608 SENECA FICTION, LEGENDS, AND MYTHS [eth. ann.32 



It SO happened that one of the young men dwelling there resolved 

 to make an expedition into the distant West, into the region through 

 which lay the jDath of the sun. The name of this young man was 

 Dehaenhyowens (He-Who-Cleaves-the-Sky-in-Twain).*^^ To pro- 

 mote his design, he persuaded his friends to prepare a great feast, to 

 which all the people should be bidden and at which, as was the custom 

 of the countrj', he should announce to the public his purpose of 

 making an expedition into the West to the end of the earth, in order 

 to slaughter unknown men and to obtain the scalps of the alien 

 peoples whom he might encounter, since the scalps would serve as 

 tokens of the victors' prowess and craft in warfare. 



The feast having been prepared, the people were bidden to it. 

 When they had all gathered together in their ganonses (long lodge of 

 public assembly), and while they were enjoying the good things 

 provided for their entertainment the host. Dehaenhyowens, arose to 

 make the speech in which he announced his purpose with respect to 

 the expedition, at the same time calling for volunteers from among 

 the young men to accompany him and share his fortunes. He asked 

 only for young men, those who had just arrived at manhood (at 

 the age of puberty). Further, he informed those who might volun- 

 teer to accompany him that they would have to renounce their lives, 

 their kith and kin ; that they must agree on adherence to a unanimity 

 of purpose and to continue their journey forward no matter what 

 kind of obstacles might present themselves; that his own brother, 

 Gaenhyakdondye (Along-the-Side-of-the-Sky), had already volun- 

 teered to go with him; and that they two in the capacity of war 

 chiefs would lead the party should one be formed. Beside the two 

 brothers 28 others volunteered to share the lot of the two reckless 

 adventurers. So Dehaenhyowens appointed a time to start and a 

 rendezvous for the party, earnestly urging all to be prepared to 

 depart at the appointed time. 



When the day arrived, Dehaenhyowens notified by a messenger 

 all the volunteers, who eagerly presented themselves at the rendez- 

 vous. When they had completed all their preparations, they set out, 

 directing their course toward the place of the sunset. 



As these warriors traveled on they finally came to a place in which 

 they found the habitations of a people whom they did not know. 

 These unoffending people they ruthlessly killed and scalped, and 

 after this bloody exploit they continued their journey toward the 

 West. 



Having journeyed a short distance farther, they suddenly came to 

 the settlement of another people. At the dawn they attacked these 

 people, slaying all the males who did not escape in the darkness, and, 

 having scalped the slain, they passed on, still following the course 

 of the sun. 



