Myths and Legends of the SiouxMyths and Legends of the Sioux by Marie McLaughlin L., first published in 1916, is a rare manuscript, the original residing in one of the great libraries of the world. This book is a reproduction of that original, which has been scanned and cleaned by state-of-the-art publishing tools for better readability and enhanced appreciation. Restoration Editors' mission is to bring long out of print manuscripts back to life. Some smudges, annotations or unclear text may still exist, due to permanent damage to the original work. We believe the literary significance of the text justifies offering this reproduction, allowing a new generation to appreciate it. |
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Common terms and phrases
Arikara arose arrived arrowheads asked baby band of horses bear beautiful Big Eagle bird blanket bow and arrows brave brother buffalo camp Chaske chief Cinye corn crawfish cried crow daugh daughter dead door dress drove enemy father feast flint friend rabbit gave girl grandmother ground Hake hand head heard hill honor horses hunter hunting husband Indians kick killed lake Lake Winnipeg lived looked marry meat medicine medicine men MEDICINE WOMAN moccasins morning mother mourning muskrat night old woman once party ponies Pretty Feather rabbit raccoon robe saying scalp shot side Sioux Sioux language sister slowly soon Standing Rock Agency Stone boy stood tent tepee threw told took trail travois tree tribe turtle uncles Unktomi village war horse warriors White Plume wife witch wood young woman
Popular passages
Page 64 - ... 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.
Page 41 - They chose out — to— a handsome pony, made a new travois and placed the stone in the carrying net. Pony and travois were both beautifully painted and decorated with streamers and colors. The stone was thought "wakan" (holy), and was given a place of honor in the center of the camp. Whenever the camp moved the stone and travois were taken along. Thus the stone woman was carried...
Page 12 - Cousin, I have no beans stored for winter and the season is nearly gone. But I have no snakeskin to gather the beans in. Will you lend me one?" "But why have you no packing bag? Where were you in the moon when the snakes cast off their skins?" "I was here." "What were you doing?" "I was busy talking and dancing.
Page 97 - Eagle, and fearing for their safety from his people, Big- Eagle sent them back to their own village.
Page 44 - When you set free the ghost (the spirit of deceased persons) you must have a white buffalo cow skin." She gave the pipe to the medicine men of the village, turned again to a buffalo cow and fled away to the land of buffaloes.
Page 65 - 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.
Page 103 - The corn trail stops at the edge of this circle," —102— said the old man, "so this must be the home of whoever it was that invited me." He took his bone knife and hatchet and proceeded to dig down .into the center of the circle. When he had got down to the length of his arm. he came to a sack of dried meat. Next he found a sack of Indian turnips, then a sack of dried cherries ; then a sack of corn...
Page 183 - After noting the different landmarks carefully, he arose and slowly started down the slope and soon —182— came to the creek he had seen from the top of the range. Great was his surprise on arriving at the creek to find what a difference there was in the appearance of it from the range and where he stood. From the range it appeared to be a quiet, harmless, laughing stream. Now he saw it to be a muddy, boiling, bubbling torrent, with high perpendicular banks.
Page 111 - MARRIAGE in this way: The Chippewas and Sioux had a great battle, and the Sioux, too numerous for the Chippewas. were killing them off so fast that they had to run for their lives. I was on the Chippewa side and some of the Sioux were pressing five of us, and were gaining on us very fast. Coming to some high grass, I threw myself down Hat on my face, and pressed my stomach close to the ground, so the pursuers could not see me.
Page 49 - ... mother," they told the simpleton, "and in some way contrive to make her laugh and forget her grief. Then try to get the knife away from her." The boy went to the tent and sat down at the door as if waiting to be given something. The corpse lay in the place of honor where the dead girl had slept in life.