CHAFE] SENECA THANKSGIVING RITUALS " 109 



believe that the whole thmg still continues to function unchanged. 

 And indeed we give thanks again that it all is continuing. (349) And 

 now we ask only that it will continue in the same manner for the 

 period of another year. 



9. The Trees 



(350) And the entire group is thankful. (351) This is what you 

 intended. (352) You decided, "There will be forests growing on the 

 earth. (353) It will begin with the brush. (354) It too will be of 

 assistance to the people moving about on the earth." (355) You 

 made two winds on the earth. (356) You decided, "It will always 

 be just at a certain time that it will become warm. (357) And at 

 a certain time, too, the wind will become cold." (358) And this is 

 what you decided: "They w^ll use it for heat when the wind becomes 

 cold on the earth." That is what you intended. (359) And indeed 

 this is what you decided. (360) "They will indeed also have names, 

 the trees that will be standing about, (361) the forests growing on 

 the earth." (362) And this also you did: you chose one. (363) You 

 decided, "It can be a medicine to assist the people moving about 

 on the earth, (364) the brush growing about on the earth. (365) And 

 indeed they all have names. (366) People know well what kind of 

 tree it is, when they go to look for it in the woods. (367) For indeed 

 you gave them the power of thought, so that they will know which 



580135—61 8 



