Oct., 1903. Arapaho Traditions — Dorsey and Kroeber. 313 



of life, and quite anxious to do something for the folks rushed right 

 out to his sister's tipi. Entering it first, he said to her, "Oh, 

 dear sister, while your husband is gone, my father sends me to say this, 

 Can you cut a strip of good fat muscle and give it to me for our 

 parents? The old man says that they want to use it in greasing their 

 dusty faces and chapped hands," said the little brother pitifully. "Oh, 

 I cannot do it, brother, for he will surely notice it. Tell them that it 

 is an impossibility to do it at this time, for he may be on the way home 

 now," said she, still looking on her work. This little boy of course got 

 disgusted, but took it coolly. So he ran back to his parents and said, 

 as he stood with watering eyes by the fireside, "Sister says that she is 

 afraid to do it, for he might notice it." 



Shortly after the son-in-law returned. These people did not say 

 much or show signs of merriment, for they were very, hungry. After 

 the son-in-law had seated himself on the bed and glanced around and 

 behind the bed, he said to his wife : "I want you to go out and tell 

 those people that I have again killed an animal, and it is lying on the 

 side of that rough divide. Tell them again that I want it skinned 

 nicely and delivered in front of our tipi." So she went out and walked 

 over to the old folks' tipi, which had no sign of smoke above. 

 Entering it roughly and standing by the fireplace, at the same time 

 acting scornfully, she said to them: "]M[y husband has just returned 

 and reported to me that he has again killed an animal. It is still lying 

 on the side of that rough divide. He wants you both to take your 

 knives and go over there to skin it and bring it in front of our tipi. 

 Be sure not to cut up the hide, and especially the fat." Although the 

 old folks were not in the mood to do anything, they got up and took 

 their knives and went out quietly. While walking to the place men- 

 tioned, they both encouraged each other not to waste or touch any part 

 of the beef, but wait patiently for their reward. Reaching the spot, 

 they smacked their lips, but refrained from eating the animal's flesh. 

 After having the beef all nicely skinned and dressed, they both packed 

 it and carried it in front of the son-in-law's tipi. Again there were no 

 words of gratitude uttered by the young man and his wife. Without 

 any stain of the animal's flesh they both entered into their own tipi. 

 wearied from heavy work. So the young wife went out and brought 

 in the whole beef and laid it by the door. After the husband had some- 

 what examined the flesh he said to his wife, who was yet busily sewing 

 up parfleches containing various kinds of dried beef : "You may take 

 all those small muscles and deliver them 'to your parents to roast in 

 the fire." So the wife hastily picked up the parts and carried them to 



