Oct., 1903. Arapaho Traditions — Dorsey and Kroeber. 141 



hereafter!" said the woman. "Well, my dear woman. I am sorry to 

 tell you that since I have no control of the monster at the spring. I do 

 not know how I can do the favor for you. But nevertheless, I shall try 

 and see what I can do. You may know that I belong to the river, 

 and if something had happened to you at the river, I would not hesi- 

 tate a moment. Well, since you are young, and seem pitiful, I will 

 take mercy on you," said Hairy-Face. 



This woman who had a strange being within her was unable to get 

 up or move around. The ninth month came on and she was heavy with 

 burden. She could not sit up or move her limbs. Her whole body was 

 entirely different in appearance. The arms and legs were swollen and 

 so also was the rest of her body. When this woman was taken sick, 

 she told her folks that they must go after Hairy-Face, for she had 

 prearranged with her to wait on her. So the folks went out and told 

 her about the woman's sickness. This woman, Hairy-Face, knew what 

 the trouble was and told the folks that she would be there in a short 

 time. 



When Hairy-Face arrived at the tipi and went in, she noticed that 

 there was indeed a big woman, sitting in a queer attitude. Jiairy-Face 

 made a tea out of some root or weed, which she gave for the woman 

 to drink and then painted her body and face in spots (merely touching 

 her with her painted finger, perhaps). She was placed in the usual 

 way and finally there came out a flow of blood, as the others thought 

 there would be. Finally the womb was empty and this Hairy- Face then 

 sat down and began searching for the infant. The other women listened 

 for the infant to cry, but there was no sign of a real baby. The inside 

 of the tipi was covered with water and the fire was put out by it. When 

 the water had soaked into the ground the folks lighted the tipi to see 

 the infant. Hairy-Face found the infant and hid it by covering it 

 with a sheet or blanket, which had been placed for her. The other 

 women could not see the infant and questioned among themselves. 

 Finally Hairy-Face lifted the cover and there was no baby, but an 

 animal with a slender body, short legs, feet like those of a cow. and 

 a long tail, while the body was spotted black and white. It had a short 

 forehead, but broad. The whole face was like that of a bull dog, but 

 there were no eyes. The women got frightened and went out, saying 

 that the woman had given birth to a small water monster. After they 

 had talked the matter over and quieted down, they went in again. 

 Hairy-Face had this infant hinichabbiti covered with a blanket, and 

 when these women had come in, she uncovered the infant and it dis- 

 appeared from sight. 



