452 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 194 



from Face, an older clansman who lived at Awaxawi. There was 

 no knowledge of a bundle at Awatixa, the people of this village cus- 

 tomarily going to Hidatsa when the rites were performed. Although 

 two distinct origin myths are related, one for the Hidatsa and Awatixa, 

 and the other for the Awaxawi, the rites were performed in the same 

 manner at all villages. In fact, with few variations, the same rites 

 were performed in the Mandan villages. According to traditions, 

 the rites were instituted late in Hidatsa history since all incidents 

 are associated with the Missouri River and its environs. 



The Hidatsa version as related by Wolf Chief from information 

 secured of Bobtail Bull was briefly as follows: 



Buffalo Bulls came out of the north led by one old bull who carried a red stick. 

 He was the guide and selected the places to stop. The bulls decided to come 

 to the village to help the people so they went there, carrying a buffalo skull 

 with them. The club that the leader carried had buffalo hoofs tied in a row and 

 two long wing feathers at the end. 



The leader said to the other buffaloes, "We are taking much food to the people. 

 When we reach the village we should get corn balls and a chance to have inter- 

 course with our daughters-in-law. When we start traveling, I am not going to 

 touch you with this club or you will not be able to carry yourselves along." 



As the bulls walked along, the leader sang, "If I want to walk, I walk; when 

 I walk I always say this." 



They stopped three times and then they were at the village. The leader said 

 to the people, "We are bringing you something holy. You will have to furnish 

 us corn balls; we want to walk with our daughters-in-law. In return, we will 

 send the buffalo herds to the village." 



First Creator arrived and announced that he was the one who always in- 

 structed these people and served as their waiter. The leader distributed the 

 red sticks to the other bulls and instructed the people in the Painted Red Stick 

 ceremony. All the other spirits learned of the ceremony and came to eat and 

 walk with their daughters-in-law while the bulls danced for the people. 



The leader of the bulls announced that the one giving the ceremony would be a 

 chief and leader, for he would be able to protect the people from starvation while 

 one who dreamed of the drum used for the dances would strike his enemies. The 

 leader of the bulls announced to the people that they would not come and bring 

 the buffalo herds unless the people offered their wives to the buffalo bulls. Those 

 men who offered their wives would have long and successful lives. 



The oldest buffalo directed the youngest buffalo to dance, while the bull with 

 the drum sang several times so all could memorize this song, "When I want to 

 walk towards the village I say this; when I want tobacco I always say this; when 

 I want to walk towards the corn balls I say this; when I want to walk toward 

 my daughter-in-law I always say this. Dogs will be among them." 



The Awaxawi version was as follows: 



Twelve (six) buffalo bulls — men with the spirits of the buffalo bulls — lived 

 together and painted themselves only in red, never white or black. These men 

 were known as wirukusi for they carried red sticks. In this village the people 

 gambled. A short, fat, and rather ill-looking stranger came to the village and 

 won consistently. He would win all the property the people would put up. 



