Oct., 1903. Arapaho Traditions — Dorsey and Kroeber. 261 



112. — The Man who brought back the Dead Body/ 



A party of the best warriors, all of them good men, went out from 

 a tribe. All of them were killed in war. Among them had been a 

 young man whose sister was very beautiful. When it was reported 

 that the party had been exterminated, many of the people cried over the 

 dead men. Then the girl announced: "Any one who can bring me 

 even the least bone of my brother, so that I may see him again, shall 

 become my husband.'' This was known all over the camp-circle, but no 

 one attempted the deed except a very ugly man. Without telling any 

 one where he was going, he started. He was away many months and 

 had about given up his purpose, when he resolved to make one more 

 attempt. Starting to go on, he finally came to the place where the 

 battle had been. He went from one scaffold to another and asked 

 each of the dead whether he was the desired person. Coming to a 

 certain one, he heard the groaning of a person, and asked: "Are you 

 the brother of that girl?" "Yes," came the answer. "Please come 

 down," he said to the dead man. The dead person consented, and 

 slowly let himself down by one of the poles of the scaffold to the 

 ground. Then the man carried him back to the camp-circle. He 

 dropped the entire corpse before the door of the girl. Thus she had re- 

 ceived what she wished. So she put up a tent, dressed herself beau- 

 tifully, prepared food, and invited all her friends and relatives. When 

 all were seated in the tent, she had an old man cry out for the ugly man. 

 He came, and was taken into the tent and sat down. Then the old man 

 said to him : "Young man, you have en(iured hardships for many 

 months ; you have succeeded in bringing back this corpse, the body of 

 her brother, so that she can see it once more before it is buried in the 

 ground. Here are her friends and relatives sitting about, and yours 

 are looking on. Your wife is sitting by you. This is your tent and your 

 food." So he married her. — K. 



1 13. — The Sioux Woman who acted as a Man. 



Among the Sioux there was a woman whose parents were good, 

 and kept her dressed finely ; but she wanted to dress as a man. Her 

 father was displeased at her immodesty. A war-party started against 

 the Pawnees, and she went along, wearing man's clothing. She struck 

 many enemies, was unwoimded, and achieved much honor. After the 

 return of the party, the Sun-dance was made. The woman said: "I 



' Inlormants J. 



