Blackfoot Lodge Tales | Page 4

of
Mrs. Thomas Dawson, who gave me help on the story of the Lost
Children. William Jackson, an educated half-breed, who did good
service from 1874 to 1879, scouting under Generals Custer and Miles,
and William Russell, half-breed, at one time government interpreter at
the agency, have both given me valuable assistance. The latter has
always placed himself at my service, when I needed an interpreter,
while Mr. Jackson has been at great pains to assist me in securing
several tales which I might not otherwise have obtained, and has helped
me in many ways. The veteran prairie man, Mr. Hugh Monroe, and his
son, John Monroe, have also given me much information. Most of the
stories I owe to Blackfeet, Bloods, and Piegans of pure race. Some of
these men have died within the past few years, among them the kindly
and venerable Red Eagle; Almost-a-Dog, a noble old man who was
regarded with respect and affection by Indians and whites; and that
matchless orator, Four Bears. Others, still living, to whom I owe thanks,
are Wolf Calf, Big Nose, Heavy Runner, Young Bear Chief, Wolf Tail,
Rabid Wolf, Running Rabbit, White Calf, All-are-his-Children, Double
Runner, Lone Medicine Person, and many others.
The stories here given cover a wide range of subjects, but are fair
examples of the oral literature of the Blackfeet. They deal with religion,
the origin of things, the performances of medicine men, the bravery and
single-heartedness of warriors.
It will be observed that in more than one case two stories begin in the
same way, and for a few paragraphs are told in language which is
almost identical. In like manner it is often to be noted that in different
stories the same incidents occur. This is all natural enough, when it is
remembered that the range of the Indians' experiences is very narrow.
The incidents of camp life, of hunting and war excursions, do not offer
a very wide variety of conditions; and of course the stories of the
people deal chiefly with matters with which they are familiar. They are

based on the every-day life of the narrators.
The reader of these Blackfoot stories will not fail to notice many
curious resemblances to tales told among other distant and different
peoples. Their similarity to those current among the Ojibwas, and other
Eastern Algonquin tribes, is sufficiently obvious and altogether to be
expected, nor is it at all remarkable that we should find, among the
Blackfeet, tales identical with those told by tribes of different stock far
to the south; but it is a little startling to see in the story of the Worm
Pipe a close parallel to the classical myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. In
another of the stories is an incident which might have been taken bodily
from the Odyssey.
Well-equipped students of general folk-lore will find in these tales
much to interest them, and to such may be left the task of commenting
on this collection.

STORIES OF ADVENTURE

THE PEACE WITH THE SNAKES
I
In those days there was a Piegan chief named Owl Bear. He was a great
chief, very brave and generous. One night he had a dream: he saw
many dead bodies of the enemy lying about, scalped, and he knew that
he must go to war. So he called out for a feast, and after the people had
eaten, he said:--
"I had a strong dream last night. I went to war against the Snakes, and
killed many of their warriors. So the signs are good, and I feel that I
must go. Let us have a big party now, and I will be the leader. We will
start to-morrow night."
Then he told two old men to go out in the camp and shout the news, so
that all might know. A big party was made up. Two hundred men, they
say, went with this chief to war. The first night they travelled only a
little way, for they were not used to walking, and soon got tired.
In the morning the chief got up early and went and made a sacrifice,
and when he came back to the others, some said, "Come now, tell us
your dream of this night."
"I dreamed good," said Owl Bear. "I had a good dream. We will have
good luck."

But many others said they had bad dreams. They saw blood running
from their bodies.
Night came, and the party started on, travelling south, and keeping near
the foot-hills; and when daylight came, they stopped in thick pine
woods and built war lodges. They put up poles as for a lodge, and
covered them very thick with pine boughs, so they could build fires and
cook, and no one would see the light and smoke; and they