The Life of Primitive Woman 1703 



Friends and Relatives, continue to listen: — It is to perform this duty that we are this 

 day gathered. The season when the strawberry plant yields its sweet fruit has again 

 returned. We are all thankful that it is so. We therefore expect all of you to join 

 in our general thanksgiving to the strawberry. We also expect you to join in a thanks- 

 giving to the Great Spirit, who has wisely made this plant for the good of man. We 

 hope and expect that order and harmony will prevail. 



Friends and Relatives: — We are gratified to see so many here, and we thank you 

 all that yoii have thought well of this matter. We thank the Great Spirit, that he has 

 been kind to so many of us, in sparing our lives to participate again in the festivities 

 of this season. Na-ho'. 



The Great Feather Dance, the 0-sto-weh-go-wa, now follows. This 

 has always been a prominent feature in religious festivals of the Iroquois. 

 The steps and motions are controlled by traditions hundreds of years 

 old. The water drum has always been used to make the weird notes. 

 At last the music dies away, the men, women, and children rest from 

 their dancing, and another series of thanksgiving addresses are given. 

 That. rite is followed by the burning of tobacco to the Great Spirit, who 

 can be reached best by the incense that accompanies the Cayugas' prayer 

 for protection and prosperity. This brings the religious ceremonies to an 

 end. 



The feast that follows the dance is in sharp contrast. Signs of joyous 

 revelry break out; appetizing odors come on the evening air; and all the 

 non-Ca\aiga men, their guests, are invited to share in the sunset feast 

 of venison and fish, cakes and strawberries. 



PERSONS REPRESENTED IN THE PAGEANT 



MATRONS 



Keeper of the Faith 

 Tawaragat's wife 

 Basket maker 

 Pottery maker 

 Herb woman 

 Keeper of the Faith 

 Skin dresser 

 Maker of corn-husk mats 



MAIDENS 



Skin dresser 



Girl in canoe, decorating pottery 



Girl in canoe, making coni-husk dolls 



Cook and water carrier 



Girl pounding com and cooking 



YOUNG MEN 



Two fishers 

 Four hunters 



