130 Field Columbian Museum — Anthropology, Vol. V. 



You have just wandered off, haven't you? It is a shame that your 

 folks should allow you to wander off by yourself !" said the woman. 

 "Well, my grandmother, my father rebuked me so much about the 

 cannibals that I have ventured to see them. When I was yet asleep 

 on my bed, he would pull the blanket from me, and say to me : 'Get up ! 

 Pretty as you are, aren't you ashamed to sleep till this time of day ! 

 The people are criticising me in regard to your habits, and I can't en- 

 dure it any longer. You have got to get up earlier than this ! This 

 won't do for a man of your age ! How can you ever get to the cannibals 

 if you continue this habit of lying abed late!' He did this every morn- 

 ing, until I started out to this camp-circle for better information about 

 those creatures.'" The old woman reached back of the bed and pro- 

 cured some remnants of beef and tallow and gave them to him to eat. 

 ''My grandmother, do tell me what direction I will have to go to get 

 there and how far it is from here?" said Sleepy-Young-Man. "Well, 

 my dear grandson, when you reach that divide, you will see. down in 

 the valley, a big creek with thick timber, the course of the stream being 

 toward the sunrise, and off to the side is a big hill where the wife of 

 these cannibals lives. When you reach the hill, and find the dwelling 

 place, appear as humble as you can. Offer your prayers to her with a 

 sincere desire and with a sense of security. She generally helps her 

 husbands in everything," said the old woman. 



So he started off and reached the divide, and from there he went 

 toward the place weeping (praying) for mercy. Finally he reached 

 the hill, and found the tipi, which was covered with thick sheets of 

 iron. It had two openings, one at the top and the other at the bottom 

 (the door). The tipi was shining-bright to him, and he went around 

 it four times weeping for mercy. This woman was inside of this iron 

 tipi by herself, and heard Sleepy- Young-Man weeping for help. "Well ! 

 This is the first time a person has come to me imploring mercy. Come 

 in !" said the woman. * Well, what do you want, young man ?'' said she. 

 "I was at home, and my father rebuked me so much about the cannibals 

 that I ventured to come out here. Of course I am young and possess 

 no courage whatever, but perhaps you can advise me h(5W to get to 

 your husbands." said this young man. The bones of human beings 

 were lying inside and outside of this iron tipi. "Well, I see that you 

 are in a pitful condition. I shall help you the best that I can," said the 

 woman. "When you go over from the divide, you will see a big thick 

 grove of timber in the wide valley. Along the edge of the creek is the 

 dwelling" place of my husbands. I make special trips out and stay a 



