Chafe] SENECA THANKSGIVING RITUALS 105 



growing plants. (307) You decided, "It will be of assistance to them 

 in future days." (308) And this also is what you did: you chose a 

 particular plant. (309) You decided, "I shall make it so (310) that 

 it will be possible for them to remember me, the people moving about 

 on the earth. (311) It will happen so that I simply provide for the 

 people on the earth to show their gratitude. (312) It will be when 

 they see the berries hanging above the earth." (313) This is what 

 you decided: "The people moving about will remember me." (314) 

 The Sky Dwellers call it shes?a:h. (315) But they told us who move 

 about on the earth (316) to sa,y jistoid^shae^. (317) And it comes to 

 pass, when the wind again becomes warm. (318) We see them in- 

 deed, the berries hanging above the earth, the shes^a:h, jistotd^shse^. 

 (319) And it is the way you intended it. (320) Each time they wiU 

 gather them. (321) They will bring them to their meeting place. 

 (322) There they will unite their voices in thanksgiving. That is 

 what you intended. (323) And they do as they should when they 

 see the berries hangmg, the shes?a:h, jistoid^shse^. (324) They 

 gather at our meeting place. (325) They all unite their voices, as 

 many people as remain. (326) Indeed they thank you, for they are 

 happy to see it again, in accordance with the way you arranged the 

 sequence of ceremonies. (327) And up to the present time it con- 

 tinues unchanged. It aU continues to function as he intended. (328) 

 And they simply are thankful. (329) And now they simply say it 



