THE ORIGIN OF THE ARIKARA. 15 
banks.” Some of the people went back, stopped and turned into this 
kind of bird. 
Again the people journeyed, and again they came to an obstacle. 
This obstacle was the timber. The timber was somewhere near the sun. 
Mother-Corn turned to the gods and asked for help, for the timber 
before them was very thick. There were thorns all over the timber, 
so that even animals could not go through. The gods in the heavens 
had agreed to help Mother-Corn. They gave power to the Owl to 
clear a way through the timber for the people. ‘The Owl came and 
stood before Mother-Corn, and said, “Mother, I will help to make a 
pathway for your people to go through this timber. Any of the people 
who wish to remain with me may become as I am, and we shall remain 
in this timber forever.” The Owl then flew up through the timber. 
As it waved its wings it removed the timber to one side, so that when 
it flew through the timber there was a pathway, so that the people 
could go through. Mother-Corn then led the people through the tim- 
ber and passed onward. 
As they were journeying ‘through the country, all at once they 
came to a big lake. They looked around for help, but they could see 
none. They could not turn back, for Nesaru had instructed Mother- 
Corn to lead the people towards the west. A bird came and stood in 
front of Mother-Corn, and said, “I will make a pathway through this 
water. Let the people stop crying. .I shall help them.” Mother-Corn 
looked at the bird, and said, “Make a pathway for us, and you shall 
have some of my people to remain with you here.” ‘The bird flew and 
jumped into the water. The bird was so swift that it parted the waters 
‘wherever it went, and came out on the other side of the water and left 
the waters parted. This bird was the Loon. The people went over on 
dry land and crossed to the other side. Some of the people turned back, 
and as they went into the water they turned into Loons. The other 
people journeyed on. 
When they had crossed the lake they had no implements, for the 
people at this time had no sense, as they were still animals. Here at 
this place some of the people were cut off, as the waters came together 
and left them on the other side of the big waters. At this place the 
people saw a man who was very tall and whose hair from his mouth 
reached down to his waist, and they exclaimed, “Wonderful!” And 
they were afraid of him. They thought that this man was from the 
heavens. | 
At this place Mother-Corn brought the people together and said, 
“T am Mother-Corn; you shall have my corn to plant, so that you, by 
