A SONG OF HOSPITALITY [J]

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Sioux

I am mashing the berries,
I am mashing the berries,
They say travelers are coming on the march,
They say travelers are coming on the march,
I stir [the berries] around, I stir them around,
I take them up with a spoon of buffalo horn,
I take them up with a spoon of buffalo horn,
And I carry them, I carry them [to the strangers],
And I carry them, I carry them [to the strangers].

“Word comes that travelers are approaching ... on the march with their children, dogs, and household property. She stirs them around with a spoon of buffalo horn and goes to offer them to the strangers. The translation is an exact paraphrase of the rhythmic repetition of the original.”

FOOTNOTE:

[J] James Mooney.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

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