THE ORIGIN OF THE ARIKARA. 25 
¢(. THE ORIGIN OF THE ARIKARA.* 
I sacrificed several buffalo to Mother-Corn. I used to sit and 
listen to the songs. Finally the old men gave me a seat with them, so 
I learned to sing the bundle songs. The old men then told us this 
story : 
A long time ago, the Arikara lived under the ground. There were 
four animals who looked with pity upon the people, and these animals 
agreed to take the people up on top of the earth. These animals were 
the long-nosed Mouse, the Mole, the Badger, and the Fox. The Fox 
was the messenger to the people to tell them of what the animals were 
doing. ‘The Mole was the first to dig. He ran back, for he was 
blinded by the brightness of the sun. The animals went out. The 
people came out of the earth, the Fox being in the lead. As the people 
were coming out there was an earthquake. The Arikara came out. 
The other people were again held fast by the earth. 
These people who came out from the ground then journeyed 
west. They came to a place where the earth shook, so that there was 
a chasm or a steep bank. The people waited and cried. The Badger 
stepped forward and began digging, so that it made a pathway for the 
people. The people went across this place, and continued their journey. 
All through the journey Mother-Corn was absent, for she had gone 
into the heavens to ask the gods to let the people live. The obstructions 
that the people met were wonderful powers. This strange being was 
known as Sickness (Natogo). After all the people had passed the 
first obstacle they sat down and gave thanks and made offerings to 
the gods. 
Again they went upon their journey, and it stormed. In front of 
them was a river. They could not cross it, for it was very deep; but 
a Loon was sent by the gods. The Loon came to the people, and said: 
“Your mother is traveling in the heavens to help you. I was sent 
by the gods to open up this river, so you could cross and go on your 
journey.” ‘The Loon flew across the river, flew back, then dived and 
came out on the other side of the river. ‘The river was opened ; it banked 
up on each side; the people crosssed over and the waters came a Necetagsteh 
again. Some people were left on the other side. 
Again they journeyed, and they came to a place where Mother- 
Corn stopped and said: “The big Black-Wind is angry, for we did 
not ask it to come with us, neither did we make it one of the gods to 
receive smoke. But,’’ said Mother-Corn, “the Black-Meteoric-Star 

*Told by Four-Horns. 
