THE ORIGIN OF THE BUFFALO CEREMONY. 363 
grounds and I will be there to talk to you.”” The man woke up. He 
had been dreaming. He arose, put his robe about his shoulders, went to 
the creek, and washed. After eating his breakfast he dressed, took his 
pipe and tobacco bag, and went tothe grounds. He sat down on the north- 
east side of the playground as usual, and filled his pipe. After smoking, 
he watched the men play. In the evening when the men finished their 
game, they went home, but Howling-Fox sat still and waited. After 
everybody had gone, he saw a woman coming towards him from the west. 
He arose and went to the woman, who said: ‘‘ Well, do you know 
me? Ihave been to your lodge to talk to you.’”’ The man said: ‘‘ Yes, 
I know who you are. You are not human. You are a Buffalo, for I 
saw your tracks on the ground.’”’ The woman sat down and told him 
to sit down. She then said: ‘‘My son, I have been all over the country 
looking for my daughter. I have seven children and they are all bulls 
but one. My only daughter is missing. I have traveled all over the 
country hunting for her, but can not find her. The other day when 
you were sitting yonder I came by and you heard a rumbling under the 
ground. You wondered what the sound meant. I came in the night 
and went to your lodge and spoke to you. You saw my footprints upon 
this ground. You are wondering what I am here for, but I have told 
you that I have been all over the land looking for my daughter. I found 
my daughter’s tracks upon this ground where the men play the sticks. 
I want you to find my daughter and return her tome. Iwill make youa 
great man. I will give you powers sothat your people will never become 
hungry as long as you live. My daughter runs around on this ground 
once in a while, for some man has her and only uses her in the game when 
he plays with the sticks. She was killed and her genital was taken from 
her and made into a ring, but she came to life again and is now in the 
care of some man. When you go home, go to the different men who 
have these rings. Bring them to me to-morrow night. When I have 
seen them I can tell where my daughter is. Bring also a stout string with 
you. I must now run away, and you must go.” 
The Buffalo woman ran away and Howling-Fox arose and went home. 
He lay down and slept. When he awoke the sun was high. After he 
had eaten breakfast, he went to the different lodges of the men who had 
rings. He went into one of the lodges, passed his hands over the man’s 
shoulders, and said: ‘‘My brother, I want you to take pity upon me. 
I want you to let me havethis ring. If this is not the ring I want, I shall 
return it to you. If it is the one I want, you will be well paid.” The 
owner of the ring said, ‘‘I will let you have the ring.”” The man took 
the ring from his sacred bundle and gave it to Howling-Fox. Howling- 
