De'hodya'tga'ewe"' (He Whose Body Is Divided in Tw

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De'hodya'tga'ewe"' (He Whose Body Is Divided in Twain) - Haudenosaunee

This is a saga concerning the First People-the Ancient People-the People of
the Beginnings-who live now and who lived also when the Earth was new, and,
therefore, was young.

In the land of the Sunrise, at a place called Diyo'hnyowa'ne"' (i.e.. There
at the Great Lowland Cape), there was situated a village of these First
People, when the Earth was young.

There came a day when one of the young men, De'hae'hyo'we's (i.e.,
He-Who-Cleaves-the-Sky-in-Twain), dwelling in the village at
Diyo'hnyowa'ne"' resolved to form an expedition to make a raid westward into
the distant regions through which passes the daily path of the Sun.

So to promote his design De'haen'hyo'wen's induced his friends to prepare a
great war feast, to which he invited all the First People of that village.
It being the custom of the country, he announced to the public assembled
there his purpose of leading a troop of warriors far into the west,
follow-ing the path of the Sun and going beyond the end of the earth to
slaughter unknown men and to obtain the scalps of alien peoples as tokens of
their prowess and their courage in warfare.

The feast having been prepared and the people having received the notched
sticks of invitation-white for the children and the general public, green
for the young warriors and Women Chiefs, and red for the Chiefs, Sorcerers,
Elder Men, and the Elder Chiefs-all then assembled in the Long-lodge of
public assembly. While the guests were enjoying the good things provided for
their entertainment, their host, De'hae"'hy6'we"'s, arose in his place and
in a set speech announced his purpose to lead an expedition of a war party
into the west, even through the regions over which the Sun follows his path,
for the purpose of destroying and scalping all the alien peoples whom they
might find on their way thither.

In his address he urged the young men to volunteer to accompany him and to
share with him the hardships of his enterprise; but he asked only for young
men who had reached manhood's estate, just after maturing from the age of
puberty. He further informed those who would volunteer as members of his
party that they would have to renounce their kith and kin, and even their
lives; and that they must also agree to ob-serve strict adherence to a
unanimity of purpose, and also that they must agree to continue on the
journey forward no matter what the nature of forbidding obstacles in the way
might be; and that his own brother, Gae'hyakdon'dye' (i.e.,
Along-the-Edge-of- the-Sky, or The Horizon), had already volunteered to
accompany him, and that in the capacity of war chiefs, they two would lead
the party, should such a war party be formed to go.

In response to this appeal twenty-eight young virile men besides the two
brothers volunteered to be members of the war party of the two ambitious
adventurers.

Having set a date for starting and a rendezvous for the assembling of the
troop, De'hae'hyo'we's earnestly urged all the volunteers to be ready to
depart at the designated time.

The time for departure having arrived, De'hae'hyo'we's, by messenger,
notified all the volunteers that the time had come for starting. Eagerly did
the volunteers present them-selves at the rendezvous and having completed
all other preparations they set out, directing their course toward the Place
of Sunset.

The minds of the two leaders were fixed on the place where the Sun
habitually sinks from view, so thither did they wend their way. As these
warriors traveled on they finally reached a place in which they found the
habitations of a people whom they did not know, but these unoffending
persons they ruthlessly killed and scalped. After this bloody exploit they
journeyed westward.

Having gone a short distance farther they suddenly came upon the village of
another people. At the dawn of day they attacked these people, slaying all
the males who did not escape in the darkness, and having scalped the slain
they passed on, following the course of the Sun.

Having gone a day's journey farther they came to the dwelling place of a
third people. At night these people also were attacked, killed, and scalped;
all the males who did not escape them in the darkness were massacred. In the
morning the war party passed on. These bloody exploits were repeated
wherever they found a village of people dwelling on the line of their march.
This bloody work continued for many moons.

It is said that after pursuing this course of conduct during a long period
of time the packs of scalps which they carried on their backs grew so heavy
as to hamper their movements. In their several encounters a number of the
band had been killed on their way. So there came a time when many of those
who remained alive complained that the weight of the packs of scalps was
becoming too great to be borne.

These said, "It seems advisable now that we should store our packs of scalps
here in some secret place for safekeeping until our return." Finally,
De'hae'hy0'we's said, "It is probable also that we may now soon see what we
seek; namely, the scalp of all scalps. That we might use to cover all those
which we have. Moreover, this kind of thing which we bear with us does not
readily spoil."

