THE CODE OF HANDSOME LAKE 37 



" ' Now it may happen that a woman sets out to destroy good 

 feelings between neighbors by telling go'diodia'se (stories that aug- 

 ment by repetition). Now this woman goes to a house and says, 

 "'I love you and because I do I will tell you a secret. The woman 

 in the next house speaks evil of you." Now heretofore the two 

 women had been friends but upon hearing this story the woman 

 becomes an enemy of her former friend. Then the evil story-teller 

 goes to the woman whom she lied about and tells her the hard words 

 that the other woman has spoken. Then is the liar happy having 

 started a feud, and she hastens from house to house to tell of it. 

 Now great troubles arise and soon a fight, and one woman causes 

 it all. Therefore the Creator is very sad. Tell your people that 

 such things must stop the moment this message is told. 



' Now the Creator has ordained another way. He has ordained 

 that human creatures should be kind one to the other and help each 

 other. When a woman visits another house she must help at the 

 work in progress and talk pleasantly. If she relates jokes they 

 must always be upon herself. If she speaks harshly of others the 

 woman of the house must say, " I remember the desires of our 

 Creator. I can not hear what you say. I can not take that evil 

 story." So the trouble is ended there. Now the Creator says that 

 the woman is true who refuses to hear evil reports. She cuts off 

 the evil at its beginning and it does not go from her. So she has 

 won favor before the Creator.' " 



So they said and he said. Eniaiehuk. 



section 24 



" ' Now another message. 



The Creator who made you is sad. 



' The Creator made every person with a different face. 



' Now a man talks saying that he is far more handsome than 

 other men. He boasts that he is exceedingly handsome and grand. 

 But the Creator says all this is very wrong. The vain must repent 

 and never boast again.' So they said. 



• Now animals seem alike to you. A wild animal that you have 

 once seen you can not easily say you have seen again. But people 

 are different before you. Now when a man is handsome let him 

 thank his Creator for his comliness.' So they said. 



' Now furthermore a man says " I am the strongest man of all. 

 There is no one who can throw me to the ground." A man who 

 talks thus is a boaster before the people. Now the Creator says 



