myths and legends of the sioux-第7节
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stranger who greeted him and said to him：
〃I know you are a good hunter； for I have been watching you； your
sister； too； is industrious。 Let me have her for a wife。 Then you
and I will be brothers and hunt together。〃
The girl's brother went home and told her what the young stranger
had said。
〃Brother； I do not care to marry；〃 she answered。 〃I am now happy
with you。〃
〃But you will be yet happier married；〃 he answered； 〃and the young
stranger is of no mean family； as one can see by his dress and
manners。〃
〃Very well； I will do as you wish；〃 she said。 So the stranger came
into the tepee and was the girl's husband。
One day as they were in their tent； a crow flew overhead； calling
out loudly；
〃Kaw； Kaw；
They who forsook the children have no meat。〃
The girl and her husband and brother looked up at one another。
〃What can it mean？〃 they asked。 〃Let us send for Unktomi （the
spider）。 He is a good judge and he will know。〃
〃And I will get ready a good dinner for him； for Unktomi is always
hungry；〃 added the young wife。
When Unktomi came； his yellow mouth opened with delight at the fine
feast spread for him。 After he had eaten he was told what the crow
had said。
〃The crow means；〃 said Unktomi； 〃that the villagers and chief who
bound and deserted you are in sad plight。 They have hardly
anything to eat and are starving。〃
When the girl heard this she made a bundle of choicest meat and
called the crow。
〃Take this to the starving villagers；〃 she bade him。
He took the bundle in his beak； flew away to the starving village
and dropped the bundle before the chief's tepee。 The chief came
out and the crow called loudly：
〃Kaw； Kaw！
The children who were forsaken have much meat； those who forsook
them have none。〃
〃What can he mean；〃 cried the astonished villagers。
〃Let us send for Unktomi；〃 said one； 〃he is a great judge； he will
tell us。〃
They divided the bundle of meat among the starving people； saving
the biggest piece for Unktomi。
When Unktomi had come and eaten； the villagers told him of the crow
and asked what the bird's words meant。
〃He means；〃 said Unktomi； 〃that the two children whom you forsook
have tepees full of dried meat enough for all the village。〃
The villagers were filled with astonishment at this news。 To find
whether or not it was true； the chief called seven young men and
sent them out to see。 They came to the three tepees and there met
the girl's brother and husband just going out to hunt （which
they did now only for sport）。
The girl's brother invited the seven young men into the third or
sacred lodge； and after they had smoked a pipe and knocked out the
ashes on a buffalo bone the brother gave them meat to eat； which
the seven devoured greedily。 The next day he loaded all seven with
packs of meat； saying：
〃Take this meat to the villagers and lead them hither。〃
While they awaited the return of the young men with the villagers；
the girl made two bundles of meat； one of the best and choicest
pieces； and the other of liver； very dry and hard to eat。 After a
few days the camp arrived。 The young woman's mother opened the
door and ran in crying： 〃Oh； my dear daughter； how glad I am to see
you。〃 But the daughter received her coldly and gave her the bundle
of dried liver to eat。 But when the old woman who had saved
the children's lives came in； the young girl received her gladly；
called her grandmother； and gave her the package of choice meat
with marrow。
Then the whole village camped and ate of the stores of meat all the
winter until spring came； and withal they were so many； there was
such abundance of stores that there was still much left。
THE SIGNS OF CORN
When corn is to be planted by the Indians； it is the work of the
women folk to see to the sorting and cleaning of the best seed。 It
is also the women's work to see to the planting。 （This was in olden
times。）
After the best seed has been selected； the planter measures the
corn； lays down a layer of hay； then a layer of corn。 Over this
corn they sprinkle warm water and cover it with another layer of
hay； then bind hay about the bundle and hang it up in a spot
where the warm rays of the sun can strike it。
While the corn is hanging in the sun； the ground is being prepared
to receive it。 Having finished the task of preparing the ground；
the woman takes down her seed corn which has by this time sprouted。
Then she proceeds to plant the corn。
Before she plants the first hill； she extends her hoe heavenwards
and asks the Great Spirit to bless her work； that she may have a
good yield。 After her prayer she takes four kernels and plants one
at the north； one at the south； one at the east and one
at the west sides of the first hill。 This is asking the Great
Spirit to give summer rain and sunshine to bring forth a good crop。
For different growths of the corn； the women have an interpretation
as to the character of the one who planted it。
1st。 Where the corn grows in straight rows and the cob is full of
kernels to the end； this signifies that the planter of this corn is
of an exemplary character； and is very truthful and thoughtful。
2nd。 If the rows on the ears of corn are irregular and broken； the
planter is considered careless and unthoughtful。 Also disorderly
and slovenly about her house and person。
3rd。 When an ear of corn bears a few scattering kernels with
spaces producing no corn； it is said that is a good sign that the
planter will live to a ripe old age。 So old will they be that like
the corn； their teeth will be few and far between。
4th。 When a stalk bears a great many nubbins； or small ears
growing around the large one； it is a sign that the planter is
from a large and respectable family。
After the corn is gathered； it is boiled into sweet corn and made
into hominy； parched and mixed with buffalo tallow and rolled into
round balls； and used at feasts； or carried by the warriors on the
warpath as food。
When there has been a good crop of corn； an ear is always tied at
the top of the medicine pole； of the sun dance； in thanks to the
Great Spirit for his goodness to them in sending a bountiful crop。
STORY OF THE RABBITS
The Rabbit nation were very much depressed in spirits on account of
being run over by all other nations。 They； being very obedient to
their chief； obeyed all his orders to the letter。 One of his
orders was； that upon the approach of any other nation that
they should follow the example of their chief and run up among the
rocks and down into their burrows； and not show themselves until
the strangers had passed。
This they always did。 Even the chirp of a little cricket would
send them all scampering to their dens。
One day they held a great council； and after talking over
everything for some time； finally left it to their medicine man to
decide。 The medicine man arose and said：
〃My friends； we are of no use on this earth。 There isn't a nation
on earth that fears us； and we are so timid that we cannot defend
ourselves； so the best thing for us to do is to rid the earth of
our nation； by all going over to the big lake and drowning
ourselves。〃
This they decided to do； so going to the lake they were about to
jump in； when they heard a splashing in the water。 Looking； they
saw a lot of frogs jumping into the lake。
〃We will not drown ourselves；〃 said the medicine man； 〃we have
found a nation who are afraid of us。 It is the frog nation。〃 Had
it not been for the frogs we would have had no rabbits； as the
whole nation would have drowned themselves and the rabbit race
would have been extinct。
HOW THE RABBIT LOST HIS TAIL
Once upon a time there were two brothers； one a great Genie and the
other a rabbit。 Like all genie； the older could change himself
into any kind of an animal； bird； fish； cloud； thunder and
lightning； or in fact anything that he desired。
The younger brother （the rabbit） was very mischievous and was
continually getting into all kinds of trouble。 His older brother
was kept busy getting Rabbit out of all kinds of scrapes。
When Rabbit had attained his full growth he wanted to travel around
and see something of the world。 When he told his brother what he
intended to do； the brother said： 〃Now； Rabbit； you are Witkotko
（mischievous）； so be very careful； and keep out of trouble
as much as possible。 In case you get into any serious trouble； and
can't get out by yourself； just call on me for assistance； and no
matter where you are； I will come to you。〃
Rabbit started out and the first day he came to a very high house；
outside of which stood a very high pine tree。 So high was the tree
that Rabbit could hardly see the top