About this time they fell in with a person, a male Man Being, whose towering
stature reached one-half the height of the tallest trees. Then it was that
Gae'hyakdon'dye' (Along-the-Edge-of-the-Sky, i.e.. The Horizon) said, "Now,
then, speaking inferentially, our good fortune has brought about the
fulfillment of the purpose of our expedition, upon which we had agreed,
namely, that we should see in our hands a large quantity of scalps. Again,
speaking inferentially, I think that the next move to be made is to decide
to kill this Man Being whom we have met in this place. We shall then be
possessed of the large scalp about which my brother has already prophesied.
So let us attack him at once."

So deploying they at once began to assault him by shooting their arrows at
him, and by striking him with their war clubs and with their stone hatchets;
but they could not make any impression on him; they failed to harm him in
the least.

At last the strange Man Being said to them, kindly, "What is it that you
desire to do? Do you imagine that you can kill me?" Then they answered,
"That is, indeed, our purpose, as it has been our design in making our
journey hither to kill all persons who might fall in our way, no matter who
they might be."

To this frank admission of their purpose to kill him, this strange Man Being
replied, "The purpose for which you are banded together is not good. And
from this time forward you must utterly renounce it and strictly desist from
carrying it out. It is quite impossible for you to kill me. And I came to
meet you here for the purpose of giving you this counsel.

"I watched you on your way to this place, and I saw with grief that you
killed many people. I want you to know that the reason why I came to meet
you is that you have now committed wrongs enough on innocent people. And I
want you to know that if you will not cease from committing these wrongs you
yourselves also shall perish." Then De'hae'hyo'we's replied, saying, "We are
very thankful to you for this good counsel, and we will try to abide by it.
We will pass beyond this point, as we have bound ourselves by a vow to
attempt to reach the place where the Sun habitually sinks from view-to the
spot where the Sun goes to and fro." Then the strange Man Being merely
replied, "Do you then start on your journey." And while they listened to him
with bowed heads he vanished from them; they did not know or see whither he
went.

Then realizing that they were again alone they departed. They traveled on
for a long time, finally coming to a very large lake which barred further
progress ahead.

When seeing that there was apparently no means of crossing the lake
De'hae'hyo'we's said, "What thing is it that we should do to cross over this
lake?" Thereupon, one of the band who seldom uttered a word declared, "We
have indeed made an agreement, bound with a vow, that no matter what the
circumstances or the obstacles might be in our path, we would nevertheless
advance through them, as we have overcome what is past. Indeed, the time has
now come to fulfill our agreement."

De'hae'hyo'we's then answered, saying, "Verily, it is even as you have said.
Come then, it is thou who must now take the lead."

At once the man addressed took the lead. Alone he now went upon the surface
of the lake, walking upon the water. Thither he went unflinchingly. Then,
each in turn, the others in the band followed in his wake. They crossed the
lake safely.

Upon reaching the dry land on the farther shore of the lake, they stood
still, looking around and examining the new country. They were surprised at
seeing the visible sky rise and fall again, at regular intervals. In their
estimation it rose to the height of the tallest pine tree known to them,
before falling back. They saw, too, that the place from which it rebounded
was so smooth that it glistened. While watching the rising and falling of
the Sky, they beheld a large number of pigeons flying out from the other
side of the Sky, and which after flying around for some time returned whence
they had come.

Then De'hae'hyo'we's said, "What manner of thing shall we now do? To be
sure, here seems to be, indeed, the end of the earth. It is evident, indeed,
that there is another country lying beyond this sky- barrier which is thus
continually rising and falling."

Again that member of the band who was never in the habit of speaking much
said, "You are, of course, well aware of the requirement of the agreement by
which we bound ourselves together before starting from home; did we not
agree that no matter what might be taking place, or what might be the
obstacles in our way, nevertheless we should not recoil from going forward?

"Besides, you know, too, that those of us who still live number five. Only
five of our original number are still alive. Furthermore, the opportunity
now presents itself for us to per-form our vow which we made; its
fulfillment is now required of us; it is for us now to act to redeem our
mutual pledges."

Then De'hae'hyo'we's said, "Come, then, let us now secretly store our burden
of scalps here for safekeeping until our return." So, each man carefully
concealed his bundle of scalps in such wise that he could find it, should he
ever be given the opportunity of repassing that point.

When the packs of scalps were carefully secreted then De'hae'hyo'we's,
addressing himself to the last speaker, said, "Now, then, it is thou who
must lead us in passing this obstacle that seemingly bars our path. For our
way, indeed, leads directly into that farther country; we must pass so
quickly under the sky as it rises that we shall not be caught by it when it
falls back."

