594 IROQUOIAN COSMOLOGY 1eth.ann.43 



At that time, now, the Elder Ones said, "Now, let the entire body 

 of people assemble themselves together. Now, we shall consider the 

 matters m relation to what is now befalling us. Verily, it is pre- 

 sumably not good that it should be a long time that it contuiue thus 

 that we merely keep our eyes fixed upon them. Now, verily, that 

 has thus befallen us, that everywhere people with lanventing voices 

 go about, they go about weeping." 



At that tmie, now, the entire body of people assembled. Now 

 they, the Elder Ones, chose a person who would now speak. He 

 should speak of that which seemmgly was necessary to be done. 



At that time, now, he arose and said, "He who completed our 

 natures has made this day such as it is, as to the kind of hght it has. 

 He intended that those who have human bodies should ever esteem 

 it. So, then, we have now at this time assembled ourselves. We 

 have assembled ourselves for the purpose of considering this con- 

 dition which has befallen us. Now, verily, it is often that we who 

 are associated together are being separated. It is also frequent that 

 we see one going about from place to place pitying one's self, gomg 

 about uttering cries, and going about from place to place weeping; 

 it is entirely thus in the several families (ohwacliira), it is thus, 

 verily, evident what manner of thing is the cause of what has thus 

 come to pass. That, verily, is the handiwork, the result, of persons 

 bemg lost from the number of each family (ohwachira). So, then, 

 now, we who are here assembled wish that some one, whoever it may 

 be, might devise a course of action which we should pursue that 

 would result in good, and also that that condition would cease, in 

 which are too many among us who are not contented Ln their 

 minds, going about bewailmg their lot, day after day and also 

 night after night." 



So, then, now, the Elder Ones made formal preparations and 

 placed the subject before the assembled people and they said, "Now, 

 verily, every one is ecjually responsible in this matter, and it matters 

 not who it may be who may devise a plan; or, also, let any one of our 

 mothers propose a plan; or, also, you, the youths, you yoimg people; 

 or, also, you, children, let someone of you be found to form a plan if, 

 also, one should even propose an idea which we could carry out that 

 we may live; also that our children may live, and also, our grand- 

 children should continue to live, that the future days may be theirs." 



At that time, then, they considered the situation for a long time. 

 They held several sessions in which it was not possible for them to 

 accomplish their purpose. They failed to find anything to do that 

 woidd result in good. Now, a male human being, one with the body 

 of a youth, who ever had very little to say, who was an upright and 

 good person now stood up and said, "Now, then, I have decided 

 that I myself should attempt to suggest a proposition as to what we 



