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



poses, and we believe that whoever does not do so will suffer some 

 grave misfortune. 



" We further wish you and your people to join with us as a custom 

 in offering thanksgivings to Ilim who created us when each day 

 shall return to us, and also when each evening conies upon us. We 

 think it is profitable that this should come to pass as I have sug- 

 gested. You see us when the morning comes making a great tumult, 

 and you hear us all talking while we circle around the place in which 

 we have our roost. The reason for this action is the giving of 

 thanks. We are offering thanksgivings to Him who has created our 

 bodies. In the evening this again takes place; we again offer up 

 thanksgivings to Ilim ; and you see us then making circles around our 

 roosting place, and there is the accompaniment of sound and the con- 

 fusion of voices whicli you hear. Now, know this: We are perform- 

 ing the ceremony of the dance, and we are all singing. This signifies 

 that we are happy; we are full of joy. 



" We have no remonstrance to make against your coming to this 

 place seeking to obtain the young growing persons of those whose 

 bodies are such as ours. Indeed, you wish that these shall become 

 a source of contentment and satisfaction — these, the offspring of 

 the pigeons. So it is that we have none but the kindest of feelings 

 toward you in this pursuit of your desires. You must know, too, that 

 He who created our bodies has ordained that this (flesh) shall be for 

 the welfare and contentment of human beings dwelling on the earth. 



" You must know further that I, on whom you are looking, I, 

 who am speaking to you, am indeed the oldest person among my 

 people, and it is on account of my great age that tliey have chosen 

 me to come to you to tell you our wishes and to teach you our 

 songs. You, too, are able to sing them. It is needful that you shall 

 enjoy yourselves; that you shall dance in order to do this; and tluit 

 all your people who are here shall take part. In dancing you shall 

 make circuits around the places where you have kindled j'our fires. 

 When you have finished the singing and the dancing you shall go 

 with your chief to make an offering of tobacco at the very border of 

 our encampment, where you two shall stand to perform this cere- 

 mony. When you have kindled a fire you shall cast native tobacco 

 thereon, and Mhile thus occupied you must pray our Creator to 

 permit you and your people to pass your period of sojourn here in 

 health and in prosperity. At that time your chief, too, shall cast 

 something on the fire — things of which j'ou make daily use, and these 

 objects shall become the prayer (the word) *^^ or message of the peo- 

 ple. F'urthermore, we together, your and my people, must unite in 

 the performance of this ceremony, and we must also be of one accord 

 when we make this prayer and request of the Creator of our bodies. 



