Oct., 1903. Arapaho Traditions — Dorsey and Kroeber. 145 



him. His wife also looked and saw the animal winding around inside ; 

 but it did not look at her and blind her. It coiled around and around, 

 until it had the appearance of a snake, filling the inside of the tent 

 and enclosing the outside. The man said to his wife, "Get out a shell 

 gorget (beii), eagle feathers, red cloth, and the white buffalo robe.'' 

 As he lay on the bed, she took these things, and then said to the ani- 

 mal : "Now here, last child, (hita'^xusa"), is this gorget for your 

 neck. Here are feathers to be your headdress. They are clean. Here 

 is red cloth with a white edge to be your shirt. And here is a white 

 buffalo skin for your blanket." As she named these objects she prayed : 

 "Since you cover the inside and outside of the tent, become small enough 

 that I may place these things on you." Then the snake gradually grew 

 smaller and she put the objects on it. Then she said : "Since you have 

 miraculous power and are the owner of waters, I pray you to take 

 these gifts and benefit us and other human beings. When the water 

 is high and people want to cross rivers, and have given something to 

 you at the river or nearest spring, remember the gift I have given you 

 and let them cross without any danger." Then she took it up, went out 

 of the tent, and slowly carried it to the river where the swift current 

 washed the bank. There she put it into the water and it went under 

 with everything that was tied to it. "Remain there." she said. After 

 this, the man and his wife lived without fear or trouble. The animal 

 was a hiintcabiit.' — K. 



75. — The Water Monster slain. 



Some years ago the Northern Arapaho were camping along the 

 Little Wind River, during the summer. They had just been placed sl 

 short time in that country, by the Department, to draw rations and 

 annuities with the Shoshoni. 



Toward noonday, two women started out after water, to cook 

 dinnier. Just as they came in view of the river, they saw at once in 

 the middle of the channel an animal's back. 



Being amazed at the curious looking object, they stopped to see it 

 plainly. The curious object lifted its head, began swimming up the cur- 

 rent and looked at the women. The twinkling of his eyes threw streaks of 

 flashes (like lightning) upon the women, which immediately hypno- 

 tized them. They dropped their pails and watched the monster, trying 

 to sink himself into the sand-bar. Since the river bed contained so many 

 pebbles and stones it was impossible for the monster to get out of sight. 

 It finally went into the sand-bar and made a ridge. 



> Cf. No. 6. 



