BEwiTT] MYTH OF THE EARTH-GRASPER 565 



all those things and persons whom we have mentioned and to whom 

 thou hast severalh' appointed overseeing duties, and hast also com- 

 pleted our lives, to thee, who abidest in the sky, we give thanks now, 

 repeatedly, so then we beseech thee also that we may travel about 

 from place to place in peace where thy handiwork is spread out, and 

 that we should continue to think in peace so long as the daylight 

 shall continue. Now, then, we beseech thee that we all may pass 

 through the day in peace, and that again we shall see it when it shall 

 become dark again and it will be night on the earth; that in like 

 manner it shall come to pass to us who have adjoining lodges (our 

 neighbors) severally, to us who have adjoining fires, the severally 

 extant ohwachira (uterine families), that all of us should pass 

 through the day in peace, and that thus it should continue to be, 

 that all should continue to think in peace during the day.' 



" So then when it becomes dark (or night) one will act in like manner, 

 and that, verily, one shall say, 'I am thankful that we have passed 

 through the day in peace; we now have made appointed preparation 

 to greet one another repeatedly, for that, verily, it was still possible 

 that we, undiminished in number, again see that it is night again on 

 the earth. Now, then, we thank thee repeatedly, our Mother, the 

 Earth. We are thankful that undiminished in number we have 

 traveled about in peace during the day. Now you upon whom we 

 live, we thank you all repeatedly that it was possible that we passed 

 through the day in peace. Now you animals, whom with us he 

 who formed our bodies has placed in one certain place, we thank 

 you all repeatedly that it was possible that we passed through the 

 day in peace. Now thou, our Elder Brother, the diurnal Orb of 

 Light (the Sun), we thank thee repeatedly that it was possible that 

 we passed through the day in peace. Now thou, our Grandmother, 

 the nocturnal Orb of Light, we have made rulable preparation, and 

 so we thank thee repeatedly that it was possible that we passed 

 through the day in peace, and that now night has befallen us. 



" ' Now you, our Grandsii-es, you Thunderers, whose habit is to come 

 from the west, you who protect us, so many of us as he who com- 

 pleted our bodies has left in one place, now, then, we thank you 

 repeatedly that still again all of us passed through the day in peace. 



" 'Now, then, thou who hast formed our lives, also all the things 

 which we have mentioned, and also all those to w'hom thou hast 

 appointed overseeing duties for our protection, now', then, we have 

 made rulable preparation, and so with united voice we thank thee 

 repeatedly, thou who abidest where the skj^ is present. The con- 

 trol of the whole matter is left with thee. Now, then, we beseech 

 thee that when our bodies become still that we will rest during the 

 length of the night; and that then we pray thee that we should 

 pass through the night in peace, that all should be peace to us all. 



