MICHELSON. ] THE SINGING AROUND RITE. 557 
able to be of aid in any way, as long as you continue to listen to 
what I say to you, as long as you do not cease fasting. I also desire 
you to reach (your allotted) span of life. Do not when you have 
grown up (?) desire women, for you might not know what will happen 
to you in the future; do not desire them before you have come to 
an understanding of yourself and know that you will live well in 
the future, and that if you have children they will all live well? If 
you know (these things) it would be fine if you fast until you are 
more than twenty years old, my grandchild,” he was told by his 
erandfather. 
He believed (his grandfather) and always continued to do exactly 
what he was told. And when he was eight years old he again began 
to be made to fast earnestly. ‘‘Now my grandchild,’ he was told 
by his grandfather, “eventually you must try very hard. I shall 
make you what you will use in fasting: it is called a ‘fasting instru- 
ment.’’’ The old man fetched a stick of basswood, of no particular 
size. He peeled it carefully. He cut it as long as a foot. Then 
he dried it. After it was burned, he was told by his grandfather, 
“Now, my grandchild, this is what is called a fasting-instrument. 
You are to burn a very little of it so you will have enough to blacken 
your face. It is a rule that you must use this up this winter. You 
must hang this up when you are finished using it. At the time when- 
ever you shall paint yourself for the last time if you (have) used it 
all up, then you will know how good it is if you are careful when you 
fast, my grandchild,” he was told. 
“That, it is said, is wherein the blessing lies. When (the fasting 
instrument) is completely used up, then, it is said, the manitous 
bestow blessings. Some save a little of those fasting instruments, 
merely so if they have children the latter will have fasting instru- 
ments. They put them aside; after they have children and after 
these are six years old, they take the (fasting instruments) out; and 
they do not place them simply any place: they place them in a 
sacred pack. And at the time when they are to take them up they 
celebrate the gens festival, and likewise at the time they put them 
away they celebrate the gens festival in the same way, as if telling 
that they put them away and fasted previously. 
“Then these manitous surely watch over the one they intend to 
bless, one who has a fasting instrument. And when those who fast 
use these they fast but for a short time. But (this is) only in the 
case of children who are not bad. For children do not act exactly 
alike. Straightway as soon as they have children the parents make 
plans for them in accordance with what they have learned regarding 
them. It is a sign regarding those who cry and are always angry 
when they are little that they will be persons who do not listen to 
3 A rather free rendition of a very difficult passage. 
