MICHELSON. ] ORIGIN OF THE WHITE BUFFALO DANCE, 167 
“Oh, I am very glad that our friend has told it and told us all in 
general, and that he thinks of us in a good way,” the men said to 
each other. 
It is said whenever he gave a gens festival all the people came to 
him. All the people would dance. When the people went out on a 
hunt, when they knew he was to hold a gens festival, they would 
surely come at that time. They merely wanted to dance, that was 
all they came for. All the women danced. So when he was to give 
a dance he would put an addition to his wickiup. His was the 
longest there was, but nevertheless he made it still longer. The 
people were very glad whenever he was to hold a gens festival. 
His mother was a very old woman. The old woman’s hair was 
very white. Now it is said she said to her son, ‘‘ Well, my son, is it 
because you could not marry any one that you do not marry?” she 
said to her son. Her son only laughed at her. A little later again he 
was told the same thing. Just as he had been told, he was then told. 
Again he only laughed at his mother. And it is said that again at 
the same time (of day) he was told the same thing, and he only looked 
at his mother. Then it is said he was told again much earlier. 
“Now, mother, you are trying to get me married. I am ashamed to 
get married. When I am not married I am not ashamed of anything. 
Now if I got married there would be that of which I would be 
ashamed—that is, I myself only think that way. When we are 
living together, the two of us, we can be talking with each other 
freely. And if I were married the only time we could talk with each 
other would be when my wife was here. These people do not know 
that; that is why they are not ashamed of it. If they knew about it, 
they would be ashamed of it. Now I understand you to uncon- 
cernedly persuade me to get married,” he said to his mother. “ Now, 
my son, marriage is not at all shameful. Now if you were to marry, 
why, no one would make you ashamed by what he said. That is all,” 
she said to her son. 
“Mother, I shall tell it plainly to you. I will not keep secret from 
you why Iam unwilling. I do not want to be with you women. Of 
course after you are dead, then I might get married if I am going to 
marry at all. But now while you are alive I shall not get married. 
After you are gone is the time I shall marry,” he said to his mother. 
Then, it is said, he was bothered no more. 
Then, it is said, all those of his gens lived with him. The maidens 
took care of that wickiup of the man. The old woman watched them. 
The old woman was very glad. Always she was instructing them how 
