THE ORIGIN OF THE PIPE-STICK CEREMONY. 53 
many colors. The young man woke up from his dream and for several 
days he sat in his lodge meditating whether to go to the big water he 
had seen or not. At last he made up his mind, and he went. For many 
days he journeyed to the northeast. At last he came to the big stream 
of water. The day was cloudy. He did not know where the sun was. 
While he was sitting upon the bank of the stream he saw the water spout- 
ing up. After a while he noticed that this water-monster of which he 
had dreamed was coming. The monster came up just as it did in his 
dream, and it dived back. Again it came up and went back. A third 
time it came up and went back. The fourth time it came up, remained 
for some time, and then went down into the water. The breath of the 
monster seemed to draw this man into the water. The man was afraid, 
but as he was influenced he ran toward the steep bank of the river. When 
he was near to the water he closed his eyes. He knew no more. When 
he opened his eyes the monster’s head was at the south entrance. The 
man noticed that there were animals of all kinds in this place where he 
was. The monster said: ‘I came from the big waters to this place in 
_ order to bring you a message. I control all animal beings in the big 
waters. I have told them to speak to the people so that they can under- 
stand the powers which we have. In this lodge are different kinds of 
animals. This is an animal medicine-lodge. Here they will teach you 
the mysteries of all the animals. When you have gone home, make an 
image of myself and place it in your lodge. There you must stay by 
yourself, so that I may aie to you in your dreams and teach you the 
songs, and also my powers.’ 
At this time the Skidi did not know that there were birds and auites 
After this man had been in the lodge, and the monster placed him on 
dry land again, it returned to its home. The man went to his home 
also. When the man was in his lodge he began to gather up a lot of 
willows and covering for the sea-serpent which was to be placed in his 
lodge. He killed several buffalo. Among them was one bull. He took 
the scalp from it, and stripped it, so that the sea-serpent would have hair, 
just as he had seen the serpent in the water. The hide was tanned, the 
hair taken off,and was dyed. This was for the covering of the head of 
the sea-serpent. The rest of the body was covered with mud. When it 
came to putting the feather on top of the head, the man did not know 
what to get. 
In the night he hadadream. Hesawamanstandingnearhim. T fe 
man had mud all over him. On his face were streaks of red, blue, and 
yellow. On his head were scattered many soft downy feathers, and on 
the top of the head stood a soft downy feather about eight inches long. 
