NO. 17 



SMITHSONIAN EXl'LORA'lIONS. I916 



127 



Dekanawida legend, in which the great statesman is anonymous. 

 In this interesting- version Dekanawida is known throughout the 

 account hy tlie clescriptive title. " l^he Fatherless," or literalh'. " He 



Fig. 126. — Turtle-shell rattle, horn rattle, and gourd rattle of the Iroquois. 



W ho Ls Fatherless." This title was designed ])roliahly to emphasize 

 a prophecy that he would l)e horn of a virgin h\- an immaculate 

 conception. This Cayuga version was dictated In- C'liief John H. 



