BEw'S] LEGENDS 665 



Xow it is for you to return to your people and tell them fully what 

 I have said to you. This is Mhat I have to say." 



Then the upright young man replied to his pigeon friend : " Your 

 proposition is agreeable to me, and I will fulfill my duty in the 

 matter by telling my people all that you have said to me." 



Without further speaking the white pigeon mounted in the air and 

 flew away. The young man, while watching it fly off, saw a large 

 number of pigeons moving in a circle as they flew along; and he 

 heard the birds sing, making a very loud sound, a tumult of voices. 

 He listened very attentively for a long time and finally learned 

 the songs which the pigeons were so loudly singing. Then he re- 

 turned to his lodge and his own fireside. 



At once he related in every detail all that the white pigeon had 

 said to him. A messenger was sent for the chief of his clan, and 

 when he arrived the upright young man again repeated all that the 

 white pigeon had said to him as to the duties of the people who were 

 there to hunt for squabs. When the chief had heard in great detail 

 all that the young man reported he at once said : " Let this be done 

 at once b\' us as has been proposed by the white pigeon. Let some 

 one be detailed to make a collection of oiferings, and then we shall 

 proceed with the remainder of the ceremony." Certain headmen 

 were directed to make the collection of offerings. Going from lodge 

 to lodge, they made a collection of various articles presented to them 

 as offerings in the ceremony. Some gave wristlets, some bracelets, 

 some necklaces, while others contributed articles of dress, moccasins, 

 and tobacco of the native variety. AVlien they had visited all the 

 lodges they returned to the lodge of the upright young man. where he 

 and their chief awaited them. 



After they had properly arranged the offerings the chief said: 

 " Let us now start ; we will go toward the place whereon borders the 

 pigeon roost or nesting place." Then they two started, the chief and 

 the upright young man. When they had reached the border of the 

 pigeon roost they kindled there a very small fire, and the young man 

 made an offering of native tobacco by casting it into the fire, at the 

 same time asking the Creator for the health and welfare and content- 

 ment of all the people while they were at that place. His prayer was 

 long and earnest, and when he ceased his invocation the chief stepped 

 forward to begin his prayer. Bringing all the articles which had 

 been offered and standing before the fire, he said in prayer: "Thou 

 who hast created our bodies, here lie all those things by which we 

 support our message (by which we support its head), all the words 

 of our prayer. We offer these to Thee. Accept them as a testimony 

 of our faith." Then he laid all the objects which he had brought 

 near the fire. Thereupon the two men returned to the lodge of the 

 upright young man. 



