Omaha Folk-Lore Notes

Abstract

THE Omaha myths account thus for the origin of vegetation: Ictinike (E-shte'-ne-kay) created fruits and vegetables, as well as grapes, out of parts of himself. The full account cannot be given, but the original text, with interlinear translation, notes, and free English translation, may be published hereafter by the Bureau of Ethnology. Suffice it to say that there is a reference to the Hindoo Lingam. This Ictinike answers to the Iowa Ictcifke (E-shchin'-kay), the son of di (the sun-god), Unktomi (the spider?) of the Santee Dakotas, and Ikto, or Iktomi, of the Teton Dakotas. In the Omaha and Ponka myths, Ictinike is the cunning rival of the Rabbit, by whose son he is finally slain. Ictinike is also the Black Man, the Deceiver, who taught the Indians their war customs. After this first creation Ictinike married, and had his own lodge. He said to his wife, I will go to visit your grandfather, the Beaver. He did not take his wife with him. On arriving at the Beaver's lodge he found that there was nothing for him to eat. The youngest of the Beaver's four sons said that he would be the food for the guest. So the father killed him. When the meal was ready the Beaver warned i tgagecet ha, Mintmangi. You say that to me, O Min-mani1 ! 213