518 SENECA FICTION, LEGENBS, AND MYTHS [eth. ann.»2 



on his journey homeward, "Let us now return to my home; and we 

 bid you good-by." So saying, he bade farewell to his brothers-in- 

 law and sisters-in-law. 



Then they departed on their long journey, and the bridegroom 

 took his wife and his mother-in-law with him. They encamped on 

 their way homeward many times. As soon as they arrived near the 

 lodge of the young man's uncle, Ongwe' Hanges"hii' said to his two 

 companions: " Stop here until I visit the lodge of my home to make 

 a reconnoissance, for I do not know whether my uncle is yet alive 

 or not. I will return soon." 



Thereupon he started on the run to his home. Arriving there, he 

 found his uncle eating his midday meal. The old man quickly arose 

 and seized the young man, saying, " Now hast thou returned ? Is it 

 thou, my nephew? Art thou Ongwe' Haiiges"ha'? " Tlie nephew 

 replied, " I it is. Uncle." •' Where is my daughter-in-law ? " asked 

 the old man. The nephew answered, " Oh, my uncle ! she and an- 

 other halted at a place not far from here, while I came here to make 

 a reconnoissance to learn whether you were still alive or not. I am 

 married in fact, and what is more than this, I have brought with 

 me my mother-in-law. They two are very fine-looking women. I 

 have thought very seriously of your age and also of the age of my 

 mother-in-law, and you two seem suitable in this respect one for the 

 other. I have already told her that I have thought well of having 

 you two abide together as husband and wife. Oh, my uncle ! I 

 have now said to you what I intended to say. My mother-in-law is 

 Aery thankful to me for my kindness in this matter and for my 

 desire to make you and her happy and contented. Thus have I 

 thought about this matter. Now will you agree to what I have 

 proposed for your welfare ? " Greatly pleased, the uncle exclaimed, 

 " Oh, my nephew ! how thankful I am for your kind effort in my 

 behalf. Let me dress myself, and you may now bring the woman." 

 Delighted with the reception his uncle gave the marital proposal, 

 Oiigwe' Hafiges"ha' ran back to the place where the two women were 

 anxiously awaiting his return. On arriving there, he exclaimed : 

 " He lives ! He lives and is in the best of health. He is eating. Let 

 us go to him." Thereupon they started for the lodge. 



Wlien they reached there they found the old man dressed and 

 ready to receive them. As they entered the lodge the old man, tap- 

 ping his couch several times, said gently to the mother-in-law, 

 "Here you may abide." She came forward and took her seat beside 

 him, and Ongwe' Hafiges"ha' and his wife seated themselves op- 

 posite, putting the fireplace between them as was the custom for 

 families to do in the ancient time. Then the old man said to his 

 nephew : " I am indeed thankful that you have been able to overcome 

 difficulties of all kinds along your path to and fro. You have hero- 



