[WILSON] THE SACRIFICIAL RITE OF THE BLACKFOOT S 



So much ritual has reference to this myth, and so many observances 

 are founded upon it, that the student of Indian religious thought may 

 accept it as one of the most significant and instructive legends pos- 

 sessed by the Blackfoot tribes. 



The following is the Blood version as translated from the Blackfoot 

 by the writer in 1890. In the translation of the myth the Indian mode 

 of expression has been adhered to as strictly as possible. 



Long, long ago there lived a very beautiful young Indian woman 

 who declined to marry. Her parents tried to persuade her to choose 

 of the many marriageable young men in the tribe, but without success. 

 Chiefs sent their relatives to her family with proposals of marriage, and 

 many wealthy people desired her for their sons, but she would have 

 nothing to do with any of them. 



Among the many who wanted tliis girl was a young man who had 

 a bad scar on his face which made him appear ugly. Three times she 

 refused him, as she had refused every one else, but at a fourth request 

 she made this reply, '' Many chiefs have wanted to marry me, many 

 rich and handsome men, and I have said no to them all. I will marry 

 you when that scar disappears from your face." 



After hearing the words of the young woman, Scarface's heart was 

 on the ground. In great distress he went away out on the prairie, far 

 from the camp, to fast for several days and dream, thinking that the 

 dream person might fell him how to get rid of the scar. He was very 

 anxious to marry the girl. 



One night he slept near a large stone and in his sleep the stone 

 said to him, " The Sun can cure you. Go away far to the east, to the 

 place that he rises from in the morning and there you will find his 

 lodge." Scarface thought that this advice was good and at once de- 

 termined to follow it. He went home, procured a large number of 

 moccasins, packed a bag of food, and started on his long journey. How 

 long he travelled we do not know. It was many days, and always in 

 the direction of the rising Sun. 



He met many people who asked him why he was so far from home. 

 To some he replied that it was to get rid of his scar that he had gone 

 so far from home. To others he said, " It is because of a woman that 

 I travel." He inquired of every one the whereabouts of the Sun's 

 home. They all pointed to the east and said that it was in that 

 direction. 



Scarface was assisted on his Journey by four different mysterious 

 beings who spoke to him in his dreams and encouraged him to keep on 

 towards the rising Sun. The fourth and last of these told him, one 

 night when he was sleeping, to cover up his eyes and not look until told. 



