Traditions of the Arikara

One time the Ojibwa stole many ponies from the Arikara. The Arikara followed the Ojibwa, and they overtook the horse thieves, but a different band of Ojibwa. There were several wagon-loads of them. The Arikara attacked them and fought hard. Several Arikara were wounded, including one of their brave men, who was shot through his neck by a bullet, which passed clear through his neck. The Arikara expected that he would die from loss of blood. As the man seemed about to die he saw a Jack-Rabbit, who spoke to him, and said: “You are not to die; you are to live.” When the battle was over the man was brought to the village of the Arikara. He was taken into the medicine-lodge, and there was attended by the Rabbit medicine-man. In less than four days the man was up and around. He told the Arikara that the Rabbit had spoken to him, and told him that he was not to die from his wound. The man became well, and was one of the leading medicine-men of the Rabbit band. He lived to old age. He died only a few years ago from the bursting of a blood-vessel in the old wound.