34 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



" ' Now this is the way ordained by the Creator : Talk slowly 

 and kindly to children and never punish them unjustly. When a 

 child will not obey let the mother say, " Come to the water and I 

 will immerse you." If after this warning the child is still obstinate 

 she must take it to the water's edge and say, " Do you now obey? " 

 and she must say so again and if at the third time there is no obedi- 

 ence then the child must be thrust in the water. But if the child cries 

 for mercy it must have it and the woman must not throw it into 

 the water. If she does she does evil.' ' 



So they said and he said. Eniaiehuk. 



section 15 



" ' Now another message of things not right. 



" ' Parents disregard the warnings of their children. When a 

 child says, " Mother, I want you to stop wrongdoing," the child 

 speaks straight words and the Creator says that the child speaks 

 right and the mother must obey. Furthermore the Creator pro- 

 claims that such words from a child are wonderful and that the 

 mother who disregards them takes the wicked part. The mother 

 may reply, " Daughter, stop your noise. I know better than you. 

 I am the older and you are but a child. Think not that you can in- 

 fluence me by your speaking." Xow when you tell this message to 

 your people say that it is wrong to speak to children in such 

 words.' " 



So they said and he said. Eniaiehuk. 



section 16 



" ' Now another message. 



" ' Tell your people that the Creator is sad because of what they 

 are doing. 



" ' Some people live together well as man and wife and family, 

 but the man of the family uses strong drink. Then when he comes 

 home he lifts up his child to fondle it and he is drunk. Now we, 

 the messengers of the Creator, say that this is not right for if a 

 man filled with strong drink touches his child he burns its blood. 

 Tell your people to heed this warning.' ' : 



So thev said and he said. Eniaiehuk. 



who was intrusted with the care of children was accustomed to tell her chil- 

 dren what was wrong and allow them by experience to know that her word 

 was to be relied upon. A boy remained under the discipline of his mother 

 until the age of sixteen when he was turned over to the training of his 

 father. If the boy was unruly and without ambition the mother received the 

 blame and was sometimes punished. 



