EADiN] RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES BASED ON BLESSINGS 341 



hand I am holding Ufe, and when I pass them on to the others, to 

 my relatives and to my sisters, I am passing on life to all of them. 

 In this way were we made to think of life. I will not detain you 

 any longer. All that I wish to say is that I am thankful. Chil- 

 dren of the night-blessed ones, I greet you." 



Then he sat down and the host rose and spoke as follows: 



''You who sit in the east, you who sit hi the north, you who sit 

 hi the west, and you who sit at the end of the road, I greet you all. 

 It is good. This is what I wanted but have not been able to say. 

 You, however, told it all m my place. It is good. Of all things 

 this is the foremost, it is said. The uistruments with which to ask 

 life you have placed before me. That alone is enough to live on 

 and that you have done for me. It is good. Your forefathers 

 dreamed just as the spirits did, and how they ob tamed life, all of that 

 you have told me to-night. It is good. You have said enough to 

 obtaui life. It is good. I say this Vjecause I am thankful. If you 

 do anything, do it m the right way, I was told. I miderstand this 

 ceremony, but nevertheless what I huve done is the best I could do. 

 I will now place the food before you. I am an old man, but I have 

 always performed this affair just as I have performed it to-day, and, 

 although I Ivnow that I have not done it hi the right way, yet it was 

 my turn to do it, and I did it. I am an old man, and for that 

 reason I am not able to procure meat anywhere. My relatives 

 helped me and that is why I have been able to do it. Here are four 

 kettles of hot water. I will place them m the center of the lodge 

 for you. The one hi the east and the one hi the north and the one 

 in the west and the one at the end of the road ; each one may have it. 

 Children of the night-blessed ones, all who are seated here, to all do 

 I send greethig. 



Then the leader of the east band rose and said: "Comicilors, I 

 greet you. You who sit over there in the north, you who sit hi the 

 west, and jou who sit at the end of the road, I greet you all. Chil- 

 dren of the night-blessed ones who are hi this lodge, I greet you. 

 We are all to arise soon and that is why I aiinoimce this." 



Then the leader of the north band rose and said : "We also will rise, 

 as it is our turn. We greet you all." 



Then the leader of the west baud rose and said: "The time has 

 come for us to rise. I and my relatives will now rise. We greet you 

 all." 



Then the leader of the south band rose and said: "Councilors, I 

 greet you. I greet all who have been blessed by the Night Spirits, 

 each one m turn. We are now gomg to rise." 



Then the leader of the east band said agam: "Comicilors, I greet 

 you. We will now greet the hot water and I will use a song." 