Then the man who had been addressed, reassuring himself, selected a
favorable starting point for his dash under the rising sky. Carefully timing
the rising and falling of the sky he dashed forward as swiftly as possible.
His friends watched him rush onward until he had disappeared on the farther
side of the obstacle.

As the sky kept rising and falling the second man, making like dispositions,
dashed forward, clearing the barrier as the first man had, and disappeared
on the other side. The third man and the fourth man had like success in
clearing this obstacle. The sky, however, did not cease from rising and
falling back onto its bed.

It was now the turn of the fifth and last man to tempt the peril of
attempting to pass under the sky. His four companions anxiously watched him
making ready to clear the danger which they had safely passed.

The quartet did not see him start, but as the sky arose they saw him running
still far from the passage. But, just as he leaped, the sky fell back,
crushing him to death. He had miscalculated the time and distance he had to
run, and his career ended in that place.

Then De'hae'hyo'we's said, "Let us be thankful that we have been fortunate
enough to pass this danger safely. We now number only four. Only four of us
have been spared to reach this land. We are without our arms or other means
of defense. We know not whether we shall require them or not. So, now,
verily, I believe that we must at all events go forward. And, verily, it is
easily seen that we are now in a land which is quite different from the
other known to us.

"We see that the light of this land is unequaled in its bright- ness; it is
verily true, that the daylight of the land whence we started is such that it
is like the light of a starlight night as compared with that of this land.
And now, then, let us depart hence. We will seek to find other human beings,
if such there be, who may have a settlement here."

Now, without further parleying they set forward. As they traveled on they
saw that the standing trees of all kinds were very large, tall, and fine
looking, and that they severally were in full bloom; and that these trees
were of surpassing beauty. The travelers were greatly surprised to learn
that the flowers of these trees were the sole source of the light of that
world. They also noted the fact that all the beasts and animals and birds
possessed exceptionally fine bodies and attractive presence. They remarked,
too, that they had seen nothing, during their journey thither, so wonderful
and so strange.

They saw with astonishment the exuberance of the growing grasses and plants,
and among these they beheld in rich pro-fusion the fruited stalks of the
strawberry plants, which were just as tall as the grasses among which they
grew. During their entire journey thither they had not seen such large
luscious berries growing. Having gone some distance into the new country
they were surprised at seeing in the distance a great multitude of Man
Beings who were assembled on the heath, the playground of that people; they
appeared to the travelers to be at games of amusement.

Then De'hae'hyo'we's said, "What is to be done now, my friends, seeing that
we have now arrived at the dwelling place of strange Man Beings, and that we
have now no arms with which to defend ourselves should these people living
here attempt to do us harm?"

Thereupon Gae'hyakdon'dye' spoke, saying, "We have, indeed, made an
agreement, as you know, that we would for-sake our kindred and our lives to
accomplish the purpose of this expedition. You know that each of us
volunteered by 'notching the rod' to carry out that agreement. And now, if
we are to die here, we can do nothing to avoid such an end; we must not
break our resolution and compact to follow the path of the Sun to its end.
Nevertheless, the only thing that is certain, in the case of our death, is
that our careers would end here."

Then his brother, De'hae'hyo'we's, replied to him, saying, "The matter
stands even as you have stated it, so, then, let us go forward to meet this
people." They then started, going thither to the place where they saw the
people assembled.

In a very short time they arrived at the place where the great multitude was
assembled. There, not far from the others, the anxious travelers came to a
standstill. Looking around them they saw that the inhabitants of the village
were in readiness to see a game of lacrosse ball-play, and that the players
were even then standing in their accustomed places.

In a short time the game commenced, and the vast multitude drew near to be
spectators of it. As soon as the game was fairly under way there arose a
great tumult; there was shouting and loud cries of excitement and
approbation caused by the varying fortunes of favorite players. The great
multitude rejoiced, and the new arrivals were greatly delighted with what
they saw.

At this time one of the players exhibited great rudeness in his manner of
playing, for he struck right and left with his netted club without regard to
the other players who might be injured by his recklessness. Then a person
from the multitude went up to that player and said to him, "Do thou cease
from acting so rudely; thy manner is too violent, because one who rejoices
does not act in this manner. So do not act thus again."

The players at once resumed the game, playing as they never had played
before. In a short time, however, the player who had been cautioned to be
more mild in his methods of play again exhibited his violence toward his
playmates.

