276 SENECA FICTION, LEGENDS, AND MYTHS [hth. ANN. 32 



the birds and beasts had brought the man to life, they taught him 

 how to make use of the medicine and how to sing tlie songs that put 

 it in action. Then they dismissed him, telling him to go to his home, 

 where he must inform his people, through their appointed authori- 

 ties, what he had learned for their benefit and welfare. Thereupon 

 the man went to his home. 



The men who had seen him scalped and killed had related the story 

 to their people, who believed him dead. So, when they saw him 

 return alive, they quickly gathered around him, asking, " How has 

 it come to pass that you have returned alive? " Then the man gave 

 them, in detail, an account of how he had been killed, and how the 

 birds and the animals, in return for the kindness which he had 

 shown them at all times, had concocted the medicine which had 

 brought him back to life. Then, selecting a small number of wise 

 men of great experience, he taught them how to use this medicine 

 and confided its preservation to their custody. He strictly enjoined 

 them not to make light of the songs which belonged to it ; 

 should they so far forget themselves as to do so, they would suffer 

 great misfortune, for the songs possessed great orenda, which would 

 become active against them. He told them, further, that no one 

 shoidd sing the songs unless he had some of this powerful medicine 

 (which is called nigahjiegahah, "small dose"). This medicine is 

 still held in great repute among the Iroquois. (See Medical Note, 

 p. 491.) 



54. The Seven Stars of the Dipper 



Long ago six men went out hunting many days' journey from 

 home. For a long time they found no game. One of their num- 

 ber said that he was sick (in fact he was very lazy), so they had to 

 make a litter of two poles and a skin, by means of which four men 

 carried him. Each man had his own load to bear besides. The 

 sixth member <yf the party came behind, carrying the kettle. 



At last, when they were getting very hungry, they came on the 

 track of a bear, whereupon they dropped their sick companion and 

 their burdens, each running on as fast as he could after the bear. 

 At first the track was so old that they thought merely, " We shall 

 overtake the bear at some future time anyway." Later they said, 

 " The track can not be more than three days old," and as it grew 

 fresher and fresher each day, they finally said, " Tomorrow, it 

 seems, we .shall overtake the bear." Now, the man whom they had 

 carried so long was not tired, and when they dropped him. knowing 

 that he was to be left behind, he ran on after them. As he was 

 fresher than they were, he soon passed them, and overtaking the 

 bear, he killed it. 



