138 Field Columbian Museum — Anthropology, Vol. V. 



could not help but send two of my young men after 3-ou. Now if you 

 want to see your folks again, I shall have to ask you for intercourse, 

 a'nd then I will tell you of myself, power and place, and so on, with the 

 others here. Consider this tipi, outside and inside, and the people with 

 all their medical properties. That man belongs to the Beaver family, 

 and the next one is of the Otter family, and so on" (calling each one 

 after the name cf some tribe of animals). Sitting in front of the med- 

 icine bags were lizards, frogs, turtles, fishes of various kinds, snakes 

 and other water animals. When these men turned to animals, they 

 looked at me sharply, and all in reverent mood. 



So we had intercourse, thus saving myself to a certain extent. 

 ''Now, my dear woman, I want you to listen to me carefully and sin- 

 cerely," said this man to me. "You must bear in mind that I am the 

 owner of rivers and live in different localities against the steep l)anks 

 w^here water is deep. There can be more than one of my kind, but 

 those will be at the springs and small lakes. Be sure not to eat any 

 fish. If you are going to the river to bathe, tell your companions that 

 unless you go and bathe first, they will be drowned. If your compan- 

 ions ^should not believe your warning, they will be drowned. Go in 

 and take a good bath first, then they can go in the water. 



"When your people wish to show some respect and reverence, have 

 them cut off small pieces of their skins. Let them be as many as they 

 wish and tie them in a bundle and place it on a small stick. This they 

 must thrust close to the mouth of springs and above or on the side of 

 the steep banks where water is deep. When they leave the place, I shall 

 appear to such and receive their offerings and pra3ers, and in return I 

 shall see that they cross the rivers in safety, and swim in the rivers and 

 creeks with their children with no trouble. Remember this, and tell it 

 to your people when you get back. 



"If your people won't do this, then there is another way in which 

 ihey can show their respect. Tell them that they can tie a red flannel 

 to a bush or tree above the spring. When the people cut their skins off 

 in small spots on their wrists, and get them tied in small bundles, let 

 them point the stick to the head of the river and lastly to the mouth 

 of it, praying, saying to me, in good faith, 'My Grandfather, Last 

 Child, I have cut seven pieces off my wrist, hear me wath your tender 

 mercies. May my life be prolonged ; so with my relatives and friends ; 

 and lead me into prosperity and happiness ! During the day may I gain 

 the good will of everybody in contact with me ; also when I sleep at 

 night, that I may be protected from injury and harm, and drink that 

 sweet water which comes from you ; that wherever I drink water, it may 



