THE ORIGIN OF THE ARIKARA. 25 
people. So he went and blew down trees, the path was cleared, and 
the people all went on. They then came to the third and last obstacle, 
which was a very deep ravine that no man could walk down and up. 
Then one bird, the Kingfisher, said he would make the way. So he 
did, and all the people went across. Now they went on. They came 
to an open prairie. Here they saw a buffalo, a very large animal, 
whose horns seemed to reach to the sky. The people were amazed, 
and were very much afraid of him. They could find no way to kill 
him. But the Mole, the Skunk, and the Badger agreed to work to- 
gether once more. The Mother-Corn was willing to let them do so. 
The Fish also said that he would be the one to kill the animal. Where 
the animal stood there was a very beautiful lake where he had always 
gone to get his drink. The three went and worked under the surface 
of the earth. They made many holes all around the animal. The 
three returned, after they had made all the ground loose about the 
animal. ‘The animal started, and went toward the lake for water, 
while the people watched, to see what would happen to him. He 
came to the shore, and while he was drinking the Fish went up into 
his mouth and into his throat and into his stomach. Inside, he worked 
with this fins and cut the animal very badly. The animal ran, then got 
into the loosened ground. Finally he fell, bled and died. The Fish 
then came out. All the people came and were very much surprised 
because of the appearance of the animal. They were afraid of him, 
so they worshiped him. The hairs on him were grass. The horns 
on him were trees, with thick bark. The end of his nose was a big, 
black sunflower. Most of his outside appearance was in the form of 
Mother-Earth. She blood from the buffalo sank down into the earth, 
was hardened and became a stone, and from this stone Jater on they 
made their pipes. They butchered the buffalo and divided his flesh 
- among the different sacred bundles in different villages. They counted 
and kept all the joints in the animal, and they are preserved in the 
bundles. , 
Then, again, they went on westward, and after many days they 
stopped, and separation took place. The Mother-Corn called a council, 
and they all met together. Tihe fowls, fishes, and animals all agreed 
that they would separate from the people. They gave as much power 
as they could spare to the Mother-Corn. The Mother-Corn was 
very thankful, because she was to get her food from any animal that 
she should like. Besides, she was to get all her clothing from them. 
At last, the Mother-Corn separated from the animals. 
This will give an idea to all how the Arikara originated under 
the earth. Yet it seems a mystery to us, and it is for us to solve. 
