FKACHTEXBERG] ALSEA TEXTS AND MYTHS 227 



I should want a person, (that person's) reason will mvariabl}^ dis- 

 appear without any apparent cause." 



And she always lived up the river. So for that reason her name 

 was habitually called A'sin. For that reason was it feared long ago 

 to walk in the woods, because her words were always heard (there). 

 And (also) she carried off two children long ago. For that reason 

 were the children not allowed (to go) outside at night, because she 

 just stayed everywhere. For that reason (those who) long ago went 

 after water at night always had torchlights. Sometimes she would 

 be heard as she was making noises. Now whenever she was heard, 

 (a persoji) would call her name (speaking thus), "Thou art nothing; 

 thy name is A'sin, thou shaft always live in the woods." For that 

 reason she was feared very (much) . 



Whenever a person dreams of her, whenever she gives him power, 

 that person is usually very bad; he habitually becomes a medicine- 

 man. Whenever he is giving (to any woman) some sickness, that 

 woman customarily becomes crazy. (A person also feared to go 

 into the woods) because she was always the one who thus usually 

 gave sickness whenever a person went into the woods. All the 

 people know that such are the actions of a medicine-man. For that 

 reason the people (of) the earl}?" days acted thus, because they aU 

 believed (this to be true). Whenever a person was going to die 

 she always knew it, (and) the A'sin would suddenly be heard in the 

 mountains. She would be crying. Whenever (a person) was about 

 to die, she always knew it. She would be heard, she would be crying 

 like a woman: He! he"! he! 



Only now (it ends) . 



22. Exorcisms During a Moon Eclipse 



When they lived (in a village), (they) never had one house only; 

 there were usually three houses wherever they lived (in a village). 

 Whenever they saw the moon (darkened), one man would usually 

 see it first at night. He would just shout loud, "Do you come out 

 (from) inside; do you come out (from) inside; the moon is now 

 killed." And it is said that the crow usually kills the moon, and also 

 the eagle, and likewise the chicken hawk and, moreover, the owl. In 

 such a number all the birds habitually assemble whenever they kill 

 the moon. 



