Howard] THE PONCA TRIBE 77 



tute, Lawrence, Kans., and Chilocco Agricultiira] School, Chilocco, 

 Okla. 



J. O. Dorsey (1885 a, pp. 105-108) describes several of the principal 

 mythologic beings of the Ponca. Most of these were known to my 

 informants as well. 



Indddige, Dorsey writes, was a monster in human shape, with long 

 hair. He hooted like an owl. VHM and PLC described the creature 

 in much the same manner. VHM told of the creature attacking a 

 group of hunters who were roasting a wild turkey. It was tall, with 

 long hair, had bunches of grass tied to its upper arms and just below 

 the Imees, and carried a club. Its eyes were "pulled together" and 

 continually watering. PLC showed me the place, in the hiUs west of 

 Niobrara, Nebr., where Indddige was seen by the Ponca of his father's 

 generation (pi. 18, b). 



In all respects except size (i.e., forest habitat, long hair, owllike cry 

 and characteristics, and club) this being is analogous to the Little- 

 tree-dweller of the Dakota and the similar owllike forest men of the 

 Ojibwa, Menomini, Potawatomi, Ottawa, Sauk, and Iowa. Unlike 

 them, however, he never bestowed power upon individuals. Ponca 

 mothers kept their children indoors in the evening by telling them 

 that Indddige was about. 



Dorsey (1894, pp. 386-387) mentions another creature, a water 

 monster known as Wakqdagi: "These creatures have very long bodies, 

 with horns on their heads." PLC gives a more detailed description 

 in his "History" (p. 18), and he pointed out the place, approxi- 

 mately 3 miles east of Monowi, Nebr., where this creature was seen 

 for the last time by the Ponca after it had crawled out of the Missouri 

 (see pi. 18, d). PLC, reconciling tribal tradition with science, thinks 

 Wakq.dagi was a prehistoric monster which somehow survived into 

 historic times. In my own opinion the Ponca Wakqdagi is clearly 

 analogous to the "underwater panther" of the tribes of the Eastern 

 United States. 



Perhaps related is Gisnd, which was described by JLR as like a 

 leech or bloodsucker, but of such tremendous size that it was forced 

 to lie "in a horseshoe shape" in the lake, which was its lair. This 

 lake, near the present Monowi, Nebr., is reported never to freeze, 

 even during the coldest winters. JLR mentioned that his brother 

 had been magically "shot" by the Gisnd, and through this acquired 

 membership in the Ponca Medicine lodge society. This recalls Ojibwa 

 and Dakota tales of persons being given power by the underwater 

 panther. 



Mqgddzadige (Mong-thu-jah-the-gah in PLC's syllabary) or dwarfs 

 were said to live in the mountains. They are described by PLC 

 in his "History" (p. 18). They led persons astray at night, but their 



