116 THE OSAGE TRIBE [bth. ann. 86 



The MoN'-shko" (Crawfish) Gens 

 (Osage version, p. 337; literal translation, p. 502) 



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 gens who had made of the Puma his body, 



4. Saying: O, younger brother. 



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



6. Verily, upon the utterance of these words by the people, 



7. The Puma went forth to an open prairie, where trees grow not, 



8. Where he came face to face with a man who stood upright 



9. In the midst of the prairie with uplifted hand. 



10. The Puma turned and hastened toward home. 



11. The people spake to one another, saying: Our younger brother is 



returning. 



12. His manner indicates that he bears great tidings. 



13.' Soon he stood before the people, saying: A man stands yonder, 

 O, elder brothers. 



14. What sayest thou ? O, younger brother, they said to him. 



15. And he repeated: A man stands yonder, O, elder brothers, 



16. With a cloven hand uplifted. 



17. Then the people spake to one another, saying: O, younger 



brothers, 



18. Whatever man he may be who stands yonder 



19. We shall send him to the abode of spirits, O, younger brothers. 



20. Then with heads bent toward the man 



21. The people strode forth in haste, 



22. And soon came face to face with the man who stood in the prairies. 



23. Stood with a cloven hand uplifted. 



24. Ho ! younger brother, they said to him, 



25. What man art thou that stands before us? 



26. The man replied: I am a Ho°'-ga (a sacred person). 



27. I am Mo°'-shko° (the Crawfish) (pi. 13, a). 



28. I am Mo"-i'"-ka-zhi°-ga (the Little Earth), O, elder brothers. 



29. The man continued quickly: O, elder brothers, 



30. I am a person who is ever present at any important movement. 



31. I am a person who, in truth, is a symbol. 



32. A person who holds himself ready to be used as a symbol, O, elder 



brothers. 



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



34. Within a hillock of soft mud 



35. He disappeared as though sucked into his home 



36. And quickly reappeared with a bit of dark soil 



87. Which he held aloft as he stood offering it to the people, and he 

 spake to them, saying: 



