MICHELSON J OWL SACRED PACK OF THE FOX INDIANS 30 
And also if there were a wide river the same would happen: (there 
would be) one virgin and one youth; they would both, the woman 
and the man, be painted white. And they carried these on their 
backs, the man carrying the snapping turtle, the woman the tortoise. 
And it is said that all the people would hold Indian tobacco in their 
hands. Now these (the woman and the man) would be in the lead. 
Wherever they just waded would be shallow. ~ It is said that the 
woman would never be in water above her knee. And the one who 
held this owl skin began to cross the farthest in the rear. It is said 
that the man would be painted red. After all had gradually gone 
he would cross farthest in the rear. After he had crossed immediately 
(the river) became its natural depth again.!. And then it is said that 
there would be a gens festival. But, it is said, every one would eat 
a little. And the bones would be thrown into the water. After 
they had held the gens festival they might move to wherever there 
was pleasant land and camp. Now it is said that they would camp 
only where they had crossed out of the water. They would live on the 
edge of the water. And if any one should start to camp far away, 
something would happen. to him, (or) he might get some disease. 
That is what would happen to him. It was against their religion for 
them to camp far away from where they had crossed and (came) 
out of the water. They stopped to camp. And after the gens fes- 
tival was held it is said it was just as if they had been dismissed. 
Then, it is said, the men went hunting any place; after the gens 
festival was held then also, it is said, the women began to cut wood 
anywhere. 
Now as to what happened to the one blessed. It is said that 
‘‘Black-Rainbow” was his name. And his niece (sister’s daughter) 
was named ‘‘ Deer-Horn,” so it is said. They were both blessed to- 
gether. He and his niece were nearly of the same age. The boy 
was somewhat older, and the girl less. 
First the boy began to fast. He was taken care of by his grand- 
father. At noon he ate. But, it is said, throughout the entire 
winter he was never allowed to go with his face unblackened. Always 
was he told, ‘‘Blacken your face, my grandchild, life is hard. That 
is why I say to you, ‘blacken your face.’ You might even have a 
vision as to how you will continue to live with the people. For you 
will continue to live long with the people. ‘I declare, that grand- 
father of mine must have spoken the truth,’ you will think, when you 
think backward of me. For I shall not live forever with you here. 
Some day I shall disappear. Moreover, I shall not now tell you when 
I shall disappear. This, my grandchild, is only why I thus teach 
you about fasting. That is only why I speak kindly to you,” the boy 
was told by his grandfather. 
1 So the enemy could not cross. Free rendering. 
