The first of the Modoc People, Kumokums, built a village on the banks of a river. Although it left the bears plenty of room to curl up and sleep, the deer complained that it was very cold and there wasn’t enough grass.
Kumokums built another village far from there and decided to spend half of every year in each. For this he divided the year into two parts, six moons of summer and the six of winter, and the remaining moon was dedicated to moving.
Life between the two villages was as happy as could be and births multiplied amazingly, but people who died refused to get out and the population got so big that there was no way to feed it.
Then Kumokums decided to throw out the dead people. He knew that the chief of the land of the dead was a great man and didn’t mistreat anybody.
Soon after Kumokums’ small daughter died. She died and left the country of the Modocs, as her farther had ordered. In despair Kumokums consulted the porcupine.
“You made the decision,” said the porcupine, “and now you must take the consequences like everyone else.” Kumokums journeyed far away to the land of the dead anyway and claimed his daughter.
“Now your daughter is my daughter,” said the big skeleton in charge. “She has no flesh and blood, what can she do in your village?”
“I want her anyway,” said Kumokums.
The chief of the land of the dead thought for a time. “Take her,” he said, “She’ll walk behind you. When you get to the land of the living her flesh will return to cover her bones. However, you may not turn and look at her until you arrive. Understand; I give you this chance.”
Kumokums set out and his daughter followed.
Several times he touched her hand, which was more fleshy and warm each time. When the green trees appeared on the horizon he couldn’t stand the torment and turned his head. A handful of bones crumbled before his eyes.
Marriott, Alice and Carol K Rachlin. American Indian Mythology, New York; Apollo, 1968
Genesis 14:21 And the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the souls, and the possessions take for yourself.” 22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I raise my hand to the god Yhwh, the supreme god, who bought heaven and earth. 23 Neither from a thread to a shoe strap will I take from you so you should not say, ‘I have made Abram wealthy.