44° Field Columb;an Museum — Anthropology, Vol. V. 



71. — The Cannibal Babe. 



An infant is found to have devoured chiefs. The people abandon it and it 

 rejoins them. They try to kill it by feeding it to the dogs, but fail. — K. 



72. — The Woman and the Monster. 



Woman on trading trip to Crows tries to cross Platte River. She i!> 

 drowned and finds herself standing in dry sand. Two young men (soft-shell 

 turtle and beaver) come. Woman goes with them, who say they have come 

 after her. Tliey come to black painted tipi, with picture of water monster on 

 each side, both facing door and winding around bottom. One monster red, 

 other spotted, black and white. In front of door is red painted sun. Back of 

 tipi is half-moon in green. Bunch of eagle feathers tied to tipi pole. Woman 

 sees beautiful young man, painted red and naked, with more young men, at both 

 sides, sitting. In front of them are medicine bags, with other small bags of 

 medicine. Woman sits on right side of beautiful young man. He says he is 

 charmed by her pretty looks and has sent after her and if she wants to see 

 her folks again he will have to ask her for intercourse. He tells her of the 

 animal family to which each of the other men belongs. In front of medicine 

 bags are many water animals. Men turn to anjmals, which look at woman 

 sharply but respectfully. They have intercourse. Then man tells woman he is 

 owner of rivers and lives near steep banks. Others live at springs and small 

 lakes.'" Says she is not to eat fish. To show respect, people are to cut off small 

 pieces of their skin. These they are to tie in small bundle and place on stick, 

 close to springs and steep banks. In return he will see that they cross water in 

 safety and swim rivers with their children. Man also directs stick to be pointed 

 to head and then to mouth of river and prayer to be offered to him, Grandfather, 

 Last-Child, for long life, prosperity and happiness, protection from injury, 

 that water they drink may be clear and wholesome and that their seed may 

 multiply. After man tells her of certain restrictions, woman goes out and finds 

 herself standing on bank facing toward deep water; above is steep precipice. 

 Monster tells her to paint herself red when she wants to see him again, to 

 plunge into river and on coming out she is to be cleansed from all impurities 

 and to offer prayer. — D. 



"jT,- — The Woman who gave birth to a Water Monster. 



Three women returning home after searching for fiber come to running 

 spring. First two women leap across without trouble. Last woman makes leap 

 and feels heat enter her body. As menstruatlion does not begin she becomes sus- 

 picious. She becomes big and goes to medicine old woman (Hairy- Face), who 

 knew something of water monster. Woman asks old woman to accouch her. 

 She promises. Ninth month comes and woman sends for Hairy-Face. Hairy- 

 Face gives woman root tea and paints her in spots. When placed in usual way, 

 flow of water, but no blood comes. Hairy-Face searches for infant. Inside of 

 tipi filled with water which puts out fire. When water soaks into ground 

 Hairy-Face finds infant and covers it with a blanket. On lifting cover there is 

 animal with slender body, short legs, feet like those of cow, and body spotted 



