182 THE OSAGE TRIBE [kth. ann. 3fi 



875. Then thoy turned to the Ho^'-ga Wa'-tse-ga-wa, to whom they 



spake, 



876. Saying: O, younger brother, 



S77. Tlie little ones have nothing that will serve them as food. 



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



879. Wa'-tse-ga-wa set forth with quickened footsteps 



880. To the margin of a lake, 



881. To the Ho'-xtho°-ta-xe hi {Sparganium). 



882. Close to it he came and paused, 



88.3. Tlien plucked it root and stalk and hastened back to his brothers, 



to whom he spake, 

 ^84. Saying; O, elder brothers, 



885. How will this plant serve as food for the little ones? 



886. With eager haste they tested the taste of the root, 



887. With noisy smacking of the lips, 



888. Then they spake to Wa'-tse-ga-wa, saying: O, younger brother, 



889. This plant is not fit for use as food, O, younger brother, 



890. Though this may be, 0, younger brothers, they said to one 



another, 



891. We shall put it to use when we go forth toward the setting of 



the sun, 



892. To overcome our enemies and make them to fall in death, 



O, younger brothers. 



893. The elder brothers spake to Wa'-tse-ga-wa, saying: Behold, 



younger brother, 



894. The little ones have nothing that will serve them as food. 



895. Then Wa'-tse-ga-wa set forth with quickened footsteps, 



896. To the margin of a lake, 



897. To the 9i°'mo°-no°-ta-hi {Nymphaea advena). 



898. Close to it he came and paused, 



899. Then plucked it root and stalk and hastened back to his brothers, 



to whom he spake, 



900. Saying: How will this plant serve, O, elder brothers, as food for 



the little ones ? 



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



902. The elder brothers with eager haste tested the taste of the root, 



903. Then they spake to one another, saying: This plant is not fit 



for use as food, O, younger brothers, 



904. Though this may be, 



905. We shall put it to use when we go forth toward the setting of 



the sun, 



906. To overcome our enemies and make them to fall in death, O, 



younger brothers. 



907. The elder brothers spake to Wa'-tse-ga-wa, saying: Behold, 



younger brother, 