Then the man who had reprimanded him before went up to him again and said,
"Assuredly, I forbade you acting so rude as you have; I told you not to act
thus violently again. Yet, thou hast disregarded my request. And so, now you
shall, more-over, rest for a time. You are too unkind and headstrong."

Thereupon, seizing the ball player by the nape of the neck and by the legs
and lifting him up bodily he bore him from the field. Not far therefrom
stood a very large tree. Thither the man carried the ball player, and having
arrived beside the tree, and still carrying the ball player, he cast the
body headlong against the trunk of the tree. Head foremost the body
penetrated the tree trunk, the head coming part way out on the opposite side
of the tree, while his feet still protruded on the other. Then the man
quietly returned to the ball ground, and the game was resumed; it was
continued until one of the sides had scored the requisite number of points
to win the game, and then the players again commingled with the multitude.

Then the man who had imprisoned the rude player in the tree trunk went to
that tree and released the prisoner and set him free with an admonition to
be more mild in his method of play in the future. Upon his return to the
multitude, he told them that it was time for them to return to their several
homes, and they dispersed.

It was then that this man, who appeared to be one of the chief men of the
settlement, came to the place where stood the traveling company of
De'hae'hyo'we's. As soon as he came up to them he asked familiarly, "So you
have arrived, have you?"

Replying, De'haen'hy6'well's said, "We have now arrived."

It was then that the man said, "Assuredly, the reason that you have arrived
safely in this land is that one of your number began at the very time of
your departure from home to think, repeatedly soliloquizing, '0 Thou Master
of Life, Thou shouldst have pity on us, so that we may pass through all the
dangers which beset the accomplishment of the purpose of our solemn
agreement. But, if it so be that we shall die on this earth, grant that we
may also arrive in that other land that is extant, where Thou Thyself
abidest. Thou Master of Life.' Every day, every night also, such was his
mind and prayer.

"It was that attitude of mind which was able to bring your persons safely
into this land-this elder country.

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"So now, moreover, you have fully accomplished what I promised you when I
met you on your way hither.

"So now, let me ask you, who among you is individually willing that I should
restore his life-i.e., refit his being?"

Then one of the four travelers answered, saying, "I am just the one that is
willing; do you begin on me." Then this Man Being, going forward to the
place where stood a tree not far distant, reached the tree and, raising his
arm to its full length, seized the standing tree and bent it down to the
earth, and stripped the bark in one entire piece from the trunk of the tree.
Then placing this piece of bark on the ground, he said to the volunteer,
"Now, do thou come hither to me."

Then the man who had consented to have his body and being refitted, went
forward to him, while his three companions intently watched their host in
what he was doing to their companion; and they saw him begin his work. Then
the host placed the man on the outspread piece of bark. He took apart the
flesh body of their companion; he, too, unjointed severally all the joints
of his skeleton, laying each several bone aside. And then he took each of
the bones, and every one of the joints of the bones, and wiped it very
carefully. He soon completed his task of washing and cleaning them.

He then began to join together all the bones and all the portions of flesh
in their proper relations. And as soon as he had completed his task he said
to his guests, "Now, I have refinished this work. What is solely of the
other world has been removed. For what is of 'the earth earthy' is out of
place here. Now, my friend, do thou arise again."

Then the man whose body and being had been remodeled arose, standing erect
and casting his eyes around him. Then his host said to him, "Like unto what
is your life, as you now feel it? Do you feel different from what you did
before I remodeled your body and being?" To which the renewed man replied,
"Its condition is indeed such that it feels immeasurably more delightful,
and I am happier than before the change."

Then his host said to him, "If this be, indeed, true, attempt to seize that
deer standing yonder. If it so be that thou canst overtake it, do thou seize
it, also."

So looking in the distance the deer was seen standing there. Then when the
remodeled man ran toward it, the deer at once fled in terror. The man sped
swiftly in pursuit of it. It had not gone very far before he overtook it and
seized it. He brought it back to the place where his host stood, who said to
him, "Now, assuredly, thy life has become a new thing-you have acquired the
life of this country."

While they two were yet speaking another man of the troop of De'hae'hyo'we's
said, "I, too, desire to have the same thing performed on my body and life;
thou must remake my life, and I want it done now."

