THE ORIGIN OF THE ARIKARA. 21 
chicken has white spots upon its feathers.) ‘As you have carried 
the pipes yourself to the gods, so it shall be to all people who shall 
make a sacrifice to the gods that they themselves must go through 
the smoke ceremony, that the gods may receive the smoke offering 
from the person himself who makes the offering.” 
In the smoking Nesaru let the gods know that he had given 
his consent to Mother-Corn to have people upon the earth; and that 
the gods were also to give their power to the people and protect them. 
So it was the place of the gods to help Mother-Corn whenever she 
called upon them for help. 
After they had smoked to the gods there came a Dog running 
into the camp and telling Mother-Corn that one of the gods, the 
Whirlwind, who stands a little to the southwest, had been slighted 
in the smoke ceremony and the Whirlwind was angry. Then the 
Dog said to Mother-Corn, “That God, the Whirlwind, is coming. Be 
quick and do something for the people, for the gods in the ‘heavens 
promised you aid when the people should be in trouble.” Mother- 
Corn stood up and spoke, saying, “Nesaru and the gods, I want help, 
for the Whirlwind is coming to destroy my people!” A woman step- 
ped in front, and said, “I will be the one to save the people.” She 
stood up and was turned into a Cedar-Tree. Then there was a noise 
in the heavens and a Rock fell by the Cedar-Tree. A voice spoke 
from the heavens, and said, “I am the -Big-Black-Meteoric-Star. I 
shall assist the Cedar-Tree to save the people.” The people then 
ran up to the Cedar-Tree and around the rock. The Whirlwind 
came, and some of the people ran away, some going north, some west, 
some south and some east, and when the Whirlwind struck these 
people it changed their language. The people who stood upon the 
Cedar-Tree and the Rock remained as the Arikara. When the Whirl- 
wind struck Mother-Corn she vomited red water, and after the water 
there came out a red ear of corn. Again she vomited and threw up 
yellow water, which was followed by a yellow ear of corn. Again 
she vomited, and there came up black water and a black ear of corn. 
Now she vomited and there came up white water and a white ear of 
corn. The Whirlwind passed the people and it turned back and came 
to Mother-Corn. It said to her: “You slighted me in your smoke. I 
became angry. I have left behind me diseases, so that the people will 
become sick and die. You wanted your people to live forever, but 
I have left sickness behind, so that it will fall upon the people who 
are proud and dress fine; but always remember when you offer smoke 
to the gods to give me smoke towards the last, so that I shall not visit 
