a 
| 
MICHELSON.] MAN UNRELEASED FROM DEATH CEREMONIES. 447 
of anything. You will quickly become a widower released from 
death-ceremonies. We have control of whenever we shall release 
(by an adoption-feast) the one who is no longer here, the one with 
whom you lived. If we so desire, then we shall begin to release her. 
Your brother-in-laws shall make ready to release you. As soon as 
they have released you you may go around and do whatever you 
please. Even now after you became a widower unreleased from 
death-customs you desired to begin to go around (visiting, etc.). You 
did not behave well. Now who would love you? You are now a 
“widower unreleased from death-ceremonies. If a widower unreleased 
from death-ceremonies acts this way, namely, he waits first to be a 
widower released from death-ceremonies and after he is released 
from death-ceremonies he then looks around (for a woman); surely 
he is moral in following the rules of being a widower unreleased from 
death-ceremonies. When he behaves that way, if he loves any 
(woman), if he speaks to her, he will not be refused. Now the way 
you have been acting is not proper. You are the cause of us first 
fasting. Youmake usfastnow. We would have felt badly whenever 
we saw you, you would have made us feel very badly on account of it. 
When a man does this, follows strictly the rules of beng a widower 
unreleased from death-ceremonies, whenever he is seen by a woman 
related to (the man’s dead wife), she feels badly. For surely he 
is clad as wretchedly as possible, and surely he is always thought to 
be wretched, that is, one who does that. If you had done so, you 
certainly would already have become a widower unreleased from 
death-ceremonies. But now it is impossible for us to feel that way. 
To-day we tell you to fast with us. Probably you shall continue to 
fast with us for two years,” is what those who do so are usually told. 
“Then after we have fasted earnestly, then you may do whatever 
you desire. Then you will be a widower released from death- 
ceremonies. Then you may go around wherever you may desire. 
You shall take care of yourself. That is what we say to you. This 
is what we think as many of us as are related to (your dead wife). 
That is why we tell you. We still have control of you.”’ That is 
what those who did so and who did not behave properly when 
unreleased from death-ceremonies are told. 
Then after he has fasted with them and two years are up, he would 
be made a widower free from death-ceremonies. He begins to wear 
gorgeous clothing after he becomes a widower released from death- 
ceremonies. He would be very glad. Then he would surely think, 
“T shall begin to have a grand time courting women.” Yet when he 
tried to have a grand time courting women, something would happen 
to him, or he might become sick in some way. Something might 
happen to him. If he nevertheless courted women (something) 
worse would befall him. When he stayed in one spot he would be 
