FRACHTENBERG] ALSEA TEXTS AND MYTHS 133 



pulled it out again. "Where, then, am I going to put it?" — "Pray, 

 try it by putting it into thy groins!" Indeed, he did so, but, simi- 

 larly, it did not fit. "Perforce, put it inside thy dress!" So then, 

 indeed, he tried it there. "How is it? Does it hide?" — "Yes; 

 please jump around!" Thereupon, indeed, he did it. It did not 

 stick out (even) a little. "Now do thou keep it there likewise!" 

 Then, verily, he put it there. Now they two had fixed themselves 

 (entirely) . 



Thereupon, after they two had fixed themselves, they two started 

 out. As soon as they two came near to the water, their (dual) hus- 

 band arrived in a canoe for the purpose of placing them two in it. 

 Then after he arrived in the canoe he floated in it far out in the 

 water. Tiiereupon the elder sister jumped first into the canoe; 

 verily, she got into it correctly. And then his younger brother 

 jumped in next. He almost fell short. He touched the water just 

 a little bit. (Then the husband exclaimed) angrily: "Hm! what on 

 earth is the matter with mj sister-in-law? She (almost) slipiDed 

 into the water." — "Can I not be tired occasionally?" Then they 

 went across to the other side. They two did the same thing as 

 before. Then they came ashore (and went) into the house. There- 

 upon they two began to dry (the fern roots) which they two dug. 

 And after these were dry (one of the disguised women) went to the 

 next house to distribute (the roots) which he had dried — namely, 

 those fern roots. And then when he arrived with them he opened 

 the (door of the) house. "Here is my gift (to) you. Now do you 

 take it ! " (Then) those people began to look straight at one another. 

 "Here, take it!"— "Hoh! what? It is the people from below." 

 Then he just threw away (from him) his gift. "Your name shall not 

 be anything. You shall just become Fleas." Then those people 

 began to jump just (like) fleas. Then he went back and started to 

 dry some more (of) his fern roots. He just kept on looking up (and) 

 he would shed tears whenever he beheld the head of his father tied 

 up to the ceiling. ' ' Hey ! verily, my sister-in-law has a knife inside 

 (her dress)," exclaimed the younger (brother). "Yes, it is the 

 custom of the women from there," said an old woman. "Then why 

 is it that my sister-in-law constantly sheds tears whenever she looks 

 up to that head?" said the youngest (boy). (Then the supposed 

 woman answered) : "Well, the smoke does it to me thus. The people 

 from below act (thus) ; whenever smoke gets into their eyes they 

 always shed tears," said that woman. 



At last it got night. Tiiereupon all the people assembled and a 

 war dance was executed by all. No matter how often these two 

 would go out they two (always) found the Little Owl (sitting by the 

 door). So they two told her: "Thou shalt always put out thy 

 torchlight. Tliou shalt likewise say so to the Old Man Crane." 



