dbniq] the assintboin 609 



Fables 



Related by " Tiie Ear Rings of Dog's Teeth," an Old Assiniboin 



A long time ago there lived a great chief of a powerful nation, 

 but he was a fearful and desperate man. He had killed six of bis 

 wives at different times in fits of passion, and at the time of our 

 story had separated from his people, being jealous of his wife, and 

 placed his lodge alone on the bank of a small stream. His family 

 consisted of his wife, a boy say 12 years old, and a girl about 10 years, 

 both his children by the woman now with him. The man went out 

 hunting, and the game being far off did not return for several days. 

 In the meantime the woman continued her domestic duties at home. 

 Being in the timber in quest of wood, she struck her ax on a hollow 

 tree and a great many snakes came forth, one of which 53 was large 

 and handsome, had a fascinating eye and horns upon his head, spoke 

 sweet words to the woman, and in the end succeeded in seducing her. 

 Her husband returned and inquired of her " What had become of the 

 paint on her face, which he put there before starting i She made 

 some hesitating answer and he suspected all was not right and 

 determined to watch. In the course of a few days he gave out that 

 he was again going hunting and might be absent some time, as he 

 had not yet seen game. He as usual painted his wife's face and 

 departed. In place of going to hunt he hid in the bushes to watch 

 his wife, who made her visits to the snake's nest, striking on the tree 

 and calling on the horned snake in terms of endearment to come 

 forth. The snake came out, and the husband witnessed the infidelity 

 of his wife. 



He remained a day or two near the place, and each day observed his 

 wife to repair to the snake's den for like purposes. He then returned 

 home. She was absent, but returned in a short time. "My wife," 

 said he, " I have killed a deer some distance off; go and get the meat." 

 After having received instructions as to where the meat was to be 

 found, the woman departed with her dogs to bring it. In the mean- 

 time her husband went into the bushes, struck with his battle ax on 

 the snake's house, saying, "My husband, come forth," imitating the 

 voice of his wife. The reptile sallied out with all his family and the 

 Indian destroyed them all with his battle ax. Gathering up the 

 snakes, he carried them home and cooked them by boiling them to 

 a jelly. His wife returned without finding any meat (as indeed 

 there was none), and found her husband sitting down sharpening a 

 huge flint ax. He invited her to sit down, and observing that she 

 must be hungry after such a long travel, poured into a bowl the mess 

 of snakes, which he handed to his wife, who, thinking it was some 



a The Fire lJragon or Mateor — Son of the goda. 



