THE @CEGIHA LANGUAGE. 
PART 1 
MYTHS, STORIES, AND LETTERS. 
INTRODUCTION. 
The myths, stories, and letters in the present volume have been 
obtained directly. from Indians. They were dictated in (egiha, and 
written in that language by the collector. 
A brief account of each of the Indian authorities for these texts may 
not be considered out of place. 
1. Joseph LaF léche is a gentleman to whom I am indebted, not only 
for myths in (legiha and ypiwere, but also for a knowledge of the latter 
tongue, a collection of ethnological notes, ete. I regard him as my best 
authority. By birth he is a Ponka, but he has spent most of his life 
among the Pawnees, Otos, and Omahas. He has acquired a knowledge of 
several Indian languages, and he also speaks Canadian French. While 
Frank, his younger brother, has remained with the Ponkas, and is now 
reckoned as a chief in that tribe, Mr. LaF léche has been counted as an 
Omaha for many years ‘Though debarred by Indian law from member- 
ship in any gens, that did not prevent him receiving the highest place in 
the Omaha governmental system. He has some influence among the Paw- 
nees, and when the Yankton Dakotas wished to make peace with the 
former tribe, it was effected through the instrumentality of Mr. LaF léche, 
