THE CODE OF HANDSOME LAKE I09 



not grieve. Now it is said that when the ten days have elapsed 

 to prepare a feast and the soul of the dead will return and partake 

 of it with you. It is said moreover that you can journey with the 

 dead only as far as the grave. It is said that when you follow a 

 body to the grave you must have prepared for that journey as if 

 to travel afar. Put on your finest clothing for every human crea- 

 ture is on its journey graveward. It is said that the bodies of the 

 dead have intelligence and know what transpires about them. It 

 is true. 



So they said and he said. Eniaiehuk. (Section 67 of the 

 Gai'wiio*.) 



[The preacher then announces certain decisions of " the dead 

 side " and then continues with the established funeral rite, as 

 follows] : 



When the body of the dead is buried we must become resigned 

 to our loss. It can not be helped. 



[The preacher speaks to the fathers] : 



Now do you also do the same as the dead side and become re- 

 signed to your sorrow ? 



[The preacher addresses the relatives afar off] : 



And now you afar off who are the relatives of the dead, do you 

 become resigned also when you hear of the loss? 



The things of the past shall continue. It [death] should not 

 hamper or stop any ordination of the Creator. Let not a death 

 stop an event in course of progress. Let us fulfil the law of mourn- 

 ing for a ten-day period and have the feast at the end. We believe 

 that the dead will return at the end of ten days. Now the Creator 

 said, '' The customs ordained by the early chiefs [regarding 

 mourning] are right. They had no knowledge of what would 

 happen in the future when they made the customs but the Creator 

 soke to Ganio'dai'io and said, ' True and good is the ceremony of 

 your grandfathers for the time of mourning and also the death 

 feast.' " 



[When the face of the dead is unwrapped for its friends to look 

 upon for the last time the preacher says] : 



Now let all journey to the grave with the body of the dead for 

 it is as far as we can go. 



[At the grave the preacher turns to the crowd and says] : 



So now we thank all those who have come to this funeral cere- 

 mony to help us. So it is done. 



[The body is then covered with earth.] 



