Oct., 1903. Arapaho Traditions — Dorsey and Kroeber. 131 



certain length of time," said the woman. "These creatures have a flag 

 on the top of the hill, which represents geese. Whenever a person goes 

 to them these geese cackle, which gives warning to them. Now I want 

 you to wait until the time comes for me to go over there. I shall give 

 you my own body, so that you can reach the place, and I want you to 

 carry a knife with you." The time finally came when this woman 

 w^as to go to her husbands. '"Now you may carry this pair of moccasins, 

 and if these geese should undertake to cackle for warning, you may 

 raise your hand and they will recognize the sign or motion as from me. 

 There are seven of them. The oldest is my husband. You must be 

 careful with the least one, he is very cunning, and will surely notice 

 anything out of place." There was a certain time when the oldest man 

 had intercourse with his wife, and after that, she returned to the iron 

 tipi. "Try and have him lie with you before the time ; bear this in 

 mind," the woman said to the young man. Before starting off from 

 the iron tipi, he was instructed to stay as short a time as possible. 



So Sleepy- Young-Man was dressed in female style, just like the 

 woman. This woman touched him all over his body, making him- re- 

 semble her in appearance. Thus, decked in female dress, he went off 

 toward the dwelling place of the cannibals, and when he reached tha 

 last divide he saw a big thick grove of timber along the creek in the 

 distance. To one side there was a big hill, where the signal flag was 

 kept by the cannibals. When the geese saw him coming, they raised 

 up from the ground and started to cackle, but he raised his hand up 

 and down, when the geese ceased making the noise. When the canni- 

 bals heard the signal they rushed out of the tipi to make a charge upon 

 the trespasser. They were about to make the charge, when he raised 

 a pair of moccasins to them. The cannibals stood looking at him. The 

 least one said, "That is my sister-in-law, coming over with my pair of 

 moccasins." So they all went back into the tent. This young man 

 was directed to take his seat with the oldest one, when he went in. So 

 he went in and seated himself by the oldest one. They all felt glad to 

 see him bring a pair of moccasins. 



While they were sitting inside the tipi this least boy cannibal kept 

 watching the movements of his sister-in-law, looking carefully over 

 her body. They were having a delightful meal, chattering away, when 

 ' this boy remarked before the others : (Just at this time, the woman 

 back at the iron tipi discovered that she had forgotten to change the 

 muscles of the young man into hers.) "Well, what a funny wife you 

 folks have got with you, she has arm bands (muscles), look at her!' 



