52 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



SECTION 56 



" ' Now another message. 



" This happened when Gai'wiio' was new. It was the time when 

 he dwelt at Diono n "sodege'. 1 



"A father and son appeared in Diono nV sodege'. Now the name 

 of the son was Gani'seofi. They were on a hunting journey and 

 came from Gadages'kao" 2 with a horse and cart. Now they tarried 

 in Diono nV sodege < for several nights before again taking up their 

 journey. 



" It was during the hunting season that the news spread that 

 some one had returned from the hunting grounds without a com- 

 panion. It was the young man who had returned. So they 

 questioned him and asked where his father was. He answered, 

 ' My father is lost. I went about searching for my father a num- 

 ber of days. I walked and searched and signalled with gun dis- 

 charges hoping to find him. I could not find him and became weary 

 waiting for his return.' So he said." 



" Now Gaiant'waka when he heard this said, ' It is apparent to 

 me that the young man has spoken the untruth.' So then they all 

 went to the diviner of mysteries and Gaiant'waka spoke to him 

 saying, ' It is my opinion that the boy has murdered his own 

 father.' And the prophet answering said, ' They have not yet given 

 me the power to see things but this will I do. Bring a bullet, a 

 knife, and a hatchet that the boy may look upon these things when 

 I speak and perhaps the truth will come (see plate 14). One of 

 these things will move though not touched and he shall be the 

 witness.' So the head men did as bidden and placed the objects as 

 directed. In the middle of the floor they spread a blanket and put 

 the articles upon it. Then they gathered around it and watched, 

 and as they watched he spoke and the bullet moved. Thus it 

 happened. Then spoke Ganio'dai'io', ' This brings the confirmation 

 of the rumor. Truly the youth has murdered his father, and 

 furthermore I say that the crime was committed between Ganos' 3 

 and Hanenk'gaek. 4 On the south side of a mountain, where half 

 way up an elm is broken, leaning over on the downhill side to the 

 west lies the body buried in the leaves of the top branches. He, the 

 father, is buried in the leaves.' So he said when he spoke. The 



1 Cornplanter village. 



2 Cattaraugus village, the principal town of the Cattaraugus region. 



3 Franklin, Pa. 

 * Oil City, Pa. 



