38 



THE PASSENGER PIGEON IN PENNSYLVANIA 



and many below us, in the valley between our hill and 

 others, south of the river; with wavijig arms, swaying 

 body and nimble feet he illustrated the sacred pigeon 

 dance of the redmen in America, based upon the flight 

 of their sacred bird ; in soft cadences he sang the song 

 of *'Wah-ho-pah," and in solemn words explained the 

 wonderful birds and their beneficence to his race, and 

 to their ancestors when they began Hf e upon the earth ; 

 how a warrior's hair must not be lost, for it represents 

 the feathers of the sacred bird and preserves his soul 

 for the immortal bliss of the Happy Hunting Ground. 

 When the hair is lost there can be no blessed im- 

 mortality, for on the journey after death they would 

 become confused and take the wrong trail, followed 

 by all who offend the Great Spirit — the trail that had 

 no end and led to no place, an eternity of wandering. 

 That was all the punishment the evil spirit, Hobomock, 

 could inflict upon man. • 



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