HEWITT] MYTH OF THE EARTH-GRASPER 563 



thank thee repeatedly with one voice. Now, in the next place, they 

 have made nilable preparation to do it, and have encouraged thy 

 mind that thy mind should remain firm for so long a time as he who 

 formed our bodies has appointed thy administrative duty. 



"Now, again, another thing; thou next, the nocturnal Orb of Light 

 (the Moon), our Grandmother, and now also the Stars on the sky in 

 many places, now then do you know that every one of those whose 

 persons remain alive have made rulable preparation to thank you 

 now with one voice? Now, our Grandmother, they thank thee 

 repeatedly, and also the Stars fLxed on the sky in many places; and 

 next they have made rulable preparation to encourage your minds, 

 and that thus it should continue for so long a time as one has 

 appointed your overseeing duty. Now, again, another thing; now 

 do you thence continue to listen, our Grandsires, whose voices are 

 uttered from place to place, who are in the habit of coming from the 

 west; and whom he has appointed to protect us who are alive upon 

 the earth day after day, and also night after night. Now, then, 

 every one whose body remains alive has now made rulable prepara- 

 tion to thank you now repeatedly, with one voice. That, in the next 

 place, they now encourage your minds that thus it should continue 

 to be that your mind should be firm for so long a time as he who 

 formed our bodies appointed your overseeing duty. 



"Now, then, we wrap up into a single body, as it were, all the 

 various grades of those of you to whom he has appointed overseeing 

 duties here on the earth — here also all the grasses that grow, the 

 growing shrubs, the growing trees, and the several springs of water, 

 and the several running springs, the several streams of water, and 

 the several running waters, and the air that moves (the wind); this 

 also, the present day, and also the present night, and the several 

 fixed Orbs of Light, and the several Stars fixed on the sky, and you 

 who habitually come from the west; and now also, you who have 

 completed our bodies and also all those things which we have indi- 

 cated, now, moreover, we thank you all repeatedly. 



"Now, then, another thing; then, next in order, thou De'hae'"hiya- 

 wa"kho°', do thou continue to listen thence; thou wilt continue to 

 know that now it is the ceremony will be performed by us who are 

 alive on earth, even the Four Ceremonies. So then thou wilt see it 

 clearly, when the ceremonies will start wherein thou wilt be the 

 principal person, when they will thank thee repeatedly. To-mor- 

 row, early in the morning, the ceremony, the highly prized ceremonial 

 dance, the Great Feather (Dance), will start; the songs of it will be 

 repeated thrice. And, on the day after to-morrow, will then start 

 the ceremony Onehowih (Skin-covered Drums), and next they will 

 select one who will speak and who will give thanks repeatedly. He 

 will begin with all those things that are contained in the earth that 



