who are bereaved. Then once more these new comers arise; they say they
are glad that the chief is so kind to them and again they said it and so
they appoint a future day when they shall return.
Afterward then again; this is called the ceremony of prolongation; they
are ready to go back. After that the chief announces to his men, "These
our brothers are ready to return; we will not permit them to depart too
quickly." Once more was taken out the wampum of prolongation and they
read it; they say: "That those Micmac who are here, women children and
men, we desire that you stay; for a day longer our mothers will keep
your paddles for you." This means: they will not permit them to depart.
Then again comes the ceremony called "greeting." Then the chief sends
his men to hunt in the woods. So they hunt; then are cooked the things
which then bring, every animal which they kill. Then everything was
cooked. So all begin to eat in the hall; then when they are about to eat
together, the herald announces in their midst: "Your dishes (are
ready)," or "Let it be feasted." Everyone understands that (a feast) is
to be given. So they run, children, women, men, fetching dishes of
birchbark; and then the newcomers come into the hall. Then all sit on
the ground; and these dancers dance until they are weary. This is what
is called the ceremony of the prolongation feast. So when they were
tired, they depart. But quickly they return. Then also thus is the
greeting ceremony; namely these newcomers arise; one of them sings about
what has been done, what had been performed by their grandfathers, one
or two songs. Then after that the chief greets them.
While they are singing, the chief sits in the middle of the hall; he
holds a little drum and stick; then he begins to beat it; he begins to
strike his drum and sings his dance songs. Then everyone sings and
dances, men, women, even children. So they feast together.
When this is finished in the same way (as before), they appoint when
they shall depart. So when they are ready, they are detained once more
by the chief by repeated ceremonials. Sometimes they
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