A not unnatural theory of the Origin of Death is illustrated by a myth
from Pentecost Island and a Red Indian myth. In the legends of very many
races we find the attempt to account for the Origin of Death and Evil by
a simple dualistic myth. There were two brothers who made things; one
made things well, the other made them ill. In Pentecost Island it was
Tagar who made things well, and he appointed that men should die for five
days only, and live again. But the malevolent Suque caused men 'to die
right out.' {187} The Red Indian legend of the same character is printed
in the Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology (1879-80), p. 45. The
younger of the Cin-au-av brothers, who were wolves, said, 'When a man
dies, send him back in the morning and let all his friends rejoice.' 'Not
so,' said the elder; 'the dead shall return no more.' So the younger
brother slew the child of the elder, and this was the beginning of death.