258 SENECA FICTION, LEGENDS, AND MYTHS trrn. ann. 82 



how to dance to the songs. The second one to be transformed became 

 Hadent'heni, the Speaker, and the first, Hanigongendat'ha,'^^ he who 

 was to explain the meaning of everything touching Hawenniyo. 

 The transformed said further, " Let it be that whatever was done 

 in the upper world shall be done down here." So they danced, and 

 the people adopted the rules laid down for them at this time. Thus 

 their religion was formed and the people grew prosperous. 



After a time the two young men said, " Let us continue our jour- 

 ney." Going on, they found many villages, and spoke to their 

 people. This is why the people are religious today. These men 

 were good, doing right in all things that the people might follow 

 their example. At length they said : " We have finished our work, 

 for we have been over the entire land. We have spoken righteous- 

 ness and justice to all the tribes." 



After returning to their birthplace they said: "Let us go south- 

 ward — south of the hemlock tree. All the people north of it have 

 been visited." On the journey they said, " Our food must be game." 

 They built a fire after deciding to camp and to go out to hunt. 

 Then they hunted in many places. On one of these expeditions the 

 speaker saw among the trees a strange being dodging around some- 

 what like a man. As he approached, the stranger stopped, saying, 

 "I am glad to see you, grandson; let us sit down. (The stranger 

 was very youthful in looks, though he thus indicated himself as 

 grandfather.) I have been sent to tell you that you and the other 

 people are in great danger. This is all I am permitted to tell you; 

 but come ! — we will visit an old man, who will answer all ques- 

 tions." The speaker, arising, followed the stranger, for he was 

 curious to know whether there were really people so near. On com- 

 ing to a cliff, the stranger said, " We live down there." Looking 

 closely, the man saw an almost invisible trail, which they followed 

 to the bottom of the ravine, where they came to an opening in the 

 rocks. When about to enter, the stranger said. " Leave your bows 

 and arrows as you do when you go into other lodges." They went 

 through the first opening, then through a second. In the .second 

 room they found sitting an old man and woman, to whom the 

 stranger said, " I have brought your grandson." The old man 

 answered : " We have met several times, but you have never been 

 able to know it. I wish now to caution you, for you and your people 

 are in great danger. The clanger comes from your companion, 

 who has gone far into the forest. The Ganiagwaihegowa is on his 

 trail, and is coming to devour you. You are in my lodge now, 

 so I may tell you to defend yourselves. Tomorrow at noon the 

 enemy will be at your camp. He is filled with powerful orenda 

 (magic power), and we shall have to suffer on your account. If 

 you do not act as I tell you, we shall all die. We have tried many 



