MICHELSON. ] WHEN RELIGION WAS BROUGHT HERE. 469 
have left wretched on the face of the earth said that tome. ‘When- 
ever you lose sight of each other, you must beat (your) drum: such is 
the way, it seems, you blessed our woman (Panani'kwii'**),’ they ” 
are accustomed to say to (the angel).’’ 
“ And if you die and if you beseech me (for anything), whatever 
you say shall be so,” it seems she (Panani'kwii'*") was told. 
And when (the souls) are brought up above and when they begin 
to be led away and go wherever we go and are left there, it is said, 
they try to act in such a way that at the end of the earth their lives 
will be safe (i. e., so they wili live again).* Yet (the souls) of all 
who revile the dance perish. And those who believe in it shall live 
again when the earth is remade. That is why they dance vigorously 
when anyone dies. The reason why they dance is because they wish 
their lives to be this way (i. e., that they may live again). It is why 
they say to each other, ‘‘This is what you will do when I die.” 
Now when they are worshipping and the fourth belt-song is started, 
then those who have been gliding through the air (acting like eagles), 
alight (in pantomime) and start to pick up (the dead) and carry him 
to where he will be buried. They imitate in measure the way angel(s) 
act(s) when they begin to take the dead. That is the way they (those 
acting like eagles) should do, (people) say among themselves. 
After that (dead person) has been brought up above, he will be 
gently let down wherever he is led. They (the dead) will land 
slowly. And when they have come whither they were led then they 
ask that they may live again. And they tell what that person 
(Panani'kwii‘**?) said. Now when (the dead) is brought yonder, a 
dance is held wherever he is led, and the ghosts dance. And he, the 
dead, begins to narrate the message sent through him by those 
whom he has left in wretchedness on the face of this earth. He 
speaks for all his relatives, asking that they may live again at the 
end of the earth, as many as are his relatives, for he is anxious to 
get permission for them. And he likewise asks that those still 
living as mortals may reach old age. He asks that especially so that 
he may obtain permission for them. 
And if any says, “I am going to quit the drum” ” why he would 
straightway cease living. It is because he doesn’t wish to live that 
he says that. So they are accustomed to say. It is why members 
of the dance say to each other, “Yonder at the time when God 
remakes this land of his, then as he thinks of us he (will) take pity 
upon us. So do your best. Do not branch off from (this dance).” 
For we mortals desire that our lives may continue a long time. 
And also when any one dies they dance. The drum is merely told 
what they desire. ‘‘For we bring our corpse for you to take care 
10 The dead. 11 Free rendering. 12 A free rendition, yet the precise meaning of the text. 
