FKACHTENBBKG] ALSEA TEXTS AND MYTHS 33 



arrived there. Then the old woman began to try her own (magic) 

 several times. She would touch the ground gently with her stick, 

 and the ground would at once split in two. "Look!" exclaimed the 

 youngest (of her boys' captors), "what on earth is the old woman 

 doing?" Then she gradually increased (the speed) of her motions 

 and arrived straight (at the place) where (the rock) had closed on 

 her children. She walked around the house several times and sang. 

 (Then) she put her stick quickly to the southern wall; but the house 

 did not move (even) a little. Again she put her stick on the northern 

 wall; still it did not move (even) a little. "Look, the old w^oman is 

 indeed getting angry," said the youngest (of her boys' captors). 

 Then again she applied her (magic) cane,(to the house). It did not 

 shake a little (even). Then the old woman exclaimed impatiently, 

 " What manner of people are those who brought harm upon my 

 children?" Then she began to dance (after which) she applied once 

 more her cane (to the house). Finally, at the fifth time, she touched 

 the top (of the rock) with her (magic) cane (saying) : "I am Cyclone." 

 No sooner had she placed her cane there when the rock split open. 

 Her children were standing (in exactly) the same (position) as they 

 were in when they were dancing. Then she told them to leave (the 

 house). Then after they came out they all started homeward. 

 Whenever they stopped at a village (where they had played shinny), 

 they took with them the women they had won previously. (At 

 each village) she came to the old woman put her (magic) cane 

 to the ground. The place would turn over quickly and all the 

 inhabitants would be buried underneath. Then they would start 

 home again. Once more they would come to a river and would 

 stop again for the women whom (the boys) had previoush^ Avon. 

 And the old woman would do the same thing as before: she would 

 suddenly upturn the ground on the inhabitants, whereupon they 

 would start out again. Now (whenever) they would arrive (at a 

 village) the old woman would thus do it to the inhabitants. At last 

 they arrived home. "We will now fix ourselves (differently)." 



96653— 20— Bull. 67 3 



