S'bwi'^:] legends • 661 



preparing the food. When it was ready she placed it on the ground 

 in the customary place for eating, and they two sat clown to eat. 

 Taking a portion of the food they were eating and setting it aside, 

 the mother said: "As respects this food thy and my child does now 

 become its owner and disposer." Thus thej' finished their feast of 

 " reunion of the living." 



After the lapse of some time the mother said to her husband: 

 " Perhaps we two should now leave for our home^ going back to our 

 own people, because it is true that I am not at peace in my mind on 

 account of what has happened to us." The husband consented to her 

 proposition, and they packed their meat and their small belongings 

 and, boarding a canoe, started for their home. After their arrival at 

 home the news of what happened to them spread among their people. 

 After some days the mother of the lost child said to her husband: 

 " Is it not perhaps a good thing for us to go back to the place in 

 which our child was lost? It is now nearing the anniversary of the 

 disappearance of our dear child, and it seems good that we two 

 should be there when that time shall come again, so that we may 

 prepare food there again just as we did when he was still with us." 

 Her husband replied : " Let it be done as you desire. I am willing 

 to go." 



After making their usual preparations they again started for their 

 hunting grounds. They went most of the way by canoe. At last 

 they reached the place where they had encamped when their child 

 was lost, and they kindled their fire in the same place again. Then 

 the father went out to hunt as usual. 



One day the mother said: "The day has now come which is the 

 anniversary of the loss of our child. AVe two shall now have a feast 

 of the ' reunion of the living,' and we shall set aside a portion for 

 our lost child; and it shall come to pass just as if he were present 

 with us." So, as soon as the food was ready, she set it on the 

 ground in the usual place and they two began to eat. She also 

 took a portion of the food and, setting it aside, said: "This food 

 which I have set aside I give to my child." When they had fin- 

 ished this meal they gave thanks for life and for the food which 

 nature supplied to them. 



Then the mother of the lost child said : " Now, there is nothing for 

 us to do but to start for our home. We will go back to the place 

 where dwell our own people. We will do this because this place is 

 so unpleasant, for indeed I can do nothing but think about the mis- 

 fortune which befell us two in the days which have past." Her hus- 

 band, agreeing with her, said : " I see no reason why that, too, may 

 not be done, for I, too, am in the same frame of mind as you are. 

 My thoughts are not at all pleasant, so we will not remain here any 

 longer." 



