666 SENECA FICTION, LEGENDS, AND MYTHS [eth. ANN. 32 



When there they went at once from lodge to hidge to call a council 

 of the people. As soon as the people had come together and had 

 seated themselves according to their families and their clans the 

 chief arose and addressed them. He nrged them to repent of their 

 evil deeds through self-condemnation and to offer up thanksgivings 

 to their Creator in the morning and also in the evening: he said to 

 them that this custom should continue forever, as it wonld bring 

 health and prosperity and happiness to all those who practiced it. 

 When he had finished his address on the need of observing faith- 

 fully the things which had been taught them by the Pigeon people, 

 he said : " Now let us severally give thanksgivings to the Creator of 

 our bodies, and, moreover, we will dance to the songs of the Pigeon 

 people. Every person should take part in this ceremony." 



Thereupon the upright young man and the chief took their sta- 

 tions at the head of the line of dancers. When all were in line and 

 ready the young man began to sing the songs of the pigeons, and all 

 danced, following the leaders. In dancing they made a circuit of 

 the lodges, moving slowly to the rhythm of the songs as they turned 

 from tlie right toward the left. When the young man had sung all 

 the songs the head of the line had reached the point of departure. 



Then the chief, addressing the people, said : " We have now, indeed, 

 performed this ceremony as it has been taught to us by the people of 

 the pigeons; and when we shall depart from this place we must take 

 back with us this ceremony, which will be of great benefit to us. We 

 have learned these songs here from a superior people, and so we 

 must cherish this ceremony. We have learned, too, that in dancing 

 we must always make the circuit of the fires in one certain direction, 

 namely, from the right toward the left. The reason for this is that 

 you use your right hands either to seize or to release whatever you 

 wish, so it is necessary that the right side at all times be on the out- 

 side of the circle of dancers, and that the part of the body in which 

 lies our life shall at all times be on the inside of the line of dancers. 

 Let us now make ready to start for our homes." With loud shouts 

 pf approval and of exuberance of joy the dancers returned to their 

 lodges to make preparations to depart for their homes. 



129. The Legend of Haiiadodagwat'ha 



Once there dwelt together a brother and his younger sister in a 

 lodge. 



The brother had a rich suit of hair, half of which was red and the 

 other half black. It was the daily occupation of the brother to go 

 out hunting, and the younger sister was contented. They lived thus 

 in peace for a long time. 



One morning the brother went out as usual to hunt. He had not 

 been gone long when seemingly he returned, laughing and looking at 



