Oct., 1903. Arapaho Traditions — Dorsey and Kroeber. 235 



the disposition of the chiefs' bodies, they went to the Cottonwood and 

 cut it down. At the foot of this hollow snag they found the skeletons 

 of their chiefs. The people, seeing that Raw-Gums was an extra- 

 ordinary man, and on account of the recent mourning among the peo- 

 ple, broke camp and left the locality. 



When the people had deserted the place, an old woman, White- 

 Owl- Woman, came to the place. "Well, I am so glad to see you ; did 

 you see me coming?" said old White-Owl- Woman. "Yes, I am en- 

 joying myself on this old camp-ground," said Raw-Gums. "Let us 

 challenge each other to an exhibition of power. We will erect a blue 

 stem (grass) and burn it at the bottom. If this blade of grass falls 

 toward you, then you will have to seek for good food," said old White- 

 Owl-Woman. "All right, I am up to all kinds of fun," said Raw- 

 Gums. So old White-Owl-Woman made the fire and staked the blue 

 stem and started it to burn at the bottom. The blue stem burned and 

 fell toward Raw-Gums. He then at once got up and went to the de- 

 serted camping places and brought in a good dried beef, with some ten- 

 dejrloin fat and gave it to old White-Owl- Woman, who ate it. After 

 she had eaten the beef, she staked another blue stem by the fire and 

 started to burn it, and it fell toward her. She then got up and went 

 to the deserted places, and in a short time brought in tenderloin and 

 dried beef with thick fat, and gave it to Raw-Gums, who at once ate 

 it. Again she staked a blue stem by the- fire and it burned at the 

 bottom, falling towards the young man. Raw-Gums then got up and 

 went away to a deserted place and soon brought in a nice fat roll of 

 pemmican, mixed with berries, and gave it to old White-Owl-Woman, 

 who at once ate it. "You are a good one, grandchild," said old White- 

 Owl-Woman, who at the same time broke off another blue stem, staked 

 it and burned it at the bottom. This stem fell toward old White-Owl- 

 Woman. "Well, I cannot help it, the blue stem burqed and fell over 

 to me. So I have to go out and provide the food," said she. So she 

 went about the deserted places and soon brought in a delicious roll of 

 pemmican, mixed with berries, and delivered it to Raw-Gums. Raw- 

 Gums received it and ate it with much relish. 



"Now, dear grandchild, I shall ask some more questions, and if 

 you can answer them I then shall consider that you are a powerful man 

 with intelligence. In the first place, can you tell me what is the most 

 essential article?" said old White-Owl-Woman. "Well, there is only 

 one article which I consider to be essential for all purposes, and that is 

 a moccasin," said Raw-Gums. "That is very good, dear grandchild," 

 said old White-Owl-Woman. Raw-Gums was impatient. "Say, dear 



