358 THE WINNEBAGO TRIBE [eth. ann. 37 



Bird clan, the Bear clan, the Wolf clan, and the Snake clan. The 

 fourth one was the one they were to teach, to initiate. 



Then Hare got up and spoke as follows: "My friends, I have had 

 you come together, for my uncles and aunts had been living a most 

 pitiable life. You are to teach them the life they are to live and 

 which they are to hand down from generation to generation. That 

 is what I ask of you. Wliat I want, you have heard. I leave every- 

 thing to be done and said by those in the east." 



Then he, the one in the east, arose and spoke, "Our friends, the 

 uncles and aunts of the Hare, we are to teach the meaning of life, 

 so that they may hand it do^\^l from one generation to the other. 

 Only today, for the first time, have we discussed this thing for them. 

 Life (all that life consists of — wealth, honor, and happiness) they 

 shall have from now on." The four of them said, "What the one 

 ahead said (we say)." When they finished, they returned. 



Now Hare got up again and said, "My friends, that is what I 

 wished for my uncles and aunts. This council-lodge I made for 

 them, and as long as they follow the precepts taught in the creation- 

 lodge they will be invulnerable. For that reason this seat has been 

 made for them, that whosoever desires may sit therein." 



All day long the spirits taught him, and when the sun was on the 

 treetops, when it was time to stop, the spirits dispersed, taking with 

 them as they went half the light within the lodge. They rubbed 

 against the door-poles as they went out. They pushed them in 

 deeply so they would not fall. 



Then Hare spoke, 'Grandmother, I will be sitting ready for any 

 one of my uncles and aunts who will perform this ceremony that we 

 have taught them well. With tears my imcles and aunts will come 

 to me and my heart will feel sore. I will go above and sit dowm and if 

 any person performs this ceremony that we taught him well, then 

 he will be as I am, if you will but look at me, grandmother. Look 

 at mj^ body, grandmother." And behold, like a very small boy he 

 was. " If any one repeats what we have done here, this is the way 

 he will appear." 



"Look at me," Hare said for the second time; "Look at me!" 

 There he stood a full-grown man. Then, for the third time, he said, 

 "Grandmother, look at me." There he stood a man in middle age; 

 his hah' was interspersed half-and-half with gray. Then she looked 

 at him for the fourth time, and his hair was covered as if by a swan 

 (i. e., it was all white), and he leaned tremblmgly on his staff, stand- 

 ing in the east. " Well, grandmother, if any of my uncles and aunts 

 performs this ceremony properly this way they will live." 



" It is good, grandson. However, not only your uncles but your 

 aunts, likewise, will be that way if any of the latter performs the 

 ceremony properly. "Look at me," she said, and when he looked at, 



