94 NE W YORK STATE MUSEUM 



We believe that he is happy in the place that you have prepared 



for him. 

 Moreover we thank him. 

 Oh you who were born of Earth, 

 Oh you who dwell in the sky ! 

 Now only this can we do. 

 You thought that it should be this way, 

 Oh you that were born of Earth, 

 Oh you who dwell in the sky ! 

 Now we thank you, the Creator of the World. 

 Here are gathered so many people as remain, 

 Few head men remain. 

 Only this can we do, 



And they say how the people should act. 

 Of the head men and their cousins only so many are left, 

 [But they with] the men and the women 

 The children that run and the children that creep 

 As one man-being offer you thanks. 

 They are your descendants, 

 Oh you who dwell in the sky ! 

 Now you did think that we should offer you tobacco when we 



addressed you. 

 And we have fulfilled your request and used tobacco. 

 We leave our words with you until the next great thanksgiving, 

 Until then may the people continue in health. 

 Now the smoke arises ! 

 Oh inhale as you do listen ! 

 Only this can we do 

 For all the words are spoken 

 To you, our great ancestor, 

 Oh you who dwell in the sky. 

 Oh you who were born of Earth ! 



NE GANEOWO 1 



One of the four sacred ceremonies of the Seneca 

 The Gane'o n wo n is a ceremonial thanksgiving in which two 

 " preachers," standing on either side of a long bench around which 

 a company of religious dancers have arranged themselves, al- 

 ternately intone sections of the Gane'o n wo n ritual. At the end of 



1 Ne"gane'o n wo n , recorded and translated at Newtown, Cattaraugus reser- 

 vation, January 1906. 



