NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



It shall be done and I, John Jacket, understand the traditions 

 and offer tobacco to the various beings who are a part of this 

 medicine. I am the holder of this song. 



We are thankful to the Creator that we are here. Some of our 

 number are absent. Some are dead. Some have gone to Christ's 

 religion. Some are sick. Nevertheless, we will proceed, we few 

 who are here. 



It would require a long time to relate the entire story of the 

 medicine and thus we will tell the principal part only. 



(During these preliminary remarks each member lays his sealed 

 box of medicine on the table. An interval of smoking follows the 

 remarks of the holder of the song.) 



The medicine lodge epitome of the origin of the medicine 1 



Long time ago in the days of our grandfathers men journeyed 

 great distances in search of good luck and adventure. We are 

 about to relate of one of these ancient journeys. 



It so happened at one time that a band of On-gweh-o-weh, 

 (Iroquois) with members of other nations, journeyed far into the 

 south country. They had planned to engage in warfare and 

 bring back a great number of scalps. But it so happened that as 

 they were out the enemy attacked them suddenly and, being un- 

 prepared, our party was nearly exterminated. Among those left 

 dead upon the field of battle was a certain Seneca, a chief, who 

 had always been a friend to the birds. It had been his custom to 

 slay some animal and after skinning it to cut it open and shout for 

 the birds saying, " I have killed something for you to eat! " 



As he lay dead upon the field the birds hovered over his form 

 strangely attracted by it. They deliberated " We had a friend 

 who looked like this; he used to call us often and it may be he 

 who lies here killed by a blow on the head." While they were 

 yet speaking two wolves came and wailing said, " Here lies our 

 friend. We are orphans now! He always gave us food to eat. 

 Let us try to restore his life! All of us animals he has fed and we 

 must do something for him! It is our duty to bring back his 

 life! " 



All the animals and birds came together where he was lying and 

 counseled, saying, " O what can we do? Can we bring him to 

 life? " The presiding chief of the council was a wolf and he asked, 

 " Is there no way to bring him to life? 



1 According to the translation by William Jones, a Seneca sachem of the Snipe clan, now 

 deceased. Reproduced almost word for word and sentence for sentence, the only changes 

 being those necessary to correct the more pronounced imperfections of grammar. 



