20 TRADITIONS OF THE CADDO. 
10. THE ORIGIN OF THE MEDICINE-MEN.* 
In days of old people knew the animals and were on friendly terms 
with them. All of the animals possessed wonderful powers and they 
sometimes appeared to people in dreams or visions and gave them their 
power. Often when men were out hunting and were left alone in the 
forest or on the plains at night, the animals came to them and spoke to 
them in dreams and revealed their secrets tothem. The man who had 
had a dream of this kind woke up and went home. ‘There he remained 
several days in silence, refusing to talk to any one, thinking only of the 
things that had been revealed to him. After a time he called some of 
his friends and the old men of the tribe to his lodge and told them of 
his powers and asked them if they would be taught his secrets. If 
they agreed the man taught them his songs and dances. After he had 
taught them all the necessary things they declared themselves ready to 
give a Medicine-Men’s dance, and gave themselves the title of medicine- 
men. ‘Then if any one was sick in the village and sought the aid of 
the medicine-men they prepared to hold the dance in behalf of that 
person, that they might try their powers of healing on him. They 
built a large grass lodge, and the dance was held in this lodge for six 
days and nights. ; 
The first medicine-men ever to receive power and give the dance 
were two young brothers. These boys were brave hunters, and one 
time when they were out on the hunt night overtook them far from 
any habitation. They made a camp in the lonely woods and laid down 
to sleep, for they were very weary. In their sleep they both had a 
dream and in their dreams each met the other, and they dreamed that 
they were walking together toward the east. On their way they saw 
a man coming toward them, and he was walking rapidly toward the 
west. They met him and he stopped and talked with them in their 
language. After they had talked long, the man revealed a bag that 
he carried and said, ‘‘ Choose from this any kind of medicine that you 
want. If you wish to live long and be hard to kill, take this,’’ and he 
handed them certain medicine. When the boys had accepted it he 
said, ‘‘ Now that you have the same power that I have, I will show 
you how to use it.’’ He spent a long time teaching them how to use 
the medicine and then he continued his journey toward the west. At 
break of day both boys woke up, and each remembered his dream, but 
said nothing to the other or to any one, but thought long on what the 
man had taught him. After many months each began to try his 
powers. 
* Told by Wing. 
