Arikara

“ Mother-Corn tells Arikara when journeying west to dress her up and put her in river. When Arikara make permanent village upon Missouri River old men think it time to send Mother-Corn down stream. She is taken from bundle, painted, and dressed. After reciting rituals, Mother-Corn, with children’s moccasins tied about her waist, is thrown by priests into river, her head up stream. Many years afterwards woman comes to village and is recognized by man as Mother-Corn. ”

“ The Arikara, a tolerably numerous people, having left the Missouri, had been for years residing on the Platte River, and having previously had the smallpox did not contract the disease to any extent. About the same time The Gauche was on his way to the Mandan, they returned suddenly from the Platte and took possession of their village a short distance from the Mandan. Now the Arikara numbered about 500 men, all deadly enemies to the Assiniboin, so that when the latter presented their pipe of peace the ceremonies were interrupted by an attack of the Arikara. ”

“ The third transformer is Burnt-Hands, the Burnt-Belly of the Skidi. Like [7] Burnt-Belly, this poor boy, through the aid of certain animals, becomes powerful, kills the mean chief, and calls the buffalo, thus saving his tribe from despotism and famine, and at the same time furnishing by his life a perpetual example to the poor of the Arikara of the value of honest and long-continued effort. ”

“ Arikara follow Ojibwa horse thieves. They overtake different band of Ojibwas and attack them. Brave man is shot through neck by bullet. He seems about to die from loss of blood, when Jack-Rabbit tells him he will not die. Man is attended by Rabbit medicine-man and in less than four days is well. He becomes one of the leading medicine-men of Rabbit band. ”

“ THE ORIGIN OF THE ARIKARA.
[Man Bear’s-Tail relates killing of buffalo cow by father, who calls old woman and keeper of bundle, and describes ceremony of untying bundle. Old man tells origin of bundle and of people.] Nesaru makes giants, but being displeased with them turns them into stones. Nesaru again makes people, small and wonderful. They displease Nesaru, who tells animals to hide. He is going to make water rise from earth. Animals give power to Bear to take people under ground, with assistance of Badger, Mole, and long-nosed Mouse. Fox acts as runner and errand man. ”

“ The old chief was much pleased to have Rabbit-Boy for a son-in-law, for now he would have scalps hanging on top of his tipi. The people got together one day and said they wanted to go on the war-path. The young man joined them. They went to his own country. The young man put his people at a certain place, while he himself went near to the village and found women who were working in their corn patches. There he found one woman whom the Arikara had captured from the people of his wife’s tribe. Rabbit-Boy killed this woman, took her scalp, and took it back to the people of her tribe. ”

“ Phrixus, having arrived in Colchis and been kindly received by the king, Aeetes, sacrificed the ram to Zeus, to whom he also dedicated the fleece, which was afterwards carried away by Jason. Zeus placed the ram in the heavens as the constellation.
ARIKARA, or Aricara (from ariki, horn) , a tribe of North American Indians of Caddoan stock. They are now settled with the Hidatsas and the Mandans on the Fort Berthold Reservation, North Dakota. They originally lived in the Platte Valley, Nebraska, with the Pawnees, to whom they are related. They number about 400. ”

“ Three days afterwards bears attack Arikara camp and kill husband and all people who do not hide in cellars.
45. THE WIFE WHO MARRIED AN ELK.
While man goes hunting men come to see wife. She goes away with one. Husband follows and sees wife walking with Elk. He shoots at it, but arrows do no harm. Elk and woman go into lake. Man stays there crying. Woman comes and tells him to go home and that when he starts upon war-path to come to lake. Man goes on war-path, first going to lake. Sees woman, who tells him [194] that they would kill people in three tipis and capture their ponies. They do so. ”

“ The Mandan and Gros Ventres, being stationed at the fort with those nations, have their dead boxed by the whites and placed on a scaffold made of posts planted near their villages. The Arikara prefer interring them in the ground, and all the rest of the tribes place their dead, secured in the manner described before, in the forks of trees, which in a year or two, as soon as the cords rot off and the envelopes fall to pieces, are blown down, and the bones are found scattered beneath. ”

