166 
“ He has oone to the saiul-hills,” the Blackfoot would say of some- 
one recently deceased, and the thought brought little solace to them.^ 
Yet there were a few happy exceptions, as in the pathetic incident 
recorded by Thompson: “With regard to the immortality of the 
soul; and the nature of the other world, the best evidence of their 
belief I learned from a [Chipewyan] woman; her husband had 
traxled with me two winters. They had a fine boy of six years of 
age, their only child; he became ill and died; and according to their 
custom she had to mourn for him twelve motms, crying in a low voice 
‘ ^he azza. She azza ’ (my little son) never ceasing while awake, and 
often bursting into teai's. Al)out tliree months after, I saw her again, 
(making) (he same cry, the same sorrowful woman, her husband 
was kind to her; about six months after this 1 saw her again, she no 
longer cried, Y^he azza,' and was no longer a sorrowing woman; I 
emiuired of lier the cause of the change. She replied, when my little 
son went to the other world, there was none to receive him. even his 
(irandfather is yet alive; he was friendless, lie wandered alone in 
the pitching track of the tents (here she shed tears), there was none 
to take care of him, no one to give him a bit of meat. Afore than 
two moons ago, his father died, I sorrowerl for him, and still satlly 
regret him, but he is gone to my son. his fatlier will take great care 
of him. tie will no longer wander alone, his father will be always 
with him. and when I die I shall go to them.”- 
1 Ibi<l., Op. I’.it., vol, ii, p. ,526. McClmtoc-k, \V. : "The Old North Trtiil,” p. 148 f, London, 1910. 
2 Thoinpsitui ; Op. cit., p, 164 f. 
