SewS] legends 631 



in that far-away land. It is quite impossible for him to return again 

 to this earth to live." Then Dehaenhyowens i-elated at great length 

 all that had occurred to him and his party and all the things that they 

 had seen fi'om the time they had left their homes until their return. 

 After speaking thus Dehaenhyowens resumed his seat. 



The chief then said : " It was in fact a marvelous thing that was 

 done by your party. It is a very long time since you departed from 

 your homes; but now you have returned, only you three pei-sons. 

 Of course, one of the most essential things about this matter to be 

 remembered is that Deaunhj^awa'gon, sometimes called Haweiini'yo, 

 forewilled that you, and only you, should be enabled to return home 

 safely. Preparations have been made so that we may now exchange 

 greetings, and this shall be done. You, the surviving ones of the 

 party, three in number, will take a suitable position, and I will take 

 the lead in a ceremonial greeting to you ; for I, of course, stand in the 

 stead of the one who was the chief of the people when you departed. 

 My name is Dagii'idon'dye'. Then we will do this : We will mutually 

 and severally stroke one another's body in greeting. This ceremony 

 shall be for all persons, including our children — we will all greet one 

 another in this ceremonial manner, for this was the custom of our 

 fathers on such occasions." 



Accordingly' Dehaenhj'owens and his two friends took suitable 

 positions in which to receive the greetings of the people, and the 

 people with the chief in the lead came forward and cordially stroked 

 their bodies according to the custom. All the men, women, and chil- 

 dren arose and greeted them. Wlien the ceremony was over the chief 

 said : " We will do in the future all the things that we have today 

 learned should be done. This, too, you shall luiow — ^you who have 

 just returned home— that we shall be equal with you in the enjoy- 

 ment and disposition of the things that we possess, so that our minds 

 and yours shall think in peace. Here, you know, dwell the people, 

 and now, of course, we again shall commingle and associate together. 

 Everything is in readiness for us to rejoice and be happy, seeing 

 that you have returned home in safety and health. The first thing 

 to be done is to make merry by a game. They whose bodies are 

 strong will play at a game of lacrosse ball; thus shall they amuse 

 your minds, and you may rejoice. When that shall have passed we 

 shall dance, beginning with the Pigeon Song, or Song of the Pigeons. 

 When that is passed it will be time for us to disperse to our homes." 

 Thereupon Dehaenhyowens, arising, said : " It is marvelous to know 

 that we have been absent from our people during three generations; 

 and we are rejoicing that we have, though much fewer in numbers, 

 returned to our homes. We are indeed very happy that we are again 

 one people with you." 



