ij FLESCHE] TRIBAL RITES FREE TRANSLATION 107 



41. Behold the tip of my tail that is black in color. 



42. I have made the tip of my tail to be as my charcoal. 



43. When the little ones make of me their bodies, 



44. They shall always have charcoal that will easily sink into their 



skin as they travel the path of life. 



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



46. The people spake to the great white swan (a subgens of the 



Wa-Qa'-be-to°), 



47. Saying: O, grandfather, 



48. The little ones have nothing of which to make their bodies. 



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



50. The great white swan replied: Behold the skin of my feet that 



is dark in color. 



51. I have made the dark skin of my feet to be as my charcoal. 



52. When the little ones make the dark skin of my feet to be as their 



charcoal, 



53. They shall always have charcoal that will easily sink into their 



skin as they travel the path of life. 



54. Behold the tip of my beak that is dark in color. 



55. I have made the dark tip of my beak to be as my charcoal. 



56. When the little ones make of me their bodies, 



57. They shall always have charcoal that will easily sink into their 



skin as they travel the path of life. 



58. Thus shall it be with the little ones when they make of me their 



bodies. 



59. Even within half of a day 



60. I reach, when making my flight, the farther side of the great lake, 



61. Where I sit upon its waves swinging up and down. 



62. When the little ones make of me their bodies, 



63. Their arms, like my wings, I shall cause to become strong as 



they travel the path of life. 



64. When all animals are gathered together for a test of endurance, 



65. They become breathless sooner than I on my life's journey. 



66. When the little ones make of me their bodies, 



67. Verily, none of the living creatures shall surpass them 



68. In power of strength and endurance as they travel the path of life. 



The JN-gthon'-ga (Puma) Gens 

 (Osage version, p. 329; literal translation, p. 493) 



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



2. The Ho°'-ga, a people who possess seven fireplaces, 



3. Spake to the one who had made of the Puma his body, 



4. Saying: O, grandfather, 



