DAKOTA MYTHS. Lata} 
NOTES. 
These Dakota myths, with interlinear translations, are all written out by 
Dakota men, and hence are pure specimens of the language. This one of the 
Bad Songs is by Rev. David Grey Cloud, one of our native pastors, and, as he is a 
Santee, the peculiarities are of that dialect, in which our books are generally written. 
The rhythmic quality of the language comes out very fairly in Uyktomi’s songs: 
Istohmus waci po; 
Tuwe yatonwe Cin, 
Ista nisapi kta; 
Ista nisapi kta. 
And in this, reduplication and repetition are finely illustrated: 
Miye keskes, owakipa: 
Miye keskes, owakipa. 
TRANSLATION. 
There is a myth which is told in this way: Unktomi was going along; his way 
lay along by the side of a lake. Out on the lake were a great many ducks, geese, 
and swans swimming. When Uyktomi saw them he went backward out of sight, 
and plucking some grass bound it wp in a bundle, which he placed on his back and 
so went again along by the side of the lake. 
Then the ducks and the geese and the swans said, ** Uyktomi, what is that you 
are carrying?” And Uyktomi said, ‘‘ These are bad songs which I am carrying.” 
Then the ducks said, “Now, Unktomi, sing for us.” But Unktomi replied, “ But 
indeed the songs are very bad.” Nevertheless the ducks insisted upon it. Then 
Uyktomi said, “ Make a large grass lodge.” So they went to work and made a large 
inclosure. 
Then Unktomi said, ‘‘ Now, let all of you ducks, geese, and swans gather inside 
the lodge, and I will sing for you.” Whereupon the ducks, the geese, and the swans 
gathered inside and filled the grass lodge. Then Unktomi took his place at the door 
of the grass lodge and said, “ If I sing for you, no one must look, for that is the mean- 
So saying, he commenced to sing: 
” 
ing of the song. 
“Dance with your eyes shut; 
If you open your eyes 
Your eyes shall be red! 
Your eyes shall be red!” 
While he said and sung this the ducks, geese, and swans danced with their 
eyes shut. Then Unktomi rose up and said as he sang: 
“T even, even I, 
Follow in my own; 
I even, even I, 
Follow in my own.” 
So they all gabbled as they danced, and Uyktomi, dancing among them, com- 
menced twisting off the necks of the fattest and the best looking of the ducks, geese, 
7105—VOL. IX 8 

