58 THE OSAGE TRIBE [eth. ann. 43 



Again Tho'-xe threw himself upon the ground, 



And the poppy mallow 



Sprang from the earth and stood resplendent in its reddened blossoms. 



Of this plant also Tho'-xe said, 



The little ones shall make their bodies. 



When they use it as medicine. 



Their arms shaU lengthen in growth. 



The root is astringent, 



And, referring thereto, your little ones shall take the name Astringent. 



When the little ones make of this plant their bodies, 



They shall always live to see old age. 



Tho'-xe (the BuflFalo-buU) , 



Threw himself to the ground, 



And a red ear of maize 



He tossed in the air. 



As he exclaimed: The little ones shall make of this their bodies! 



Then shall they always live to see old age. 



Again Tho'-xe threw himself to the ground, 



And a blue ear of maize, 



Together with a blue squash. 



He tossed in the air as he said. 



These plants, also, 



ShaU be food for the little ones. 



Then shaO they live to see old age. 



A third time he threw himself to the ground, 



And a white ear of maize. 



Together with a white squash he tossed in the air, 



As he exclaimed: These plants also shall be food for the little ones! 



Then shall they be difficult for death to overcome them, 



And they shall always live to see old age. 



A fourth time he threw himself to the ground. 



And a speckled ear of maize. 



Together with a speckled squash. 



He tossed in the air as he exclaimed: 



What creature is there that would be without a mate! 



And he wedded together the maize and the squash. 



Then exclaimed: These also shall be food for the little ones! 



And they shall be difficult for death to overcome them. 



The feasting of the No'"-ho''-zhi°-ga upon the fruits of the seeds 

 of the maize planted by the mother with rehgious care in the seven 

 sacred hills completes the rite of the naming of her child, by which 

 its right to a place in its gens is formally recognized; the child has a 

 place, not only in its gens, but also in the sky and the earth which the 

 two great tribal divisions, the Ho°'-ga and the Tsi'-zhu, represent. 



