MICHBLSON.] THE SINGING AROUND RITE. 555 
“He was a human being and a very handsome man,” he said. 
“That is how that evil manitou is. And (his forms) are many, 
he changes the appearance of his body so that he will be believed in 
by any one. Yet his appearance is really very ugly; he has a tail, 
it is said; his tail is like a spearhead on the end, it is said.2 He does 
his best to get people. That is why he goes around eagerly to 
bestow blessings, yet you alone would reach old age. But you would 
be wretched after your children died. And those you marry in the 
future would die one by one; if you continued to marry, they would 
die one by one. You would go about living in wretchedness. Nor 
would those who are not related to you take good care of you when 
you are aged. That is all, forget indeed what you dreamed, my 
grandchild,” he was told. 
He did not do as he was told by the one who blessed him. In 
the spring he again ceased fasting earnestly. ‘I shall stop to again 
give you instructions,’ he was told by his grandfather. ‘“ You 
please me very much by doing what I told you. You do a good 
thing for yourself. That is why I in a way continue to instruct you. 
Now some boys when they are made to fast desire to begin to court 
women. Those who do that truly do not lead a good life. Their 
life is short. This verily is good, when they stop first to take care 
of their lives. When one fasts carefully and uprightly it is much 
better. At any time after they have taken care of themselves they 
may stop to slowly look at a well-behaved woman so as to marry 
one. For it is a rule to lead an upright life. There is ahead of us 
a very great sorrow, at the time whenever it is daylight for the last 
time. Many people do not know it. They merely consider the joy 
of this day while we are alive. Yet all have been instructed but 
forget it; they think more of what is evil. Now you this day, when 
you are somewhat more than seven years old, are still a boy. This 
is how old each of us (others) are: to-day these old men, even nearly 
thirty years old, fast. These do not do so merely for nothing: some 
have knowledge of doctoring, some have (supernatural) power of 
sight, some excel in running: these are sent even far off when any- 
thing happens. They are indeed given something (as a reward): 
they derive benefit from the way they were blessed. And that is 
why a child does not think light of it when told ‘fast.’ The bodies 
of those blessed very much by manitous are (rewarded) in all pos- 
sible ways, manitous whom the Great Manitou himself employs to 
bestow blessings on those who fast. Now this day as long as you 
continue not to be old (and) if you continue to fast earnestly, if you 
continue to tell me (your dreams), I shall make you know if you 
have been blessed properly, my grandchild,’ he was told by (his 
grandfather). ‘‘That is as far as I resign myself, as I cease being 
? Naturally a European concept. 