His host directed him to lie down on the piece of bark as did the other man;
at once he proceeded in a manner similar to that followed in the case of the
first patient. It was not long before he was ready to ask him to arise,
having remade or refitted his life with new life forces. Now the two men who
had had their lives renewed felt that they had acquired new life and that
they were immeasurably more delightful to have, and that the joy of living
was refined. Now the remaining two men, seeing how desirable was the change
brought about in the bodies and lives of the other two men by having them
remodeled, said, "We, too, wish to have the same thing performed on our
lives that was wrought in the bodies and lives of our two companions. So we
ask you that this be done for us, too."

Then the host of the troop of De'hae'hyo'we's proceeded to renew and remodel
the bodies and the lives of these two men. When he had finished this task,
he said to them, "Now, I have reformed all your lives; I have finished
everything that concerns and fits them for this country. So we will now go
to the lodge where you shall remain as in your home while you are in this
country."

So the troop of De'hae'hyo'we's and their host started. They walked
leisurely along, noting the many strange things which attracted their
attention on every side. They had not gone very far, however, before they
reached a very large lodge, into which their host led the party; therein
they saw a very old woman, a Man Being, who presided over it. Upon entering
the lodge the host of De'hae'hyo'we's and his friends said to the old woman,
"Now, it is this matter. I have brought here those persons whom, I said,
would take up their abode here when they arrived in this country. So now
they shall remain with you under your care and keep."

Then the aged woman who was the mistress of the lodge replied, saying, "It
shall be even as you have said it. These, my grandchildren, shall be one
with me in this lodge."

Then, the Man Being who had brought the visitors there said, "Now
furthermore, as to myself I will go forth. Make yourselves at home," and he
at once left the lodge to attend to his other affairs. Then the mistress of
the lodge, who was very old, said to her guests to make them feel more at
home, "I am now quite alone, you perceive, in caring for the lodge, which is
very large, as you see. The male persons who dwell here are absent hunting;
they will soon return for the night. I will now prepare some- thing for you
to eat," and she at once set before them what was ready cooked in the lodge.

When they first entered the lodge the band of De'hae'hyo'we's noticed that
the old woman was busily at work; they saw that she was engaged in making a
mantle for herself; at intervals she held the work up at arm's length to
note the effect of her labor. The visitors also discovered the fact that
human hair was the material out of which the old woman was weaving her
mantle.

They also saw that their aged hostess possessed a dwarf dog, which reposed
nearby on her couch. They were astonished also, when the old woman left her
work for a few moments, to see the dwarf dog quickly arise and go over to
the place where the old woman had left her hair- work and begin to unravel
quickly but stealthily all the work that the old woman had in the meanwhile
done on her mantle. But when the dwarf dog had nearly unraveled all the
work, the old woman returned to take it up again and to continue her task.

While the visitors were eating what the old woman had set before them the
male members of the old woman's household returned, each bearing a bundle.
Upon entering the lodge they said to the old woman, "Now, we have returned.
We were fortunate throughout the entire expedition in the killing of much
game."

Then the mistress of the lodge said to the returned hunters, "Verily, be it
known, that a short time ago, De'hae'hyawa'gi' brought to this lodge the
human beings, on'gwe', whom he said were coming to this country and whom he
said would abide in this lodge when they would arrive. So they have arrived;
these men here are they. So talk with them and become acquainted with
them.''

So the men who had just returned to their lodge drew near to the visitors
and conversed with them, saying, "We are, indeed, thankful that you have
safely arrived here. It is now a long time that we have kept watching you on
your way hither. Moreover, be it known, that we have now seen one another,
and so we are greatly rejoiced." Then it was that they severally and
mutually stroked the bodies of one another, as was the custom on such
occasions, and they greatly rejoiced to become acquainted one with another.

Then the old woman began to prepare food for the returned hunters. When the
food was cooked, she called the men to eat, saying, "Now, of course, you
will eat the food which I have prepared for you." And the men began to take
their nourishment. But the method they adopted for taking their sustenance
was most singular to the companions of De'hae'hyo'we's. So they intently
watched the hunters eat, for they did not eat the food set before them; they
merely absorbed the exhalations from the food, and it was the odor or
effluvium of the food that satisfied their hunger. When they had finished
their meal, the old woman said to them, "It is now time, perhaps, that you
should go out to hunt game which our human guests can eat, for you know that
they do not eat the same kind of things that you do."

So the hunters started out of the lodge to seek for game for their guests.
As soon as the men were gone the old woman put her hands to the headrest of
her couch and took therefrom a single grain of corn and a single squash
seed. Then she went to the end of the fireplace and there she prepared in
the ashes two small hills or beds, in one of which she placed the grain of
corn and in the other the squash seed, and carefully covered them with rich
dirt.

