30 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



nodus'ha (compelling charms 1 ). Now the Creator who made us 

 cormands that they who do this evil, when they hear this message, 

 must stop it immediately and do it nevermore while they live upon 

 this earth-world. It matters not how much destruction they have 

 wrought — let them repent and not fail for fear the Creator will 

 not accept them as his own.' " 



So they said and he said. Eniaiehuk. 



section 4 



' Now another word. It is sad. It is the fourth word. It is 

 the way Yondwi'nias swa'yas. 2 



' Now the Creator ordained that women should bear children. 



" ' Now a certain young married woman had children and 

 suffered much. Now she is with child again and her mother wishing 

 to prevent further sufferings designs to administer a medicine to 

 cut off the child and to prevent forever other children from com- 

 ing. 3 So the mother makes the medicine and gives it. Now when 

 she does this she forever cuts away her daughter's string of children. 

 Now it is because of such things that the Creator is sad. He created 

 life to live and he wishes such evils to cease. He wishes those who 

 employ such medicines to cease such practices forevermore. Now 

 they must stop when they hear this message. Go and tell your 

 people.' " 



So they said and he said. Eniaiehuk. 



1 Charms. Should a person die holding a secret, one may discover it by 

 sleeping upon the ground with a handful of the grave dirt beneath his head. 

 Then, if all conditions are perfect, the dead person will appear in three suc- 

 cessive visions and reveal its mystery. 



A young man, wishing to become a swift runner, may add to his powers 

 by concealing in his belt a bone from the grave of some celebrated runner 

 of the past. It is said that most famous runners of the League carried these 

 charms. 



A warrior who wishes to guard against sudden attack from behind may 

 make an unfailing charm by cutting three slits in the back of his neck and 

 rubbing into the wounds the oil extracted from the scalps of enemies. A 

 peculiar soft white flesh will fill up the cuts and when completely healed 

 will protrude. Should an enemy then approach these protruding scars will 

 quiver and warn the warrior of danger. 



The most effective charm for drawing riches is the tooth of a nia'gwahe. 



2 Meaning " she cuts it off by abortion.'' 



3 The Iroquois knew of such an herb. I find it mentioned by Dr Peter 

 Wilson, the Cayuga, and it was pointed out to me at Onondaga in 191 1. 

 The Seneca and Onondaga belief is that every woman has a certain number 

 of children predestined to them and that they are fastened on a stringlike 

 runner like tubers, or like eggs within a bird. 



