The Two Shamans

Once there were two shamans. The first, Kanaman, lived in the village of Komassuwana. The second, Lamassana, lived in the village of Ossanashamba. It so happened that the village of Komassuwana was decimated by famine. Only Kanaman survived. He traveled far into the night, dying of starvation. When he reached the village of Ossanashamba, he was flesh and bones, and the people, upon seeing him, brought him to Lanassana's tent. Food was brought to him, but he would not eat. He was left alone with Lanassana. Lanassana looked at Kanaman and took out a peace pipe, and began to smoke. He said, "You are dying of starvation. You must eat." But Kanaman said, "How can I eat when all of my people are dead?" Lanassana said, "Take this peace pipe and smoke." Kanaman smoked. He saw a vision. His people were rising from the dead. They formed a great procession and sang and played loud on the drums. Then, they began to eat. They ate and ate until their bellies bulged. Then they began to laugh. They laughed and laughed until they began to weep. And then too Kanaman began to weep. He wept and wept until he began to laugh. He looked at the food before him, and it was radiant. All of his misery was gone and his belly growled. He reached out his hand and took the food, and he ate.