Bowers] HIDATSA SOCIAL AND CEREMONIAL ORGANIZATION 381 



al), and water snake skin (optional). The contents in the bundle 

 closely approximated those of the Thunder and Missouri River bundles. 

 Nethertheless, the rites and songs associated with the bundle are 

 distinctive and in no way duplicate those for the other bundles. The 

 following, an abbreviated account of the origin myth, was related by 

 Wolf Chief: 



Beaver, Otter, and Turtle who lived in the northland made plans to come to the 

 village to teach the people to doctor and to care for the sick. They discussed 

 taking black medicine along to aid them in their doctoring. They decided to 

 take big medicine along also. Then they decided to take peppermint and sand- 

 bar willows. They decided to use a dipper from the left horn of the buffalo, too. 

 They selected a special song which was to be taught to those doctoring one who 

 has been sick a long while. They also agreed that fat from around the buffalo's 

 heart should be used when doctoring those who have been sick long. 



They agreed on a special song for those who were sick in the stomach and had 

 an evil spirit with a long tail in there. There was another song to be used while 

 doctoring should a woman with monthlies come into the lodge, otherwise the sick 

 person would get worse. 



Beaver, Otter, and Turtle talked about all these things. They invited Buffalo 

 Skull, who had a holy song, to be their leader and asked him to shake himself. 

 This was to be the sign that any sick person who stood up and shook himself 

 would recover. 



They traveled southward until they came to a creek. Mink was there; he 

 threw water on dead brush, while singing, and green leaves came out. They 

 reached the Missouri; again Mink sang while sprinkling the dead branches, and 

 green leaves appeared. 



They reached Knife River on the fourth day and Mink called for poles to make 

 the sweat lodge. He taught the people the Sweat Lodge songs, telling them that 

 earth, wood, stones, and water went together in doctoring. [This combination 

 provides the sacred origin of Earth Lodge rites given whenever a new lodge is being 

 erected.] 



Frog announced that he also belonged in the creeks, so he taught the people 

 his doctoring song. 



Mink then instructed the people in the meaning of the various rites: Use black 

 medicine for those who are sick or have been poisoned; use the scrapings from the 

 clamshell for those who are nearly dead; use the turtle shell to learn whether the 

 patient will recover; use fat from around the buffalo's heart for those who have 

 been ill a long time; use the buffalo skull for those who seek protection from their 

 enemies. 



Inheritance has followed a consistent pattern for the last three 

 transfers: a group of siblings, male and female, bought from their 

 mother or mothers, and sold to the children of the female siblings. 

 The purchasing group customarily indicated which articles of the 

 bundle were to be kept individually during their lifetime. Then, 

 when the younger generation indicated a desire to purchase, those 

 of the original group of buyers met to complete the sale. All features 

 of the bundle and its transfer are characteristic of the Mandan and do 

 not conform to the Hidatsa bundle transfer pattern. During its 

 entire recorded period, the bundle has been associated with the Xura 



