210 THE OSAGE TRIBE licrn, ann. 36 



1496. Then he cautiously approached a watering place. 



1497. Close to it he stood concealed 



1498. And watcliod the movements of the people. 



1499. As they came near to his place of concealment to fetch water 



for themselves 



1500. He noticed the tattoo marks upon their foreheads, 



1501. The tattoo marks upon their jaws, 



1502. And the closely cut hair of their foreheads he saw distinctlj'. 



1503. Verily, at that time and place, it has been said, in this house, 



1504. He concealed himself from these strange people with care and 



skill. 



1505. As he hastened homeward with the tidmgs 



1506. In the evening of the day 



1507. He approached his village with quickened footsteps. 



1508. Then the elder brothers spake to one another, saying: O, 



younger brothers, 



1509. Our younger brother is returning; the manner of his approach 



betokens his bearmg of important tidings. 



1510. They arose and ran to meet him. 



1511. They spake to him, saying: How has it been with you, O, 



younger brother ? 



1512. And he replied, as he stood: O, elder brothers, 



1513. I have traveled to four valleys in the far-off lands, O, elder 



brothers. 



1514. At the fourth valley 



1515. I beheld seven bends of a river, 



1516. Enwrapped with a white clovid of smoke from many fires. 



1517. Among the seven bends of the river 



1518. I saw villages, O, elder brothers, 



1519. Villages of people, O, elder brothers. 



1520. Very closely I watched the people of those villages, 



1521. And saw the tattoo marks upon their foreheads, 



1522. The tattoo marks upon their jaws, 



1523. And the closely cut hair of their foreheads, O, elder brothers. 



1524. Then the elder brothers spake to one another, saying: O, 



younger brothers, 



1525. Let the people of the Wa-zha'-zhe 



1526. And those of the Tsi'-zhu 



1527. Come together, O, younger brothers. 



1528. Verily, at that time and place, it has been said, in this house, 



1529. The people came together as bidden. 



1530. The people of the Wa-zha'-zhe 



1531. And those of the Tsi'-zhu 



1532. And those of the Ho°'-ga spake, saying: Our younger Ijrother 



