Francis La Flesche, "E-NoN' MiN-dse-toN (Owners of the Bow) Gens," from The Osage Tribe, Rites of the Chiefs and Sayings of the Ancient Men (1914/1921)

1. Verily, at that time and place, it has been said, in this house, 

2. The Wa-zha -zhe, a people who possess seven fireplaces, 

3. Spake to the E-noN' MiN-dse ToN (the Bow gens of the Wa-zha'-zhe subdivision) 

4. Saying: O, Wa-zha'-zhe, 

5. We have nothing that is fit for use as a symbol. 

6. Verily, at that time and place, it has been said, in this house, 

7. The E-noN' MiN-dse ToNn replied: You say you have nothing that is fit for use as a symbol. 

8. I am a person who is fitted for use as a symbol. 

9. Verily, in the midst of the rushing waters (in the midst of the shallow rapid) 
10. Abides my being. 

11. Verily, I am a person who has made of the waters his body. 

12. Behold the right side of the river. 

13. Of it I have made the right side of rny body. 

14. When the little ones make of me their bodies 

15. And use the right side of the river 

16. To make their bodies, 

17. The right side of their bodies shall be free from all causes of death. 

18. Behold the left side of the river. 

19. Of it I have made the left side of my body. 

20. When the little ones also make of that the left side of their bodies, 

21. That side of their bodies shall always be free from all causes of death. 

22. Behold the channel of the river. 

23. Of it I have made the hollow of my body. 

24. When the little ones make of me their bodies, 

25. The hollow of their bodies shall always be free from all causes of 

death. 

26. There is also an animal of which I have made my body. 

27. It is the redfish 

28. Of which I have made my body, 

29. That I might be free from all causes of death. 

30. When the little ones make of the redfish their bodies, 

31. They shall always live to see old age. 

32. Behold the blackfish. 

33. Of it I have made my body. 

34. When the little ones make of it their bodies, 

35. They shall always live to see old age. 

36. Verily, at that time and place, it has been said, in this house, 

37. He said to the people: Behold the otter. 

38. Of it also I have made my body. 

39. When the little ones make of the otter their bodies, 

40. They shall always live to see old age. 

41. When the people of the Tsi'-zhu 

42. And of the HoN'-ga 

43. Make of the otter their bodies, 

44. They shall always be free from all causes of death. 

45. Behold the male beaver.

46. Of it also I, as a person, have, verily, made my body. 

47. When the little ones make of the beaver their bodies, 

48. They shall always live to see old age. 

49. Seven willow saplings 

50. The beaver brought to the right side of his house, 

51. Dragging them with his teeth to his house, laying them down in a pile. 

52. Then he spake, saying: These saplings 

53. I have made to represent certain things, 

54. The things spoken of as o-doN' (military honors). 

55. Verily, I, as a person, have made them to represent the o-doN'. 

56. Against the current of the river the beaver went forth, 

57. Rippling the surface of the water as he made his way, 

58. Saying as he did so: Behold the parting of the waters in forked lines as I push forth. 

59. The ripples of the waters I have made the means to reach old age. 

60. When the little ones make of me their bodies 

61. The gods shall always make way for them as do these waters for me. 

62. He struck the surface of the water with his tail, making a cracking noise, as he pushed forth, 

63. And he said: These strokes 

64. I make not without a purpose. 

65. Toward the setting of the sun are our enemies. 

66. In striking the waters I strike our enemies. 

67. The beaver went again against the current and came to the second bend of the river, 

68. Where stood a sapling of the never-dying willow. 

69. He cut down the sapling and dragged it to his house, 

70. Then he spake, saying: When the little ones use this for counting, 

71. They shall always count their o-doN' with accuracy. 

72. Verily, at that time and place, it has been said, in this house, 

73. The beaver went again against the current and came to a third bend of the river, 

74. Where stood a sapling of the never-dying willow. 

75. He cut down the sapling and dragged it to his house, 

76. Then he spake, saying: When the little ones use this for counting, 

77. They shall always count their o-doN' with accuracy. 

78. The beaver went again against the current and came to the fourth bend of the river, 

79. Where stood a sapling of the never-dying willow. 

80. He cut down the sapling and dragged it to his house, 

81. Then he spake, saying: When the little ones use this for counting, 

82. They shall always count their o-doN' with accuracy. 

83. The beaver went again against the current and came to the fifth bend of the river, 

84. Where stood a sapling of the never-dying willow. 

85. He cut down the sapling and dragged it to his house, 

86. Then he spake, saying: When the little ones use this for counting, 

87. They shall always count their o-doN' with accuracy. 

88. The beaver went again against the current and came to the sixth bend of the river, 

89. Where stood a sapling of the never-dying willow. 

90. He cut down the sapling and dragged it to his house, 

91. Then he spake, saying: When the little ones use this for counting, 

92. They shall always count their o-doN' with accuracy. 

93. The beaver went again against the current and came to the seventh bend of the river, 

94. Where stood a sapling of the never-dying willow. 

95. He cut down the sapling and dragged it to his house, 

96. Then he spake, saying: This also the little ones shall use. 

97. When the little ones use this for counting, 

98. They shall always count their o-doN' with accuracy.