r.APLESCHE] TRIBAL, EITES — FREE TRANSLATION 133 



15. When thoy make of me the means of reaching old age, 



16. The four great divisions of days 



17. Tliey shall enable themselves to reach and to enter as they travel 



the path of life. 



The Ni'-ka WA-Ko^-DA-di (Men of Mystery) Gens 

 (Osage version, p. 352; literal translation, p. 519) 



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



2. The Tsi'-zhu, a people who possess seven fireplaces, 



3. Spake to one of their number, the Ni'-ka Wa-ko°-da-gi (Men of 



Mystery) , 



4. Saying: O, grandfather, 



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



6. The Ni'-ka Wa-ko°-da-gi quickly replied, saying: O, little ones, 



7. You say you have nothing that is suitable to use as a symbol. 



8. I am a person who is suitable to use as a symbol. 



9. Of the red metal 



10. I, as a person, have vei'ily made my body. 



11. When the little ones make of it their bodies, 



12. They shall enable themselves to live to see old age as they travel 



the path of life. 



13. When they make of it the means of reaching old age, 



14. They shall be free from all causes of death as they travel the 



path of life. 



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



16. He spake again, saying: Of the black metal 



17. I, as a person, have, verily, made my body. 



18. When the little ones make of it their bodies, 



19. They shall enable themselves to live to see old age as they travel 



the path of life. 



20. When of the black metal 



21. They make their bodies in their life's journey, 



22. Their skin, like that metal, shall be difficult to penetrate. 



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



24. He spake again, saying: Of the loose, rough metal 



25. I, as a person, have, verily, made my bodj^. 



26. When the little ones make of it their bocUes, . 



27. When of the loose rough metal, 



28. They make their bodies, 



29. They shall cause themselves to be difficult to overcome by death. 



30. When they make of it the means of reaching old age, 



31. They shall live to see old age, as they travel the path of life. 



