MICHELSON. ] AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A FOX WOMAN. 333 
If they were to look backward they would die soon. It is far off where 
they are to go, and turn to go back. That is what they (are supposed 
to) do. Perhaps you did not do that, so I have heard,’ my uncle 
said to me. 
“T did not know that that was the way. For I did not hear my 
mother, when she was alive, speak of how those unreleased from 
death-ceremonies should act. That is why I did not know what 
should be done. I did not go there when (my husband) was buried. 
I stayed here in the wickiup,”’ I told my uncle. 
“This is why they do that, so they may run and hide from that 
soul, and why they wander around in thick brush,’’ he said to me. 
“So that is why you feel so badly. If you had done as I now tell you, 
you would not be that way. And when you eat always put some on 
the fire for him. Do not forget (to do this) as long as an adoption- 
feast has not been held and as long as you are not freed from death- 
ceremonies. That is what you must do,’’ my uncle said to me. 
“Well, that is all. I shall soon come again to give you instructions,” 
he said to me. And he departed. 
And then always when I ate [ put (food) on the fire for my hus- 
band. And I tried to cease to think of him all the time as I was 
afraid to die early. 
Later on when I heard that an adoption-feast was about to take 
place, sure enough they soon came to summon me. When I came 
there, there were many Indians. When I went in there, the ones 
who were adopted were eating there. When they fed me it was as 
if we were eating with my husband for the last time, in order that he 
might be released. After I had eaten, I was told, “Take off your 
clothing.’’ Then they began to clothe me in fresh clothes, and my 
hair was combed and my face was washed. And then I was told, 
“Well, do not take off your (clothing). For (mow) you are to be 
clad like this. You may begin to wear finery. You may go and do 
whatever you please. If you are desirous of marrying anyone, you 
may marry him. Some one will take care of you if you marry him. 
Do not be afraid of us. You have pleased us by treating our relative 
well while he was alive. So why should we be against you? So you 
must believe what we say to you this day.’ And then I departed. 
For the first time I began to wear fresh clothing. And I began to 
be careful again. And that uncle of mine came again. “At last I 
have come to give you instructions again, my niece. This day you 
have ceased to be restricted by death-ceremonies. You know how 
hard it was to find a good man who treated you well. So you must 
feel very badly. Do not stop thinking of him (in a little while). 
A good man is hard to find. You know how your first husband 
treated you in the past. He abused you badly. So you should not 
