184 THE OSAGE TRIBE Ieth. ann. 38 



940. When the little ones use this plant as food, 



941. They shall enable themselves to live to see old age. 



942. Their limbs shall stretch in growth as they move onward in their 



life's journey, O, younger brothers. 



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



944. The elder brothers spake to one another, saying: Behold, 



O, younger brother, 



945. Tlic little ones have nothing that will serve them as food, O, 



younger brother. 



946. They turned to the Ho"'-gaWa'-tse-ga-wa, to whom they spake, 



947. Saying: O, younger brother, 



948. We bid you go again in quest of food. 



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



950. To the (?i° {Sagitkvria latifolia) (pi. 12, c), 



951. To the farther margin of the lake, 



952. Where sat the ?i° within the soft bed. 



953. He plucked it up, root and stalk, and hastened back to his 



brothers, to whom he spake, 



954. Saying: How will this serve, O, elder brothers, as food for the 



little ones ? 



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



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



957. Like milk the juice of the succulent root squirted within their 



mouths. 



958. Then in tones of pleasure they spake to Wa'-tse-ga-wa, saying: 



O, younger brother, 



959. This plant will serve as food for the little ones, O, younger 



brother. 



960. When the little ones prepare this plant for use, 



961. They shall always immerse it in boiling water, O, younger 



brother, 



962. Though this may be, 



963. We shall always put it to use when we set forth against our ene- 



mies toward the setting of the sun, 



964. To overcome them and make them to fall in death, O, younger 



brothers. 



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



966. The elder brothers spake to Wa'-tse-ga-wa, saying: O, younger 



brother, 



967. Look you, we bid you go once more in quest of food. 



968. Then Wa'-tse-ga-wa set forth, 



969. To the farther margin of the lake, 



970. To a lowland forest, beyond, 



971. Where sat the ho^'-bthi^'-fu (Falcata ccmosa) (pi. 12, d). 



972. Close to it he came and paused; 



