ABSTRACTS. 505 
68, THE WITCH-WOMAN WHO STOLE THE WONDERFUL BUFFALO 
. ROBE. 
In village lives Witch-Woman who kills many people and is great thief. She 
also has power to turn people into animals. People try to kill her, and pound her 
with sticks, cut her with knives, but in vain. They appeal to priest, and he sings 
songs which foretell of the death of old woman. In spring stranger visits them 
wearing robe painted with stars, clouds, lightning, sun, moon, swallows, and flies. 
He is challenged by deer who belongs to old woman to race. Boy is victorious. 
Boy one day is gambling. False alarm of enemy is given. In confusion woman 
steals his robe. She taunts him and tells him he will never find it again. She is 
wearing it as skirt. Boy sings four times. Old woman recognizes his power, gives 
up robe, and she is taken up to heavens in rainstorm, and is thrown back into mud 
ravine and begins to urinate, andhenceforth is spring. Boysays that thereafter she 
would either be spider or black-tailed deer, that his work is done, that he represents 
North Wind. And he becomes speckled snowbird and flies to north. 
69. HOW THE CANNIBAL WITCH-WOMAN WAS OVERCOME. 
Boy goes to village, where he is invited by Eyes-Wide-Open, Coyote, to eat 
with Witch-Woman. He refuses to eat and she challenges him to contest. On 
morrow they dive into river, both remaining under water until afternoon. Old 
woman is victorious, boy is killed, and woman places his head with her other tro- 
phies. Dead boy’s twin brother sets out to find him; arrives at village. On night 
before contest he goes to river bank and cries. Beaver comes and takes boy into 
Beavers’ lodge, and in council they decide tohelp him. They feed him with meat of 
young beaver’s leg, which has been boiled, bone of which is thrown into water. 
Young Beaver who thus lost his leg dives into water and returns with his leg 
intact. Beaver chief gives boy blue mud, with which he paints himself. On 
following day contest takes place. As boy dives he enters Beavers’ lodge, where 
again Beaver’s leg is cut off. While meat is cooking boy sleeps, while Beaver 
watches bank to see if old woman has appeared. By night old woman thinks she 
must be victorious and appears on bank. Watcher informs Beavers, who awaken 
boy, who eats, and Beaver’s leg is restored and boy appears above water victorious. 
Witch people are killed and trampled into ground, water being forced from old 
woman, and she becomes spring near river. 
70. THE GIRL WHO CALLED THE BUFFALO. 
Coyote and his wife, Spider-Woman, are famishing. Each day he cuts small 
piece from her dress which he eats. He goes far into country, but finds no game. 
In evening he smells roasting meat and follows odor for four days. He finds tipi; is 
invited in; young girl is sitting on west. On floor of tipi is placed sweet grass. 
Coyote tells her of his condition. She asks him to await her brothers’ return. 
There is rushing noise in sky and Bald Eagle enters. He is followed by White 
Eagle, black and other eagles. Each calls Coyote grandfather, but he can not see 
them. Next, comes Hawk, then Crow, then Magpie. Eagles take girl on south side 
of tipi and swing her from two lariats which hang from sky. She flies away toward 
west. Asshe returns buffalo followher. Eaglestake girlinto tipi, while Crow flies 
among buffalo, saying, ‘‘Caw! Caw!’ thus killing two buffalo. Coyote is told to 
