Traditions of the Arikara

A man named Rolling-Log courted an Arikara woman, but she would not have him. One day a whole lot of Arikara men got together, and prepared to go hunting. Rolling-Log was one of them. This woman whom Rolling-Log wanted to marry went to him and said, “If you will bring home to me enough sinew to last a whole year I will marry you.” Rolling-Log said that he would try to get enough, for he wanted to marry this woman. He went south and killed many deer, black tails, and antelope. Rolling-Log got about twenty-four sinews, and he thought this was enough for the woman; so he went home.

While the hunters were on the chase Rolling-Log’s girl had become sick and died. When Rolling-Log came home he at once went over in the evening, where the girl had lived. He had the sinew for the girl, and he stood outside in front of the entrance, waiting for the girl to come out. A man by the name of Red-Horse came out, and Rolling-Log asked Red-Horse if his girl was inside. Red-Horse stood still for some time, and said, “My friend, the girl that you speak of died while you were out hunting.” Rolling-Log stood there, surprised to hear that his girl was dead. He went back to his lodge and scolded his people because they had not told him that the girl was dead. He felt so bad that he went among the hills and never returned to the Arikara camp.