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



it to see whether there was any game in the hollow of the trunk. 

 As on the former trip, he found raccoong in the hollow of the tree, 

 which he proceeded to drag out. He would put his arm into the 

 hollow of the rotten old tree, drag out a raccoon, and throw it to the 

 ground, repeating this process until he had thus dragged forth six 

 or seven raccoons. Then exclaiming " I believe that I have now 

 killed a sufficient number," he again descended the tree to the ground. 

 Again ho laid out his forehead strap, whereon he placed the bodies of 

 the raccoons which he had killed. They made a large load. He bound 

 the botlies into a bundle ready to carry. Placing this on his back 

 so that he could carry it by means of his forehead strap, he again 

 started for the lodge of his family. Having returned home, he laid 

 his pack down indoors, before the place where sat his uncle, who 

 could only exclaim: "//<5'.' I am so thankful; ho' ! I am so thankful. 

 Perhaps, now, I can complete my robe with these eight skins." Then 

 the old man skinned them, and when he had completed this task he 

 proceeded to stretch and dry the skins in the usual manner on frames 

 of wooden sticks. As soon as they were dried he made himself a 

 robe, which w-as very beautiful when he had completed it. So it came 

 to pass that he had a raccoon-skin robe with which to cover himself. 



Continually, indeed, did the two women cook and prepare food 

 for the family, and all lived in the greatest contentment. It came 

 to pass that the elder sister said to the younger : " Let us go to fetch 

 wood, for it is the custom for those who are living in their husband's 

 lodge to gather wood." They two then went forth from the lodge 

 toward the neighboring forest. There they saw a standing tree which 

 appeared to be fit for their purpose. The elder carried with her a 

 round, hard, white stone, which she struck against the tree, making 

 a sound which was heard everywhere, and the tree fell into a heap of 

 firewood. The two women proceeded to make themselves loads by 

 laying together the strips of wood. They placed thus in two heaps 

 the whole of that great tree. When they had finished their packs, 

 placing them on their backs, thej' started for home. "NAlien they 

 reached the doorway they separated, and standing on opposite sides 

 of the lodge, they untied their forehead straps, whereupon their 

 packs fell to the ground, growing into such great heaps that the 

 lodge was quite surrounded with firewood. Then the two reentered 

 the lodge, and the elder said : " One who is in the lodge of her hus- 

 band's family is customarily expert in preparing wood." This she 

 said to the old man, the luicle of her husband. The old man replied : 

 "//o'.' I am very thankful." 



At this time some women who lived in a distant place learned 

 that Doiidanegeii had grown to manhood. There were four per- 

 sons in this family of women — a mother and her three daughters. 



