MICHELSON. ] WHAT THEY DO WHEN THERE IS A DEATH, 885 
When there is an adoption-feast it is as if the one for whom the 
adoption-feast is given will depart really forever, so that he will not 
(come) back and stay here. It is as if he will go away forever. They 
say that when an adoption-feast is not held within four years the 
person will become an owl, here on this earth. That is why they act 
that way, that is, hold an adoption-feast, so that that will not happen 
to (the dead). And why this food is there, is so that there will be 
many people there to eat. It is asif they are to play with the person 
for whom the adoption-feast is given. And after they eat, they play 
dice or they play the women’s ball game when they don’t play dice, 
when an adoption-feast is given for a woman. The reason perhaps 
why they do that is because it is what that woman habitually did 
when she was still alive. That is why they behave that way. And 
when an adoption-feast is given for these men, they would play cards. 
Sometimes they play the moccasin game (according to the games) the 
men were in the habit of playing. And they would play ball. They 
used lacrosse sticks. It is as if they were playing with him for the last 
time, soit is said. This is how it is when they play ball. When the 
man for whom the adoption-feast is held is a To'kan™, the To- 
‘kanag** win the game. The Kicko'ag™ can not win.t And if it 
is a Ki'cko'“* woman for whom the adoption-feast is given the Ki'ck6- 
‘ag'* win, as in turn the To’kanag® do not win. And that is the 
way it is. And this. When they are dancing, it is as if they were 
playing with him (her). That is how itis. And there is still another 
thing. At the time the person who has been adopted is ready to 
leave, the ones who adopted him (her) usually accompany him (her) 
a little way. They would go holding (the goods) for him (her). 
They, it seems, accompany him (her) a little way. And that is 
how it is. And as long as the one adopted does not give back 
in return (ten sacks of flour), so long is he not to go there. And 
after he has given ten sacks of flour, he can go there any time, 
(or) he can live with them. They will love him very dearly. 
That is the way these Meskwakies do. And as long as he shall live, 
so long is he related to (those who selected him to be their relative). 
That is the way these Meskwakies do when they adopt each other. 
That is as far as I shall tell what I have heard, my friends, my friend 
Wapinenu's™*’. 
‘Ki'cko‘kw4'agki' is rhetorical for Kt'cko‘agki', 
