362 Field Columbian Museum — Anthropology, Vol. V. 



it away with his right foot, so that it almost caught on fire. She. of 

 course, being alone, took it back pleasantly and put it in the parfleche, 

 and hung it up again. She then took out from well-quilled, round bags, 

 a red looking (turkey red) kit-fox skin, and spread it nicely in front of 

 him and his meat she placed upon it. "Now, sir, thai is the best hide I 

 have, and I am quite sure it will be satisfactory," said she, turning away 

 and taking her seat again. "No! No! I don't use that kind of hide for 

 my bowl," said he, rather sharply, and dusting his hands and body. 

 He again pushed it away with his right foot, making deep grunts. "Oh, 

 I don't know what we have that is excellent for a bowl," said she, silent- 

 ly, as she took the hide and put it away. 



Finally she reached for the yellow-calf bundle and she took from it 

 a sacred white-bufifalo robe, and laid it carefully and reverently across in 

 front of him. Placing the meat or food, she said to him, "Now, sir, this 

 is my best and most sacred article, and I lay it before you for your 

 bowl." She barely stretched herself. "No! No! That is not the kind 

 that I use for a bowl," said he hastily, and moving toward the fire. 

 Sadly, but reverently, she took it, carefully folded it, put it back into 

 the calf's hide bag, and hung it on the lean-back. "Well, what have I 

 got inside the tipi that is holy for a bowl !" said she silently, taking her 

 seat again. 



She went out and brought in sticks of wood and stirred the fire. 

 After some moments in deep thought, she reached behind the bed, and 

 from one of the bags she took out a handsome dress of well tanned elk- 

 skin, covered thickly with good-sized elk teeth. After brushing it, she 

 laid it down across in front of him and put the food on it. "Now, sir, 

 that is the best article that I have personally," said she, embarrassed. 

 "Well, woman, that time you guessed close to the right kind of bowl, 

 which I use. Very close guess!" said he, smiling a little and coughing 

 slightly. "I do wonder what he wants for a bowl," said she, taking 

 her beautiful elk-tooth dress away. She put the dress back in the bag, 

 securely. Finally, although it was rather hard, she took off the dress 

 she was wearing, and spread it across in front of him. "Now, sir, here 

 is your meat on my own dress. Eat your meal," said she, partly turn- 

 ing from him and then sat down. "Woman, you are getting closer to 

 the right kind. Oh, what a close guess you have made," said he. with 

 a loud sneeze. This woman,' feeling somewhat ashamed of her condi- 

 tion, drew the dress to herself and put it on again. 



For some time she wondered and wondered what would be the right 

 kind of a bowl. The visitor at this time was somewhat in a pleasant 

 humor, and sat still, looking anxiously at her. All at once, she took 



