INTRODUCTION. 19 
prayed to as one of the important gods. Smoke and food are also to be 
offered to him, inasmuch as we know, according to the tales, that while 
upon earth he took pity upon the people, that they might have good 
fortune, live long, be free from sickness, and have good success in war. 
The Moon is the special guardian of the women, for she is a woman 
and possesses all the powers which women desire. She it was who taught 
the first woman on earth and gave her power. She instructs the women 
as to the time of the monthly sickness, informs them when they are 
pregnant, and when the child is to be born, and thas told them that 
after birth the child must be offered to her by passing the hands over 
the child’s body and raising it aloft, offering it to the Moon, at which 
time she is asked to bestow her blessing upon the child, that he may 
grow into power rapidly, for she herself has the power to increase 
rapidly in size. Furthermore, she regulates the increase not only of 
human beings, but of all animals, birds, and plants. 
Somewhat similar in her power to the Moon is the woman known 
as “Woman-having-Powers-in-the-water (Otskahakakaitshoidiaa). 
‘She it is who has power over the water. She is chief of all water 
potencies and things living in the water. She not only furnishes drink, 
but cleanses and ‘heals the people by the action of water. The child is 
taken to her at birth and she bestows upon it the power to grow to old 
age. She is also the special guardian of the wife left at home when her 
husband has gone on the war-path. She it is who encourages her to 
remain virtuous, and thereby make sure of the good fortune of her 
husband while on his journey. Thus the wife repairs to the river in 
the morning, just as the Morning Star rises, and also late in the 
evening, and bathes secretly. As she goes to the river she wears a new 
skirt of buffalo drawn up tightly over her shoulders and held at her 
waist by a buffalo hair lariat rope, while her feet are encased in mocca- 
sins tightly wrapped with rawhide strings. These she changes each 
night before retiring. Again, putting on her costume early in the 
morning, as before, she hastens to the river and during this time, at 
any meal, she eats only four spoonfuls. 
Next in power and in reverence is Mother-Earth, who gives birth 
to everything, is mother of everything, who keeps everything, even her 
bosom for the people to walk upon. Prayers are offered to the earth 
before journeys: “As I start on this journey, and as I take this first 
step, carry me through to the end of my journey.” She is also a great 
medicine chest, keeping upon her body various roots, etc., used in 
healing: ‘We are children of the earth, and as we go on a journey 
