long ago there was no death on earth. over population problem.  the earth began to sink.  the lord above decided to send death.  the first man to die did not know  how to go about the business of  dying.  he kept getting up from his deathbed.  his family was upset. he delayed their migrating travel to warmer climates . they scolded him : learn how to die properly so we, livings can go on with our business of living.  his feeling hurt, the dead man decided to lie down and never get up again.  thanks to him, we now know how to go about the business of dying. eskimo folktale.