690 SENECA FICTION, LEGENDS, AND MYTHS [eth. an.v. 32 



knifo, a bow and arrows, or battle-ax, and is not painted on the face. 

 P^or tliis reason let there be peace while we talk together." It seemea 

 at first that the old man was angry, but when he had heard this state- 

 ment his mind changed, and he said, " Come, then, do you relate the 

 message which you have been sent to bring to us. Come, now, tell 

 us." The man replied : " So be it. We have come to you to propose 

 that we at once settle all our differences, because we have slaughtered 

 not only ourselves, but also our friends and kinsmen. Let us stop 

 this slaughter; and let us bury deep in the earth the scalping-knife, 

 the war bow and arrow, and the battle-ax; in the earth we will put 

 these weapons ; so if you are willing to accept our proposals you will 

 put these murderous things outside this world, if j'ou are only willing 

 to do so." The old man replied : " So be it. Let us go to the place 

 where usually we assemble in council in the Long-lodge, for indeed 

 the chiefs dwell some distance from here. I will tell them what you 

 have brought as a message to us. I do not know what answer they 

 may give. I think you two should remain here, and I will go yonder 

 to the Long-lodge, where are the chiefs of our people. It woidd not 

 succeed well if you two should go there, for usually they are angry 

 when they see an enemy. I will prepare myself properly to tell them 

 the message which you have been sent to bring to us. Then I shall 

 come for you should their reply be favorable to a conference with 

 them. Thus it shall be done." One of the ambassadors answered, 

 " Let it come to pass as you have suggested." 



Thereupon the old man started for the Long-lodge to confer with 

 the chiefs of his people. When he had reached a point near the 

 village he began to cry out: Go' we'', go' we'', go' we'-. This is called 

 proclaiming. As soon as his cries were heard everybody came forth 

 from their lodges and at once went to the Long-lodge to hear what 

 news the crier was bringing them. So a large assemblage crowded 

 the Long-lodge. Then the old man, who was still crying out the cries 

 of warning, entered the Long-lodge, whereupon they set him down 

 on one side. One of the chiefs arose and said : '' Now, you must relate 

 the important news which you bring to us, so tell us. That is all." 

 Arising, the old man said : " I will tell you of a very important matter 

 which has come to pass. I saw two men who were in the lodge when 

 I returned to my home. I was astonished, but one of these men at 

 once arose and said : ' We assure you that we are not intending any- 

 thing evil, and this is i^roved by the fact that we have no scalping- 

 knife, no war bow and arrows, and no battle-ax, and we have not our 

 faces painted. We have been sent by our chiefs to learn whether we 

 can not settle all our difficulties. AVe have been killing ourselves and 

 shedding each other's blood ; so let us stop doing this, and let us bury 

 deep in the earth the scalping-knife, the war bow and arrows, and 

 the battle-ax ; let us lay these very deep in the ground. You must put 



