DOKSEY-s WANTON] THE BILOXI AND OFO LANGUAGES 79 



really so. There is a very beautiful woman there." So the people 

 went to seek her, as they wished to take her to their own village. 



When they reached the abode of the Ancient of Crows the}^ made 

 known their errand and said, "If we should spread bearskins all the 

 way from this house to the house of our chief, so that she could walk 

 on them all the way, how would that suit?" "They would be too 

 slippery," replied the Ancient of Crows; " she would be sure to fall." 

 "Suppose then," said the messengers, "we should lay a row of mor- 

 tars all along from this house to that of our chief, so that she could 

 walk on them all the way, how would that suit? " "Oh no!" replied 

 the Ancient of Crows, "that could not be; they would be apt to rock 

 and as they turned with her she would fall and might be crushed to 

 death!" " Well," replied the messengers, " suppose that a row of peo- 

 ple should be laid on the ground from this house to that of our chief, 

 so that she could walk on them, how would that suit? " The Ancient 

 of Crows could sa}^ nothing in reply; but she -was weeping at the 

 thought of having to give up the Pretty Woman, whom she did not 

 wish to leave her house. But finally she stopped weeping and dressed 

 Pretty Woman in her finest clothing, tied her hair for her, and then 

 put on the brother his gayest attire. When this was done she told 

 them to depart, saying to them, "If your kindred lie there, step on 

 them with all your might." Then the two departed with the mes- 

 sengers. 



When they beheld their [adopted] mother's brother lying there, they 

 stepped on him with all their might. The Pretty Woman's [adopted] 

 elder sister was lying close to a bed, and as she said, "Is this one who 

 is reclining the one who saw the spotted house?" she leaped, and 

 as her feet came down on her, the elder sister burst open. Then the 

 Pretty Woman climbed upon the bed and took her seat. And they 

 married her to the chief, who sat next to her. 



In the course of time, the people went on the hunt. The Pretty 

 Woman took her child and was about to accompany the people, but she 

 had forgotten the shoes of the little one, so she left it and turned back 

 to get them. When she reached the deserted village site, she found 

 the shoes, and started off again, hoping to overtake her family. But 

 on the way she encountered a bad woman, called "Crooked Teeth," 

 who was a kind of witch. This bad woman called to her, "Come this 

 way and eat mush with me." So Pretty Woman went thither, dipped 

 her hand into the kettle, took out some mush, which she wrapped up 

 and carried with her as she resumed her journey. But Crooked Teeth 

 got in advance of her and again took a seat, awaiting her arrival. 

 Again did Crooked Teeth say to Pretty Woman, "Come this way 

 and eat mush with me." But Pretty Woman replied, "I am not the 

 one who wishes to eat mush. I am to eat a very fat deer brisket, and 



