226 THE PATWIN. 
A mixed practice prevails in disposing of the dead, but most are buried. 
Those living near Clear Lake are somewhat influenced by the example of 
their neighbors in favor of cremation, but on the plains burial was and is 
almost universal. The Korusi thrust the head between the knees, wrap up 
the body with bark and skins, and bury it on the side in a round grave. 
Previous to interment, the body is laid outside of the assembly-hall, and 
each of the relatives passes around it, wailing and mourning, and calling 
upon the dead with many fond, endearing terms; then ascends the assembly- 
hall, smites his breast, faces toward the setting sun, and with streaming 
eyes waves the departed spirit a last, long farewell, for they believe it has 
gone to the Happy Western Land. But the souls of the wicked return into 
coyotes. 
Of legends, there are not many to relate. It is a nation not very 
ingenious, though occasionally there is a shrewd head. An old chief in 
Napa Valley was once bored by a number of that description of men who 
appear to think the Indians know more of earthquakes and the like than 
our own scientists. Pointing to the mountains, he asked, ‘“You see them 
mountains?” He was informed that they saw them. ‘Well, me not so 
old as them.” Then pointing to the foot-hills, he asked again, ‘You see 
them little mountains?” Again they replied in the affirmative. ‘Well, 
me older than them.” 
The Liwaito relate that there was once a great sea all over the Sacra- 
mento Valley, and an earthquake rent open the Golden Gate and drained it 
off. This earthquake destroyed all men but one, who mated with a crow, 
and thus repeopled the world. The Korusi hold that in the beginning of 
all things there was nothing but the Old Turtle swimming about in a limit- 
less ocean, but he dived down and brought up earth with which he created 
the world. 
_ The Chenposel account as follows for the origin of Clear Lake: Before 
anything was created at all the Old Frog and the Old Badger lived alone 
together. The Badger-wanted a drink and the Frog gnawed into a tree, 
sucked out and swallowed the sap and discharged it into a hollow place. 
