Bat, he seized its head and with both hands spread its mouth 

 wide open, remarking, "You are to remain this way always, find fault 

 as much as you will ! You should not have broken the stone in pieces, 

 it was a remedy for me, — good for bone aches." 



Some Indians will not eat rabbit, especially the women and war- 

 riors, it being the impression among women that should they eat this 

 animal they would be heavily burdened with children. In the first pro- 

 cess in tanning, the deposit of Nih'a^ga^ above referred to is used ; it is 

 also used in the painting of the buffalo robe. — D. ■ 



Told by Cut-Nose. Cf. Nos. 33 and 34; also No. 124, for pursuit by skull, and note i, No. 35. 

 In a Pawnee tale Coyote is pursued by a stone after having given it a knife instead of a robe. 



33. NlH'A^gA^ PURSUED BY THE ROLLING StONE.^ 



"Let us gamble who sleeps first (can keep awake longest)," said 

 Nih'a^qa"^ to the rabbit. "Very well," said the rabbit. The rabbit soon 

 began to sleep, but kept his eyes open. Niha'^ga'^ became sleepy, dozed 

 off, woke again. Thus he continued. Finally he really went to sleep. 

 Tum lepus e somno expergefactus pone N'h'a^ga'' subiit. penemque in 



' From informants J. 



