100 THE OSAGE TRIBE [bxth. ann. 86 



45. Behold the male beaver (pi. 8, b). 



46. Of it also I, as a person, have, verily, made my body. 



47. When the little ones make of the beaver their bodies, 



48. They shall always live to see old age. 



49. Seven willow saplings 



50. The beaver brought to the right side of his house, 



51. Dragging them with his teeth to his house, laying them down in 



a pile. 



52. Then he spake, saying: These saplings 



53. I have made to represent certain things, 



54. The things spoken of as o-do"' (military honors). 



55. Verily, I, as a person, have made them to represent the o-do"'. 



56. Against the current of the river the beaver went forth, 



57. Rippling the surface of the water as he made his way, 



58. Saying as he did so: Behold the parting of the waters in forked 



lines as I push forth. 



59. The ripples of the waters I have made the means to reach old age. 



60. When the little ones make of me their bodies 



61. The gods shall always make way for them as do these waters 



for me. 



62. He struck the surface of the water with his tail, making a cracking 



noise, as he pushed forth, 



63. And he said: These strokes 



64. I make not without a purpose. 



65. Toward the setting of the sun are our enemies. 



66. In striking the waters I strike our enemies. 



67. The beaver went again against the current and came to the sec- 



ond bend of the river, 



68. Where stood a sapling of the never-dying willow. 



69. He cut down the sapling and dragged it to his house, 



70. Then he spake, saying: When the little ones use this for counting, 



71. They shall always count their o-do°' with accuracy. 



72. Verily, at that time and place, it has been said, in this house, 



73. The beaver went again against the current and came to a third 



bend of the river, 



74. Where stood a sapling of the never-dying willow. 



75. He cut down the sapling and dragged it to his house, 



76. Then he spake, saying: When the Uttle ones use this for counting, 



77. They shall always count their o-do"' with accuracy. 



78. The beaver went again against the current and came to the 



fourth bend of the river, 



79. Where stood a sapling of the never-dying willow. 



