508 A STUDY OF SIOUAN CULTS. 



prairie a large hill, where they remrain motionless many days, lamenting 

 and fasting. Not far from tliis hill is a cave, into which they creep at 

 night. The choice and adoration of guardian spirits is said to have 

 been taught the people many years ago by the Ochkih-Hadda. It was 

 lie who taught them the art of tattooing, and who instituted medicine 

 feasts.' 



MAN'DAX BELIEF ABOUT SEUPENTS AND f.IANTS. 



§ 320. The Mandan believe that there is a huge serpent which inhab- 

 its a lake three or four days' journey from their village, and to which 

 they make offerings. The tradition relates how two Mandan youths 

 encountered a giant, who carried them to a village of giants. The 

 latter part, which tells how one of the youths was changed into a huge 

 serpent after killing and eating a serpent, resembles a Winnebago tra- 

 dition.^ 



THUNDEK LORE OF TUB MAXDAN. 



§ 327. The Mandan believe that thunder is produced by the wings of 

 a gigantic bird. When the bird flies softly, as is usually the case, he 

 is not heard; but when he flaps his wings violently, he occasions a roar- 

 ing noise. This bird is said to have two toes on each foot, one behind 

 and one before. It dwells on the mountains, and builds nests there as 

 large as one of the forts. It i)reys upon deer and other large animals, 

 the horns of which are hea])ed up around the nest. The glance of its 

 eyes produces lightning. It breaks through the clouds and makes way 

 for the rain. The isolated and i)eculiarly londclapsof thunder are pro- 

 duced by a large tortoise whi(!h dwells in the clouds. 



ASTUONOMICAI. LORE. 



§ 328. The stars are deceased men. When a child is born a star de- 

 scends and appears on earth in human form; after death it reascends 

 and appears again as a star in the heavens. 



The rainbow is a spirit which accomi)anies the sun. Many affirm that 

 the northern lights are occasioned by a large assembly of medicine men 

 and distinguished warriors of several northern nations, who boil their 

 prisoners and slain enemies in huge cauldrons.' 



MYSTEKY OH.IECTS ANT) PLACES OF THE MANDAN AND IIIDATSA. 



§ 329. The mystery rock of the Mandan and Hidatsa is thus described 

 liy Lewis and Clarke:' 







This medicine stone is the great oracle of tlie Mandans, and whatever it announces 

 is believed with imj)licit coulidence. Every spring and, on some occasions during 

 the sumuicr, a deputation visits the sacredspot, where there is a thick, porous stone 

 20 feet in circumference, with a suiootli surface. Haviufj reached the place, the cer- 

 emony of smoking to it is performed l>y the dei)uties, who alternately take a whiff 



■Maximilian, Travels * * * in North America, p. 369. 



'Ibid., pp. 380. 38L 



^niid.. |i. :it;i. 



'Lewis ami Clarke, Exped., cd. Allen, Vol. I, p. 205. 



