CHAFE] SENECA THANKSGIVING RITUALS 143 



are happ}^ (669) And the wind is just the strength for us to be 

 content with it; it strengthens our breath. He decided it would be 

 so, with us whom he left on the earth. (670) And again it was ex- 

 plained to us; the Sky Dwellers told us. (671) They said, "We 

 believe that your Idnsmen will see that in the future (672) it may 

 happen that the wind will become strong over the earth. (673) And 

 we believe that it will scrape off everything on the earth and will 

 destroy people's homes and property. That is what we believe, what 

 is on our minds." (674) And that is what the Sky Dwellers said, 

 what they told us. And indeed we can attest to it; in these days it 

 is true: we see it happen, that it scrapes off all theii" homes. (675) 

 But we ourselves are fortunate. We are not able to see it yet, up 

 to the present time: that the wind would become so strong as to 

 harm us. (676) And therefore let there be gratitude. We shall be 

 grateful that we ourselves, at least, are happy, (677) And give it 

 your thought, that we may do it properly: we now give thanks for 

 the thing that is covered by a veil, for the wind. And our minds 

 will continue to be so. 



(678) And now he decided, (679) "There will be wind on the 

 earth. (680) And it will be just so strong, (681) so that no one will 

 be harmed." (682) And the way things are, (683) surrounding us 



