Oct., 1903. Arapaho Traditions — Dorsey and Kroeber. 179 



84. — Tender-foot Woman. 



There was a camp-circle near the river, from which seven young 

 men went out on the war-path. One of them stepped on a rough plum- 

 bush thorn, but did not seem to pay any attention to it. Night came 

 on and the party mg^de camp. In the morning, after eating their meal 

 of buffalo meat, the man made a complaint of a swollen foot and leg. 

 When his companions knew that he could not go any farther on account 

 of his foot, they decided to stay until he got well. In the mean time, 

 the young men would go out after game for subsistence. They were 

 vv-ell supplied with food and hides, and provided themselves with other 

 utensils. The party managed affairs wonderfully well and had a lipi 

 of their own. 



One day when the party was in search of game in all directions, 

 this man thought it advisable to open the sore. So he took a bone awl 

 and lanced it. To his surprise, there came out of the sore place a baby, 

 which was a girl, crying. The man tore shirts and blankets into pieces, 

 wrapped the baby, and made it comfortable. When the others re- 

 turned, one by one, just as soon as they saw the baby, they said, "I 

 am glad to have a daughter," wishing her to grow up. They fell in 

 love with the baby. Gradually the baby grew up and became a girl. 

 When the young men went out in search of game she would sit down 

 and make things, especially doing a great deal of quill work. 



One day the party warned her of a certain temptation. They said 

 to her, "li you hear of people playing the game of shinny, do not go 

 out, do not even look toward the door. Be sure and do not pay any at- 

 tention to the players !" She sat in the tipi working on a robe, and there 

 came a noise at a distance. She knew what it was, but did not move to 

 see. The second and third time the game was near the tipi, and the 

 people (women) were playing hard. Some would go to the door and 

 ask her to go out, and take part in the game. "If you do not come 

 out, Tenderfoot, the buffalo bull will get mad. He is waiting for you to 

 go out and enter the game," said the players.^ Still the girl was busy 

 doing quill work on her robe. The fourth time there came a big noise, 

 howling, talking in front of and around the tipi. All of a sudden there 

 came the ball through an opening by the door and lighted on top of her 

 work. Without due thought, she snatched it up and threw it toward the 

 door, j^way she flew out with the ball, with her robe on, leaving her 

 work behind. "Well, Tenderfoot, Buffalo-Bull is over there in the 

 center of the herd ; he wants you." So she went and became his wife. 

 Since Buffalo-Bull was the leader and controlled the herd, he was very 



