;32 THE WINNEBAGO TKIBE [eth. ann. 37 



acorns and nuts they called beans. The four that emerged soon 

 came upon the footprints of human beings. 



And then they returned from the fields where they had been 

 searching for food. "Oh, m}'; oh, my," they §aid, "over there we 

 came across the foorprints of human beings." So they spoke. "Go 

 again," he said, "go around a larger circle." So they went farther 

 than before, and there they saw the people who had made the foot- 

 prints. "Our friends are going about here," said the ones who had 

 made the footprints and who were wolves. "Never shall we disobey 

 one another's word, my friends," said the bear. And the wolf 

 answered, "It shall be so." 



If one of the Bear clansmen had been killed and it was reported 

 to the Wolf clan, the latter would revenge him. The Bear clan 

 would act similarly. Then the bear said to the wolf, "My friend, 

 whenever you die I shall put you away so that your soul may not 

 be bothered by bad insects." And the wolf answered, "My friend, 

 it shall be so, and when you die I will likewise put you away so that 

 the bad spirits may not abuse your soul." Then they parted, after 

 shaking each other's hands. The bears returned to their home in 

 the south. The next time the}- came, it was to stay. They scattered 

 themselves all over the earth, seeking newly ripened fruit of all kinds. 

 In this manner they are still living on earth. 



SIXTH VERSION 



Informant, member of the clan: Earthmaker made us and as he 

 created us thus the story has come down. The story of our creation 

 is told as follows : 



"Get ready. We will converse together over this affair." So 

 spoke the one in the south. He was but one of those whom Earth- 

 maker had created. There were four brothers. The name of the 

 oldest one was Black Person, that of the second Red Person. (Indeed 

 he was very red.) The third one was called Blue Person, and the 

 fourth one White Person. 



"Younger brother, how is it going to be? I (the oldest), who am 

 speaking, not fitted do I feel myself for the task. My temperament 

 is indeed not fitted for the task. Perhaps you might have something 

 to tell them. Try, therefore, to say something to them. They are 

 about to have a gathering and it is time to start. Try to say some- 

 thing to them." "Older brother, the truth do you speak. I also 

 feel even as you have said; I am not fitted for it. I really don't 

 consider myself equal to the task. My younger brother onlj- is the 

 one fitted for it. He is clever. Our younger brother, he onl}' must 

 be the one." "The truth you have spoken, my brother. Our 

 youngest brother only is fitted for the task. The announcement of 

 the gathering has already been made, so let us council over it imnie- 



" Told as the origin myth of the Bear feast. 



