176 THE WINNEBAGO TRIBE [eth. ann. 37 



My son, whenever people go on the warpath go along with them. 

 It is good to die on the warpath. You may perhaps say so, because 

 you are unhappy that your wife has left you. My son, not for such 

 reasons, however, must you go on the warpath. You will be merely 

 throwing away a human life. If you want to go on the warpath, do so 

 because you feel that you are courageous enough, not because you 

 are unhappy at the loss of your wife. If you go on the warpath you 

 will enjoy yourself. Do not go, however, unless you have fasted, 

 and unless you have fasted for that particular warpath. If you 

 have not fasted and attempt nevertheless to go on the warpath, a 

 bullet will surely seek you out and kill you. This is what will happen 

 to you if }"ou do not fast. 



If you exert yourself in fasting you will assuredly perform some 

 brave war exploit. You must tell your sisters and sister's children 

 and your mother's sisters all about your exploit. Remember, also, 

 that the keepers of the war-bundles can give you good advice in 

 all that pertains to war. For their deeds they will be given a good 

 dish of meat.-* This they will give you to eat. 



Of such things did my ancestors speak, and I would wish you to 

 do as they did. That is why I am telUng you aU these things. I 

 myself never asked for any of this instruction, but my father did. 

 All hiunan beings ought to ask for it. Never let anybody be in a 

 position to puzzle you in regard to what is right. Ask for this 

 instruction, my son, for it is not an ordinary thing. In the olden 

 times if a person loved his chUd very much, he would only give him 

 instruction after he had begun fasting all day for the first time. 

 When a yoimg boy has just matured, those who have been preaching 

 to him always ask him one question, namely, whether he had begun 

 to fast. And this the young boy must always answer truthfully, 

 for if he has begim his fast the instruction would stop. The old 

 men do not preach to men, but only to boys. 



(What follows is apparently an illustration of how a young man 

 asks his instructor for information of how to conduct himself in life.) 



The young man will go to an old man and say, ' 'Grandfather, I 

 would like to know how I am to conduct myself in life. Bless me 

 and if you can really give me any information, do so." Then the 

 old man was very thankful and said, 'Tt is good; you speak cor- 

 rectly." Now the one who was asking something of the old man 

 had taken very good care of the old man's body and had led a good 

 life. He had no scars of any kind ; that is, he had never done any- 

 thing shameful. The young man brought all sorts of food and placed 

 it in the lodge of the old man. Then he also brought him a fine 

 horse. Onl}' then did he ask him again about the life that his 

 ancestors had led, and what kind of a life he ought to live. He asked 



** I. c, you will be given a position at the Winter Feast and offered some of the choice pieces-ot meat. 



