LAFLESCBE] Nl'-KI \Vl'-GI-ES 247 



woven neckband to which is attached as a pendant a shell gorget, a 

 sjTnbol of life. In the earlj- days the material used in these woven 

 articles was the soft hair of the buffalo calf. In modern times these 

 symbolic girdles and neckbands were made of manufactured yarn 

 introduced by traders, but the ancient name, " Buffalo calf hair, " was 

 retained. 



Kl'-NO" Wl'-GI-E 



(Osage version, p. 433; literal translation, p. 577) 



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



2. They spake to one another, saying: What shall the little ones 



use for a girdle ? 



3. The hair of the young buffalo 



4. They shall use as a girdle, they said to one another. 



5. When the little ones use the hair of the young buffalo as a girdle, 



6. They shall free themselves from all causes of death. 



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



8. They spake to one another, saying: What shall the little ones use 



for a neckband 1 



9. The hair of the young buffalo 



10. They shall use as a neckband, they said to one another. 



11. When the little ones use the hair of the young buffalo as a neck- 



band, 



12. They shall have a neckband that will free them from all causes 



of death. 



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



14. They spake to one another, saying: Behold this mussel shell, 



15. Which the little ones shall use as a gorget pendant. 



16. It was the mussel 



17. Who traveled up the river, forcing his way against the current, 



18. When coming to a shallow part of the river he said: Behold these 



rushing waters, 



19. I have not made them without a purpose. 



20. I have made them to be the means of reaching old age. 



21. When the little ones use these waters they shall free themselves 



from all causes of death. 



22. Behold the waves of the river, 



23. I have made them to be the means of reaching old age. 



24. When the little ones make of me their bodies 



25. They shall always live to see old age. 



26. Behold the hollow bed of the river, 



27. I have not made it without a puqjose. 



28. When the little ones make of it the hollow of their own bodies, 



29. They shall free the hollow of their bodies from all causes of death. . 



