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NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



during the fast, the chiefs, who visit him daily, release him and 

 he departs unhappy and in disgrace, having no dream sign to invoke 

 during his life. 



To " fulfil the rules," the dreamer may leave his lodge for brief 

 periods. He is permitted water to quench his thirst, but is for- 

 bidden food of any kind. He is expected to perform acts of brav- 

 ery, to kill vicious wild animals, or poisonous snakes, and to pre- 

 serve their skins as trophies to be shown to his people. 



O-go-ne-sas belonged to the Wolf clan and was the son of a noted 

 war chief. He had been trained to the chase and the trails of the 

 warpath. He led in the games, was the swiftest runner, could 

 throw the arrow farther than any of his comrades, and hurl the 

 snow-snake beyond the bounds. He knew the forests and streams, 

 and had taught the wild game to know him. He could imitate the 

 call of the birds, and they would flock around him. Should he 

 wander late in the forest, he had no fear of the prowling animals, 

 the bear or the wolf was as welcome to meet as his friends in his 

 father's lodge ; for they seemed to know him, and would pass silently 

 by. He was the pride of the village, and the boast of his father 

 who believed he would become a great chief. 1 



The time for his Dream fast had come. The snows were deep 

 and the winds were keen, but O-go-ne-sas was young and his blood 

 like fire, and he welcomed its coming. To endure — but that was 

 his birthright and boast. 



In the heart of the woods he built his lodge of young saplings, 

 covering it with branches of evergreen hemlock to shelter him from 

 the snows and, divesting himself of the furs he had worn and appeal- 

 ing to his clan spirit to attend him, entered his retreat. 



His fast had begun, and he was alone with his thoughts. He had 

 been happy and kind. No frown had come to his life, nor sorrow, 

 and now his manhood was approaching. Ten suns to pass above 

 him; ten nights for his clan spirit to choose his totem. If the 

 deer, he would wind its soft skin about him to warn away the cold 

 winds. If the bear, he would string its strong claws to wear around 

 his neck. If the wolf, his white teeth would guard him from danger. 

 If the beaver, he would wed the water. If the turtle, his shell 

 would be his breastplate. If a bird, his wings would adorn him. 

 No thought but hope and faith in his dreaming. 



1 It is possible for a youth to become a chief but unless he inherited the right to candidacy 

 from his maternal side to become one of the several considered for nomination and then 

 received the nomination by the women and the confirmation and election by the warriors, 

 he could not hope to become one of the council of fifty sachems who formed the governing 

 body of the league. The difference between chiefs and sachems is the same difference 

 which now obtains between army officers and federal senators. 



