THE CODE OF HANDSOME LAKE 2$ 



THE PEOPLE GATHER ABOUT THE DEAD MAN 



Then the daughter says to her husband, " Run quickly and notify 

 his nephew, Taa'wonyas, 1 that he who has lain so many years in bed 

 has gone. Bid him come immediately." 



So the husband runs to carry the message to Taa'wonyas. And 

 Taa'wonyas says, " Truly so. Now hasten to Gaiant'waka, 2 the 

 brother of the dead man and say that he who lay sick for so many 

 years is dead. So now go and say this." 



So the husband goes alone to where Gaiant'waka lives and when 

 he has spoken the wife says, " Gaiant'waka is at the island plant- 

 ing.'' So he goes there and says, " Gaiant'waka your brother is 

 dead. He who was sick for so many years is dead. Go at once to 

 his bed." 



Then Gaiant'waka answers, " Truly, but first I must finish 

 covering this small patch of seed. Then when I hoe it over I will 

 come." 



Now he who notifies is Hatgwi'yot, the husband of the daughter 

 of Ganio'dai'io'. So now he returns home. 



Now everyone hearing of the death of the sick man goes to 

 where he lies. 



Now first comes Taa'wonyas. He touches the dead man on every 

 part of his body. Now he feels a warm spot on his chest and then 

 Taa'wonyas says, " Hold back your sadness, friends," for he had 

 discovered the warm spot and because of this he tells the people 

 that perhaps the dead man may revive. Now many people are 

 weeping and the speaker sits down by his head. 



Now after some time Gaiant'waka comes in and feels over the 

 body of the dead and he too discovers the warm spot but says 

 nothing but sits silently down at the feet of the dead man. 



And for many hours no one speaks. 



Now it is the early norning and the dew is drying. This is a 

 time of trouble for he lies dead. 



Now continually Taa'wonyas feels over the body of the dead 

 man. He notices that the warm spot is spreading. Now the time 

 is noon and he feels the warm blood pulsing in his veins. Now his 

 breath comes and now he opens his eyes. 



1 Meaning, Needle or Awl Breaker, one of the fifty sachems. 



2 Meaning, Planter, commonly called Cornplanter, the half brother of 

 Handsome Lake. See p 136. 



