102 THE OSAGE TRIBE [eth. ann. 36 



because of its office of Sho'-ka. It is the Sho'-ka of both the Ta' 

 I-ni-ka-shi-ga (Deor people) and the IIo' I-ni-ka-shi-ga (Fish people) 

 geutes. Wa-xthi'-zhi hesitated to give the meaning of the name 

 Ga-tsiu', but suggested that possibly it means Ke-ga'-^siu, or Ke'-pi"- 

 dse-ga-tsiu, Turtle with a serrated tail. (See line 8, wi'-gi-e of the 

 Wa-zha'-zhe Wa-no°, p. 92.) 



The HoN'-ga U-ta-noN-dsi Gens 

 (Osage version, p. 324; literal translation, p. 487) 



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



2. They (the people) spake to the Ho^'-ga U-ta-no''-dsi, 



3. Saying: O, grandfather, 



4. We have nothing that is fit to use as a symbol. 



5. The Ho°'-ga U-ta-no''-dsi replied: O, little ones, 



6. You say you have nothing fit to use 

 as a symbol. 



7. I am one who is fitted for use as a 

 symbol. 



8. Verily, at that time and place, it has 

 been said, in this house, 



9. He set up a house, 



10. And then he said: I have not set up 

 this house without a purpose. 



11. I have set it up so that within it the 

 necks of living creatures shall be 

 broken. 



12. I have not set up this house without 



Fig. 8.— Tse'-xo-be (Spider). Conventional 

 design of the spider, one of the life sym- ^ purpOSe. 



bois of the Ho"'-ga u-ta-no»-dsi (Isolated 13. I have made it to represent and to 



Ho»'-ea) gens. This design is tattooed on i i. i j? ^i x / -l /ii 



the back of both hands of a woman to be a Symbol of the tse -xo-be (the 



whom is accorded the honor. Spider) (fl"'. 8). 



14. Verily, this house, like a snare, draws to itseK 



15. All living creatures, whosoever they may be. 



16. Into it they shall throw themselves and become ensnared. 



17. When the little ones use its power to make the animals appear, 



18. Even before the break of day 



19. The animals shall not fail to appear; 



20. And in the evening of the day 



21. The animals shall not fail to appear. 



22. The oldest of all animals (the buffalo bull), 



23. That hes upon the earth, 



24. The little ones shall use its power to make the animals appear. 



25. With the life blood of that animal, 



26. Even before the break of day, 



