iby 
THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE STORY HOW ANY ONE 
DIKES. 
Well, this, very likely, was what they did when one person first 
lost his life. The one who first died is why Wi'sa‘ki‘*’’s custom 
first began. It seems likely that at one time the manitous were 
having a council about Wi'sa‘kii'“’s younger brother, and also 
himself. As these manitous did not like the two brothers soon they 
decided to kill one of them. So, it appears, one (of them) was sent 
to summon Wi saka'*"’s grandmother. 
When the old woman arrived there, behold the manitous were 
seated in a row with their knees touching each other. She squatted 
down at the rear of the wickiup. She was given a pipe to smoke at 
the door. She at once accepted it. After she accepted it, she was 
addressed: “‘Now this is why these manitous summon you. They 
think their lives will not be peaceful. One of these your grandchil- 
dren shall cease living,” she was told, “your grandson who is the big 
one,” she was told. ‘‘Oh ho, that is why you summon me,” said the 
old woman. ‘‘Well, I think the big one has already completed his 
plans. The ceremonial runner is the one whom you might get, if you 
were able,” she said. “He probably already knows that I came here 
this day,” the old woman said. She then went out. 
Several days later a ceremonial attendant went crying about, 
“Now we shall go about and look at this island of ours. Those of 
you who are brothers, shall go in opposite directions,” the cere- 
monial attendant and runner said while going around. 
When, it seems, the younger (brother) was led, he was made to 
accompany them toward the north; the old one was led toward the 
south. They looked about this earth. 
After this Wisa‘ki'“* had been led far off, then it appears that he 
began to lose those whom he accompanied. Then Wi'sa‘kii‘** was 
suspicious. ‘‘What are these going to do?” thought Wi'sa‘ka™*. 
They became fewer and fewer in number. Finally he went along with 
only four. ‘I shall not lose these now,” he thought. At first these 
did all sorts of things. ‘I shall stop to tie my bundle well,” they 
continued to say. And then he continued to lose them. Finally he 
went along with two. ‘I shall not lose these,” Wi'sa’ki‘’ probably 
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