MICHELSON.] THE WAY MESKWAKIES DO WHEN THEY DIE. All 
me whom I left on the surface of the earth.’ And this. That he 
think of our chief who makes us live quietly, that is what you must 
tell our nephew Aiyapa'ti‘“*. You will then remind him of what he 
was told by his elder brother when he himself began to leave him. 
And whatever words may have been addressed to him, whatever he 
may have been told, he will remember that. And so you will say 
to him, ‘I suppose you recollect whatever your elder brother may 
have said to you at the time when he selected this place for you so 
that we might come and be looked after by you. Whatever he may 
have said is probably surely good. And so you must think of my 
fellow Meskwakies. You must think of them in a good way. That 
is the message the one who came to look at me the last, when I was 
laid to rest, sends.’ That is what you must tell him. That is why 
these our friends come to see you, and our women. That is what I 
say to you to-day. You must firmly keep in mind what I say to you.” 
That was as much as he spoke to him. Then that ghost was 
covered with earth. After he had been spoken to, the people sat 
down. While they were burying the body, as long as they were busy 
with him, the people remained seated. And even all of the people 
faced west. And after the body was buried they wept at the same 
time. And it is said that no one talked as long as they were busy 
burying the body. Those burying (the dead) talked to each other. 
But the others did not say a thing to each other. When they were 
no longer busy (in burying the dead) all the people cried. There was 
not one, it is said, who did not cry. All cried. When the sun set, 
then they went to their respective homes. 
Now it is said that one person bitterly wailed over the (dead). 
Soon he was blessed. ‘‘ Now this is what you are to do. You must 
always release each other (i. e., hold an adoption feast). Then the 
soul of the dead will safely and speedily go yonder. You must adopt 
some one. And you must think exactly the same of whomever you 
adopt as you thought of your relative who died. You must think 
exactly that toward them. And you will be related to him exactly 
(as you were to the dead). That is the only way the soul of your 
relative may depart safely and speedily. If you do not do this for 
him he will become an owl. After four years he will become an owl. 
You are always to do this after they have been dead a short 
time. You will beg to make finery. Then you shall summon 
whomever you are going to adopt. After you give a dance for 
him, then you are to have him extend invitations. Then you 
will continue to give some kind of presents to those who are 
invited. That is the way you are to do,’’ he was told by the 
one who blessed him. “If you like, you may cook anything 
for those invited to eat: but it is to be only a little. It must not 
