388 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 194 



he felt better and begged for food. I heard her telling my father that she thought 

 he would recover for his eyes were bright. 



My father said, "Since you think it is all right and they have promised two 

 horses, I think it is better that I go over too and help you. It will be all right 

 for you to stay there 1 night." 



She tried hard to cure the boy; she examined the stomach and found a hard 

 place there next to the backbone. She thought it was the place where the sick- 

 ness was centered. She kneaded the stomach every few- hours. She pressed the 

 abdomen and then she felt a movement inside. She came home and said that she 

 had been up nearly all night pressing the stomach. She begged help of Small 

 Ankles, saying, "I think the boy is going to get over his sickness. I think you 

 should go along with me and help the boy." 



He said, "You can go in the morning and I will be over there at night. If I 

 think he is going to get well, we will go together. Then I am sure we can work 

 a cure." 



She came back before sundown and said, "I had a hard time today. Red 

 Head came in and just as soon as she left, the boy lost consciousness. I heard 

 that this woman had her monthlies. I used the medicines that I am supposed 

 to use when this happens but it seems that the boy is worse. I think you ought 

 to go along as you have medicines when a woman with monthlies comes around."'^ 



My mother's rites consisted of a song, "That woman came to the lodge door; 

 she is holy; she goes out." " 



The two went back. The boy was still unconscious. They took their sacred 

 bundles this time. They blew peppermint over him and sang the sacred songs. 

 Towards morning it seemed that the boy was a little better. 



Small Ankles said, "I have been using the powers that I got from the bears; 

 now I am going to use my Buffalo Spirit rites." 



Before doctoring the boy, Small Ankles stood and addressed all in the room, 

 "I tried to have a god of my own; I found a place where there were many buffalo 

 skulls and bones. I piled them together and built a little lodge a short distance 

 away. In the daytime I stood by the pile of bones, and at night I stayed in 

 the lodge for this was during the winter. On the fourth day I cut skin from 

 my leg and offered it to the gods so that I would be successful in all that I under- 

 took. I want to remind you, my gods, that I did all this and now I want to 

 cure this boy. I am going to sing the songs you taught me. You told me you 

 were the Buffalo Spirits and you gave me these two buffalo teeth and hair. In 

 my dreams you showed me all this so I am going to try to cure this boy and 

 get the two horses. I will sing the sacred songs." 



He sang the songs twice. He shook the boy and inquired how he felt and 

 the boy said that he was feeling better already. Right afterward, the boy 

 went to sleep. 



Next day Small Ankles inquired how he felt and the boy said, "I feel much 

 better; it seems that I can feel my body now. I want something to eat." 



They doctored for about 14 days and then they had the boy up. They 

 cleansed the boy in the sweat lodge and brought back with them all the things 

 promised except the horses, which the people brought in from grazing and 

 delivered the next morning. 



i» That Is, she Is menstruating. 



" Small Ankles' rites were concerned with eagle trapping. There were particular menstruation rites 

 which were performed to prevent bad luck to the eagle trappers. 



