152 Field Columbian Museum — Anthropology, Vol. V. 



that of a human being. The beaver child breathed for a short time be- 

 fore it was cleansed, and soon died. 



At another time when she gave birth to another child, it was a 

 beaver again, but this time it didn't have a tail. So queer and strange 

 were the children that she was blessed with, that common sweat-lodges 

 were erected for her "purification," from troublesome animals. 



Years and years passed on the Wind River, without a child, until 

 a few years ago, when she gave birth to a baby, who grew up to be a big 

 boy, and was soon sent to school. In the summer time when the chil- 

 dren took their vacation this boy of course went home. The Wind 

 River was then high and since boys are mischievous, they went swim- 

 ming at the swift current, and this boy was drowned. So this woman 

 could not raise any children and she is still living. 



It is said that restrictions might have been placed upon her by the 

 beaver and that she might have disobeyed them voluntarily, and there- 

 fore, lost her last boy. The beaver bewitched her at the start, but lastly 

 gave her a real boy, but it did not live long. 



A good many medicine-men follow the beavers in their doctor- 

 ing. — D. 



Told by River-Woman. Cf. No. 77. 



80. — Bear, the Six Brothers and the Sister. 



There was a camp-circle of people. A party of young men went 

 out on the war-path, seven in number. After they were gone for some 

 time. Bear came to camp and destroyed all the people except one girl. 

 Bear took possession of her and she became the servant of Bear. The 

 girl would get the vessel and go after water from time to time. 



One day the war-party returned, but did not see anybody except a 

 girl going to the river after water. They met the girl and questioned her 

 of the trouble. The girl said that Bear had come to camp and destroyed 

 the people, and that Bear was suspicious of her. The girl was offered 

 meat for subsistence by the young men. She declined the favor, because 

 Bear always questioned her if anybody met her at the river. They told 

 her to watch them performing a way to kill a rabbit. They placed a 

 rabbit a short 'distance and told her to hit it. She struck the rabbit and 

 knocked it over. "Now this is the way you must do when Bear asks 

 you about the rabbit,'' said the young man. She then took it home and 

 Bear at once felt suspicious about the rabbit. "Where did you get the 

 rabbit? I know that somebody gave it to you," said Bear. "No! I 

 took the stick and struck the rabbit and killed it." She placed the rabbit 



