MICHELSON.] THE WAY MESKWAKIES DO WHEN THEY DIE. 409 
You will know it. But you must ask each other for life. That is 
what I say to you,” he was told by Wi'sa‘ka™*’. 
After he had spoken he walked off. He went gently up above. 
Finally (the man) ceased seeing him. After he saw him no more it 
became cloudy. After it blew there it became cloudy, it snowed 
heavily. it snowed as if it were winter. ‘I declare! That fellow 
was Wisa‘ki‘’,”’ he thought. Then that man himself departed. 
He did not forget what he had been told. He always thought of it. 
And so that man ceased fasting continuously 
Soon he told it to one person with whom he was acquainted. He 
was listened to carefully. One of them had died. At that time they 
lived many a winter. At that time a woman was delivered. It is 
said that she suffered no pain at all. And soon later on after many 
years another person died. Then, it is said, he was ordered to speak 
to the dead. (The dead) was treated according to what (the one 
instructed by Wi'sa‘ki‘**) said. First he was washed. After he 
was washed he was arrayed in finery. Then, it is said, they went to 
dig the grave. There were women and one man. The women were 
digging where the dead should repose. He (the one mentioned above) 
was directing (the ceremony). And the people all said to each other, 
“We surely have a good rule.” 
And he spoke to the dead. The dead was placed toward where 
the sun goes down. He, the former, was standing where the other’s 
feet were. And this, it is said, is what he said to (the dead): 
“Now my relative this day you have been deprived of your sight 
while it is daylight. Think only of quiet thoughts. Do not uselessly 
think of what is evil. Think only of what is good. And do not 
think wrongly of any of your relatives. Think well of them. But 
do not think backwards of them. You must merely look ahead. 
You will go to live where your fellow people live, where this one who 
continually shines (i. e., the sun) goes down out of sight shining. As 
long as this earth continues to have green grass on it,’ so long shall 
you continue to go there. Do not think at all about our town. You 
are to think of what is good as you walk away, when you start to 
leave us. Merely (think) that you will safely reach those with whom 
you will live. Think firmly of that. You must pity those whom 
you have left wretched on the surface of the earth. This is what you 
must tell Aiyapa'ti'** when you arrive where he is. ' You must tell 
only what is good. You must tell him, ‘This is what they said to 
3 This is the sense of the passage, evenif rendered a trifle freely. 
3599°—257- 27 
