Oct., 1903. Arapaho Traditions — Dorsey and Kroeber. 405 



yes ! When I struck your trail and followed it, I was so persuaded 

 that I wished to marry you at our greeting," said he as he spat out his 

 saliva on the ground. "Well, man, you are at liberty to take me if you 

 wish," said she, putting up her bag with sewing material. "Yes, I 

 will take you and go home with you," said the man. 



So she got up and with her husband started off toward a divide. 

 Reaching the divide, they saw a big river with thick timber, and up and 

 down the river were beautiful valleys and picturesque hills. After 

 quenching their thirst, they waded the river and landed at a big tipi 

 standing near the edge of the timber facing toward the sunrise. It 

 was late in the evening when they reached this tipi, which had a sun 

 disc at the back ; at the front also were four smaller discs, two on 

 each side. From the ear-flaps, down to the door, were two rows of 

 ornamental rattle pendants, and the door was well decorated with por- 

 cupine quills. Entering the tipi, the traveler was surprised to see a 

 good bed, well fixed and in good order. Night came on and they both 

 went to bed. 



Early in the morning, before sunrise, the wife got up from the bed 

 and went out, leaving the man still in bed; Shortly afterwards, the hus- 

 band awoke and felt for his wife, but she was gone. He then uncovered 

 his head and looked around and saw a buffalo cow grazing a few paces 

 from his bed, which was a buffalo wallow, (It is a small bunch of hair 

 from the animal, after rolling on the ground.) The tipi had dis- 

 appeared just as the woman went out of it. She of course changed 

 into a real buffalo cow. Wondering at the sudden change, he got up 

 from this wallow and advanced a little toward this cow, and it turned 

 around and became a woman again. 



"Come on, let us go on," said the woman, looking at her husband's 

 feet. So they journeyed toward another divide, walking slowly, the 

 man taking the lead, while the wife followed. Reaching the divide^ 

 they saw a big river, with thick timber and broad valleys. After 

 quenching their thirst, they waded the river, and landed at a big tipi, 

 well ornamented. Entering it, they found a good bed, which had beau- 

 tiful soft bags, parfleches, buffalo lean-back and comforts of various 

 kinds The-night came on and both retired. 



Early in the morning, this woman got up and went out, leav- 

 ing her husband still in bed. Just as soon as she stepped out, she 

 became a buffalo cow and grazed a few paces from him. At this time, 

 he awoke, felt for his wife, but she was gone from the bed. Looking 

 around again, the tipi had disappeared, and he saw a buffalo cow, graz- 

 ing on grass. Being surprised at the sudden change, he get up again 