“ Smoking by Nesaru is to show consent to Mother-Corn having people on earth and that gods are to protect them. Dog comes and tells Mother-Corn that Whirlwind is angry for being slighted in smoke ceremony. Mother-Corn appeals to Nesaru and the gods for assistance. Woman says she will protect the people, and turns into Cedar-Tree. Big-Meteoric-Star falls from heavens by Cedar-Tree to assist. Whirlwind comes and people all run in all directions, and when Whirlwind strikes them it changes their language. People who stand on Cedar-Tree and Rock are Arikara. ”

“ They even sometimes cut off one or two fingers, which they offer as a sacrifice to the Great Spirit, in order that they may return loaded with scalps. [138]
In a recent expedition against the Scioux, the Arikaras killed twenty warriors of the hostile tribe, and piled up the corpses in the middle of their village. The solemn dance of victory then commenced, at which men, women, the aged, and children assisted. ”

“ Lewis and Clark note the common practice of calling the Arikaras, Pawnees, a practice which still exists.
A little later something is said about the chief of the Mandans, and following this comes the story of the tribe’s origin, as given by the Mandans themselves: “Their belief in a future state is connected with this159 tradition of their origin: The whole nation resided in one large village under ground, near a subterraneous lake. A grapevine extended its roots down to their habitation and gave them a view of the light. ”

“ In a little while the braves and sages began to enter one by one, as their names were called or announced, emerging from under the buffalo robe suspended over the entrance instead of a door, stalking across the lodge to the skins placed on the floor, and crouching down on them in silence. In this way twenty entered and took their seats, forming an assemblage worthy of the pencil: for the Arickaras are a noble race of men, large and well formed, and maintain a savage grandeur and gravity of demeanor in their solemn ceremonials. ”

“ They have the same distinctions as the Mandans for their military exploits, and the partisans observe the same ceremonies, only the Arikkara partisan has a head of maize at his breast, which they consider as a great medicine. If they are obliged to retreat they never throw aside their girdle, as the other nations do, however hot the weather may be. It is said that when many Arikkaras are together they do not fight very well, but when there are only a few they show much more bravery. No tribe has killed so many white men as the Arikkaras. ”

“ In the men of highest rank, the arikis, gods were believed to dwell, and other gods were supposed to attend them. Arikis were the wise men of the tribes, and their powers and duties were manifold. They were the people's guides, they discharged many offices in times of peace, and exercised much authority in times of war. In all cases, however, their authority as priests was limited to things in which the interference of the gods could be discerned.
To-day the Maoris, as a people, know not the religion of their forefathers. In the main the pakeha's religion has become their religion. ”

“ Then the Imperial Prince Furubito said:—"The rat lies down in its hole and lives; it leaves its hole and dies." Accordingly Iruka gave up the idea of going, and sent commanders to make search at Ikoma, but they were never able to find him.
Hereupon Prince Yamashiro no Ohoye and his companions returned from the mountain and entered the Temple of Ikaruga. The commanders straightway surrounded the Temple with troops. Then Prince Yamashiro no Ohoye sent Miwa no Fumuya no Kimi with a message to the commanders, saying:—"If I had raised an army, and attacked Iruka, I should certainly have conquered. ”

“ Even the hostile tribes respect an Ariki, and in most cases, if he should be captured in battle, the victors will spare his life. One or two of the most powerful chiefs living have been captured and afterward released, whereas, had they been common men, or even ordinary Rangatiras, they would have been killed, their bodies eaten, and their heads dried and fixed as trophies on the houses of their conquerors. ”

“ Is not the son of Apakura within your coco-nut food baskets?" After a time others said, "O! she is in the very marae itself. Alas! she has burnt it with fire!" Again the ariki spoke, "Why speaks the mouth? Is he not within your baskets?" Not one answered to that; all mouths were closed. After a time said one, "We are all partakers of the same sin." The ariki speaking, reproved them, " Ye are like green coco-nuts, and foolish withal—the high chiefs, the priests, the orators, the leaders, the lesser chiefs; indeed, even the very warriors. Not one has a word of wisdom; the whole land is in fear. ”

