Oct., 1903. Arapaho Traditions — Uorsey and Kroeber. 151 



the other side, a steep bank of rock, a cliff ; the water was deep. "Now," 

 said the snake, "I am goiilg to stay in that deep water against the bank, 

 and so please tell my folks of the place. Whenever they wish to cross 

 the river, either above or below, tell them to throw intestines into the 

 river, for remembrance of me. I shall see that they cross it in safety. 

 Tell my folks that I came this far with you, that you saw me start off 

 and dive into the water, out of your sight." The snake started, big as 

 he was, into this river and stayed there. 



The movements of the snake indicate creeks or rivers. — D. 



Told by Black-Horse. Also found among the Pawnee. 



79.— The Woman who had Beaver Children. 



Early in the morning, two women went to the river after a vessel 

 of water to cook with. Both of them were only recently married and 

 were yet in active spirits. On the other side of the river was a steep 

 precipice and it was a deep hole below. One of them stooped and dipped 

 the vessel. Just as she dipped the vessel in the water, streaks of sun 

 rays were reflected from the deepest place on the other side of the 

 river and struck her. 



Her companion, knowing that great wrong was done to her by 

 some bad spirit, told her to empty the vessel and that they both should 

 go back without water. But the woman said that she did not feel any 

 kind of contact, and she would carry her vessel of water, because if 

 she did not do so her husband might accuse her of infidelity. The 

 other woman was older, and thought it best not to dip her vessel for 

 water, for she feared something might happen to her. On the way 

 they criticised each other's behavior. The woman who brought some 

 water felt satisfied, but her companion was uneasy for her. 



Some time afterwards, this woman who dipped for the vessel of 

 water gave notice to her mother that she was pregnant for the first 

 time. According to the custom the mother gave her occasional exercise 

 and made her rise early, until finally she was taken sick. 



It happened that this companion had had some experience in taking 

 care of sick women. She was then sent for and on her arrival found 

 that she was fainting, as the others did not know how to handle her. 

 She took out her medicine and made a tea of weeds and gave her a good 

 drink of it and had others vomit her. 



Finally, the woman gave birth to a young baby which resembled 

 a beaver. The body was somewhat flat and stiff, and the fingers were 

 like the claws of the beaver. It had a small flat tail, but its skin was like 



