i,A PLEscHB] Ni'-Ki no''-k'o'' rite 157 



VERSION OF THE PUMA GENS 

 (Osage version, p. 359: literal translation, p. 527) 



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



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



together; 



3. Verily, at that time and j)lace, it has been said, in this house, 



4. They spake to one another as they stood, saying: O, my younger 



brothers, 



5. Should not the little ones go below (to the earth) to become a 



people ? they said, as they stood facing one another. 



6. Then, verily, at that time and place, it has been said, in this house, 



7. They turned to four great gods in appeal for aid; 



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

 9. They spake first to the god of Day, who sitteth in the heavens, 



10. Saying: O, my grandfather, 



11. Should not the little ones go below to become a people? 



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

 1.3. The god of Day replied, sajnng: You have said the little ones 



have become persons; 



14. You have said the little ones should go below to become a i)eople. 



15. The little ones shall make of me their bodies. 



16. When the little ones go below and become a people, 



17. They shall find in me the means of reaching old age. 



18. Behold m}^ toes that are gathered in a cluster, 



19. In which the little ones shall find the means of reaching old age. 



20. Behold my ankles, that are wrinkled with age, 



21. In which the little ones shall find the means of reaching old age. 



22. Behold my knees, that are wrinkled with age, 



23. In which the little ones shall find the means of reaching old age. 



24. Behold the inner muscles of my thighs, 



2&. In which the little ones shall find the means of reaching old age. 



26. Behold also the muscles of my breast, that are gathered in folds, 



27. In which the little ones shall find the means of reaching old age. 



28. Behold the muscles of my arms, they have grown flabby with age. 



29. In which the little ones shall find the means of reaching old age. 



30. Behold the muscles of my throat, that have grown flabby with age, 



31. In which the little ones shall find the means of reaching old age. 



32. Behold my hair, that has grown scant and yellowish with age, 



33. In these scant locks of hair also 



34. The little ones shall find the means of reaching old age. 



35. When the little ones make of me the means of reaching old age, 



36. They shall always live to see their hair grown scant and yellowish 



with age. 



