70 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Intellectually undeveloped men, as well as men of today, seek 

 primarily the conditions which give their acquired or natural 

 necessities, desires, inclinations, ideas and instincts the greatest 

 -comfort, freedom and satisfaction. In short, not only is freedom 

 irom antagonizing and destructive elements sought but pleasurable 

 sensations also, the stimuli to coincide with both natural and ac- 

 quired ideas. To attain these desired conditions the Iroquois like 

 other races had their religion, their folk beliefs and their mystical 

 • -societies. 



A lift of some of these societies with a very brief summary of - 

 "their distinguishing features follows : 



Nia-gwai' O-d'-no, the Bear Society 



1 The ritual of the Bear Society consists of 20 songs and a 

 dance. At stages in the song and dance berry juice is drunk. 



2 The ceremony is opened by offering tobacco incense to the 

 spirits of bears. During this ceremony a speech is recited. 



3 The sign of membership, or in other words the badge, is one 

 black streak drawn diagonally on the right cheek. 



4 The chief of the Bear Society is a woman. 



5 The object of the society is to cure the diseases of its members 

 or candidates by chanting its songs. The Bear song is believed to 

 be a powerful remedy for fevers and rheumatism. 



6 The chief woman blows on the head of the patient. 



7 A person becomes a member of this society by dreaming that 

 lie or she must or by calling upon it for services. 



8 No one but members may engage in its public dances. 



9 After a ceremony the members depart bearing with them parts 

 of beir pudding that had been cooked at the ceremony. 



Sha-dot-gc'-a' , the Eagle Society 



1 The ritual of this society consists of 10 songs and a dance. 

 The song is called Ga-ne' gw&-a' O-d-no or the great eagle cere- 

 mony. 



2 Every member engaging in a ceremony must paint each cheek 

 with a round spot of carmine. 



3 The Bird Society ceremony is considered as the most sacred 

 next to the Great Feather dance. 



4 It is believed that this society holds in its songs the most potent 

 song charm known. It is said that the dying have been revived 

 hy it and completely restored. " 