“ As a veil to keep you safe through life. ⁠24
[He enters the bullock-cart with Madanikā, and starts away.]
A voice behind the scenes. Men! Men! We have the following orders from the chief of police: "A soothsayer has declared that a young herdsman named Aryaka is to become king. Trusting to this prophecy, and alarmed thereat, King Pālaka has taken him from his hamlet, and thrown him into strict confinement. Therefore be watchful, and every man at his post."
Sharvilaka. [Listening.] What! King Pālaka has imprisoned my good friend Aryaka? And here I am, a married man. ”

“ Men are shot; the blood flows; the wounds are rubbed, and they come to life again. The Arikkaras perform all these tricks with such consummate address, that the illusion is complete, so that most of the French Canadians believe in the reality of all these wonders. No Arikkara will break a marrow-bone in his hut; this must always be done in the open air; they believe that, if they neglect this precaution, their horses will break their legs in the prairie. ”

“ What! the herdsman Aryaka? Like a bird that flees from a hawk, he has fallen into the hand of the fowler. [Reflecting.] He is no sinner, this man who seeks my protection and sits in Chārudatta's cart. Besides, he is the friend of good Sharvilaka, who saved my life. On the other hand, there are the king's orders. What is a man to do in a case like this? Well, what must be, must be. I promised him my protection just now.
He who gives aid to frightened men,
And joys his neighbor's ills to cure,
If he must die, he dies; but then,
His reputation is secure.19
[He gets down uneasily.] ”

“ Even the women did not escape the general enthusiasm: “he leaves not a single virgin to her mother, a single daughter to a warrior, a single wife to her master. Ishtar heard their complaint, the gods heard it, and cried with a loud voice to Aruru: ‘It is thou, Aruru, who hast given him birth; create for him now his fellow, that he may be able to meet him on a day when it pleaseth him, in order that they may fight with each other and Uruk may be delivered.‘When Aruru heard them, she created in her heart a man of Anu. ”

“ Yemishi, Sega no Oho-omi, hearing that Prince Yamashiro no Ohoye and his people had all been destroyed by Iruka, chid him angrily, saying:—"Ah! Iruka! Thou are foolish exceedingly, and dost arbitrarily practise outrage. Is not thine own life precarious?" ”

“ If he have any sickness, even much more sick he shall become. If he have lost aught, it shall never be found. If he have a suit at law, he shall never gain it. If he love a woman, let him have no more expectation of winning her. Only by the most diligent piety can he hope to escape the most frightful calamities. And there shall be no felicity in his portion.'
'All the same, we are fortunate,' declares Akira. 'Twice out of three times we have found luck. Now we will go to see another statue of Buddha.' And he guides me, through many curious streets, to the southern verge of the city. ”

“ Emishi's usurpation of Imperial authority was carried so far that he did not hesitate to confer the rank of o-omi on his son, Iruka, and upon the latter's younger brother also. Iruka now conceived the design of placing upon the throne Prince Furubito, a son of the Emperor Jomei. It will be remembered that the Soga chief, Emishi, had lent his omnipotent influence to secure the sceptre for Jomei, because of the latter's affection for Emishi's daughter. This lady, having become one of Jomei's consorts, had borne to him Prince Furubito, who was consequently Iruka's uncle. ”

“ He knew the village well, for there had been brief periods when the Mandans and the Arikarees were at peace; besides, it was a warrior's business to know an enemy's lodges.
The Arikaree towns were much the same as the Mandan towns. Now Mahtotohpa lay outside and watched, until at dusk he might slip through between the pickets, and seek the lodge of Wongatap. He was enveloped in a buffalo robe, covering his head, so that he would be taken for an Arikaree. ”

“ Things and persons tapu could, however, be made noa by means of certain ceremonies, the object of which was to extract the tapu essence, and restore it to the source whence it originally came. It has been already stated that every tribe and every family has its own especial Atua. The Ariki, or head of a family, in both male and female lines, are regarded by their own family with a veneration almost equal to that of their Atua. [1] They form, as it were, the connecting links between the living and the spirits of the dead ”