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NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



gence he thought some of them exceedingly wise, having access 

 to knowledge of which he was ignorant. When he could not under- 

 stand certain of their habits he was awed, and called them mysteri- 

 ous. He supposed animals capable of communicating one with 

 the other and species with species. Indeed many circumstances 

 seemed to point to the truth of this supposition until it became a 

 fixed belief. If a man were unjust to animals they would com- 

 municate the fact to all other animals who would seek opportunity 

 to revenge. If he were just and kind they would appreciate his 

 goodness and give him " luck,'' warn him of danger and protect 

 him in peril. The condition of primeval man and of his descendants 

 who continued to live in the primitive way was one of continual 

 danger. It was necessary for him to protect himself, his mate 

 and his offspring from famine, from the attacks of animals, from 

 the elements, from accidents and disease. The state of nature and 

 the state of human society made his life one of continual struggle 

 to accomplish these ends. Alan, therefore, sought to eliminate all 

 unnecessary dangers and to seek protection of any kind. Regard- 

 ing animals as he did it was natural that he should have sought 

 their good will and protection. 



To primitive man dreams were oracles. Regarding himself as 

 one of the animals or thinking animals mentally endowed as men 

 are and living in close contact with animals, it is reasonable to 

 suppose that savage man dreamed of ways by which he could secure 

 the favor of animals, and, at the same -time, dreamed what the 

 wishes of animals were. Savage races are great dreamers and 

 their dreams are in many ways different in character from those of 

 civilized men. When primitive men dreamed, in many instances 

 they felt bound to abide by the dictates of the dream. If they 

 could not understand the vision, they consulted an interpreter of 

 dreams. Desirous of the patronage of animals the dreamer would 

 dream how to secure the favor of certain beasts or birds. In 

 this manner may have originated personal totems and many cus- 

 toms. 1 As time went these dreams came to be related as ac- 

 tual experiences and were handed down as real happenings of the 

 mysterious past. To the savage the past was always mysterious. 



1 Although " medicine men " versed in the lore of their people assert to 

 those under their influence that the origin of certain customs and cere- 

 monies as set forth in the legends are actually true, yet to outsiders they 

 will sometimes admit that they originated in dreams. Esquire Johnson, the 

 aged Seneca chief, whose relations are found elsewhere in the Arch- 

 eologist's notes, said in an interview with 'Mrs. Asher Wright, "All 

 the dances, feasts and other ceremonies originated in dreams." 



