Abstracts — Dorsey and Kroeber. 439 



look for cannibals. Goes to old woman's tipi. He tells her of his laziness 

 and what his father said. Asks if she ever heard of them and if she knjows 

 way. She tells him that cannibals live toward sunrise, a long journey. Sleepy- 

 Young-Man takes food, some sinew and starts. When gone some distance, he 

 builds fire and throws sinew into ashes and it contracts, which makes earth 

 •contract. Comes to tipi of old woman and husband. Sleepy- Young-Man 

 goes in and asks way to the cannibals. Old woman gives him more beef and 

 tallow, also pieces of sinew. He goes on as before. Finds middle-aged man 

 and wife in tipi, again inquires and goes on as before. He finds tipi, of sheets 

 of iron. Goes around four times, weeping. Woman hears him, asks him in. 

 He tells his errand, she says she will help him. She says she makes special trips 

 to the cannibals' tipi and stays certain time; they have geese who warn them of 

 strangers. She gives him her body, a pair of moccasins, says that if he raises 

 hand, geese will recognize sign as from her. Says there are seven cannibals; 

 oldest is her husband ; least one very cunning. At certain times oldest has 

 intercourse with wife, when she returns to iron tipi. Sleepy- Young-Man 

 goes off toward dwelling of cannibals. Sees signal flag on hill and geese begin 

 to cackle, but cease when he raises hand. Cannibals rush out, he raises pair 

 of moccasins. They go back into tipi and direct young man to sit with oldest 

 one. All glad to see him bring pair of moccasins. Least boy keeps watching 

 and remarks to the others. Woman has forgotten to change muscles of young 

 man. Brothers have planned to go on hunt and leave oldest brother with wife. 

 Oldest brother stays at home with supposed wife. Sleepy- Young-Man louses 

 husband and cuts off his head. Grabs head and escapes from tipi, but geese 

 give alarm and sign is heard by brothers who return. They run after young 

 man and reach last divide just as he reaches iron tipi. Woman tells him to 

 run around camp four times. At fourth time she opens door and he enters. 

 They demand person vvho killed brother. She takes Sleepy- Young- Man and 

 swings him against door. It opens wide enough for cannibals to stick their 

 lieads in, but door swings back and cuts their heads off and they drop inside. 

 Woman asks for husband's head and tells Sleepy- Young-Man he can skin 

 rest for himself. He does so. Their hair is like flame of jire. Sleepy- 

 Young-Man returns home, goes direct to father's tipi, late at night. In morn- 

 ing father sees man sleeping on bed and tells him sarcastically to get up as he 

 might spoil his son's bed. When he gets up father recognizes his son's beauti- 

 ful face and kisses him. Old man goes out rejoicing, waving scalp-locks to the 

 people. — D. 



70. — The Beheaded Ones. 



A young man is blamed by his father for sleeping too long. He is told 

 "he will never reach the beheaded ones. He .starts out and at last reaches 

 seven young men. He disguises himself as a woman and marries one of them. 

 While the rest are hunting he louses one and kills him, fleeing with the head. 

 Birds give warning to the other six and they pursue. The young man reaches 

 an old woman with an iron tent. The pursuers demand him. The old woman 

 ■cuts off their heads with the iron door of her tent. The young man returns to 

 his parents with the seven scalps. — K. 



