IROQUOIS MYTHS AND LEGENDS 



Affectionately the animals licked his head and saw where it 

 was crushed and scalped. An owl asked, " How are we to find the 

 scalp?" The hawk replied, " I can get it for I know where it is. 

 I can get it at night on the eaves of the lodge in the settlement," 

 and then he flew away on his errand. Returning successful he 

 placed the scalp on the ground, asking the big crow to vomit on it 

 and stick it on the dead man's head. Then the assembled council 

 rejoiced because the scalp grew fast. The dead chief felt some- 

 thing trickling down his throat and seemed to hear a far away 

 singing. He began to move and there was life in him and he 

 began to talk the same language they talked and they understood 

 him. And when he became fully conscious the birds and animals 

 had gone. 



Leaping to his feet he returned to his people and told them what 

 had happened as he lay dead, how he had heard singing and had 

 learned the song. The people marveled and were convinced. 



After a time men, those who were warriors, volunteered to go 

 and fight another battle with the south country enemies. Thus 

 an expedition was fitted out and the same chief who had been 

 dead said, " That's the right thing " and he went with them. 

 Now they had certain plans when they stopped for provisions. 



Their camping place was on a grassy place near certain deer 

 licks where bears and other animals came to eat. At this place 

 there was a kind of brook and spring. Being a distance from this 

 place two young men who were perfectly virtuous were sent by the 

 party to get game. Now they started and went. Arriving at 

 the lick they sat down and listening thought that they detected 

 the sounds of music, so they harkened. The sounds seemed to 

 issue from a mountain and ring all about them. It told them of 

 all their doings, and so entranced were they that they could do 

 nothing but listen all night, though they should have returned to 

 the camp. The next morning they returned and made report, 

 that they had gone to the lick for game but there was something 

 else there, and told the full story of the happenings. Then the 

 once dead chief said, " It seems that we have met great luck, so 

 return to the lick again. For this we will cleanse you and you may 

 learn the import of the singing." So that night they gave them 

 medicine and cleansed them and started them back again. And 

 as before they heard the singing, this time \ T ery loud and distinct. 

 It came from away up the hill mountain and they went toward it 

 hoping to learn the words and music. Again returning to camp 

 they sang parts of the song they had learned and the chief who 



