216 THE WINNEBAGO TRIBE [eth. anx. 37 



dressed him in his best clothes, and painted his face. Then they 

 told him where he was to go and buried him with his head toward 

 the west and with his war club. They placed the branch of a tree at 

 his grave, and painted a little stick red and tied it to the tree, so 

 that nothing should cross his path on his journey to the spirit abode. 

 If any object or animal should cross his path on that journey, he must 

 strike it with his club and throw it behind liim, so that those relatives 

 he had left behind on earth might derive blessings in war and attain 

 long life. He must have his pipe and food along with him on his 

 journey, and thus the things that he throws behind him will be a 

 blessing for those still remaining on earth. Also the life he leaves 

 behind him (i. e., the years that, had he lived to a normal age, are 

 still due him) and the victories that he might have gained, all these 

 he is to give to his relatives. The riches he might have had or, in 

 fact, anything that he could possibly have had, he is asked to give to 

 these relatives. Then they will not feel so unhappy and lonesome. 



SECOND VERSION (tOLD BY A MEMBER Oi THE CLAN) 



In the beginning four brothers started from above and came toward 

 this world. They came to a country called {ni jalie, cliff place?), and 

 there they alighted on a tree. From there they started around the 

 world, going from left to right." The first time they went around 

 they went through space, but the second time they went along this 

 earth, at a place caUed deroh (Witliin Lake). There they built 

 lodges for themselves. While doing this the oldest suddenly became 

 quiet, as if stricken. Finally, he asked the second brother what he 

 should do, and the second brother said to him, "You are the oldest 

 and ought to know what to do. How can I, who am younger, know 

 anything? Perhaps the third-born brother might know." So he 

 asked the third-born, but he said, "You are the older and ought to 

 know. How can I, being the younger, know? Perhaps the youngest 

 brother will know." So they asked that one and he said, "Yes, I 

 know something." The thing about which they did not know any- 

 thing was the making of the fire. The younger one, saying he knew 

 something, took a piece of an oak tree and began twisting it until it 

 began to smoke, and then the fire started. Then he placed it on the 

 gi-ound. After the fire began to blaze and seemed well started they 

 finished building their lodge. From that time on whenever they saw 

 anything new the brothers would give it a name. Animals and all 

 the things that exist were thus named. And then they were to pre- 

 pare a meal, and the second brother reached out his hand and pro- 

 duced the food that they wanted (i. e., he seemingly reached out from 

 where he was seated and brought in deer's meat, etc.). Not having 



> The ceremonial maimer of passing around a lodge. Supposed to be comparable to the path of the 

 sun. 