In a very short while the visitors looked and were greatly surprised to see
that the seeds had sprouted and had shot out of the ground small plantlets,
which were growing rapidly. Not very long after this they saw the cornstalk
put forth ears of corn and the squash vine squashes, so in the short space
of a few hours these plants had supplied the old woman with ears of corn and
squashes. These she prepared and cooked.

Then the men who were out hunting returned to the lodge, bringing with them
the fine carcass of a deer which they had killed. At once they set to work
to skin it and to dress it. As soon as they had finished this task the old
woman set the vension, the corn, and the squashes over the fire to cook. She
set her kettles over the fire on stone supports and promoted the cooking by
putting hot stones into them.

When these things were cooked she placed them on fine bowls of bark and set
these bowls before the visitors and bade them eat heartily. So
De'hae'hyo'we's and his friends ate their fill. This now came to pass. The
aged woman now, verily, said, "It is now time, you will agree, I think, for
you to go again to hunt." This remark she made to the male members of her
family. In answering De'hae'hyo'we's said, "Yonder, not far away, you know,
there is a cliff, and on the farther side of it there is a spring of water,
forming a deep pool."

Thereupon the men of the lodge exclaimed, "Let us all go to that place right
away," and all started out of the lodge and they ran swiftly to the spring.
When they arrived there De'hae'hyo'we's said to his companions, "There, in
this spring and pool of water, I thrust my bow to rouse whatever might dwell
in this pool."

Then one of the men of the country said, "It is assuredly certain that some
mysterious creature abides herein. We shall see what it is. Furthermore, do
you, our friends, stand yonder, a little aloof, and then you shall see the
thing done, how we will kill it."

Heeding this admonition, the companions of De'hae'hyo'we's drew back a short
distance and watched the men of the country make their dispositions to make
the attack. They did not wait long to see a wonderful phenomenon. For the
man of the country at once began their task. One touched with a rod the
bottom of the pool, whence flowed the spring of water. And now, too, there
began to be heard loud sounds, even such as are heard when the voicings of
Thunder fill the air with a deafening din. Such was the tumult and confusion
at this time that the now thoroughly frightened human beings ran fleeing
from the spot to seek safety. Then, also, there were flashes of lightning
followed by loud crashes and deep rumblings of the thunder. This uproar
continued for some time when suddenly it ceased and one of the hosts of
De'hae'hyo'we's said, calling his guests back, "Oh, come back. We have now
killed this creature."


Thereupon, when they had again assembled they departed, going back to their
lodge. When they reached the lodge they said to the old woman, "We have now
killed that uncanny creature, that otkon. Indeed, we do not know in what
possible way it happened that this creature took up its abode so very near
this lodge. We had never before noticed it. Perhaps it has been there a long
time, since it had become so large in size. We have, perhaps, barely escaped
some great misfortune." The old woman replied, saying gratefully, "What a
very remarkable matter it is, in which our visitors have been of assistance
to us." And then in a moment she asked, "What is the otkon? What is the
figure and kind of thing you have so fortunately killed?" The men answered,
"It is, indeed, the Great Blue Lizard, which we have destroyed." So they
rested for the night.

Then next morning the old woman said to the men of her lodge, "For myself, I
am thinking that it is time, the exact time of the year, when you should
again make mellow and dampen all the things that grow on the earth. What do
you say?"

Thereupon, one of the men replied, "It would seem well, perhaps, that you
should ask Him who is the principal one to be consulted in regard to our
duties in this matter. It is possible that He may say, 'It is now the proper
time of the year in which you should again make mellow and dampen all the
things that severally grow on the earth.' " And he ceased from talking with
her.

Then the aged woman arose from her seat and, gently push-ing aside the door
flap hanging at the doorway leading to the adjoining room, said, "Do you not
think that is is now, perhaps, the proper time that the men should again
make damp and mellow the things that grow on the earth and the soil as
well?"

Then the person addressed answered, saying, "For myself, I, too, think that
it is time, perhaps, for doing that about which you have asked me. So let it
be done as you wish."

Then, allowing the door flap to fall back the old woman withdrew to her own
location in the lodge. And in order to make the needed preparations for
carrying out the purpose of her request she gathered a quantity of corn
husks and again entered the place in which the lake of water was and she
again heaped the corn husks along the edge or shore of the lake. When she
had placed the corn husks along the entire circuit of the lake she set them
on fire.

When the fire had become brisk and bright the old woman turned to the men of
the lodge and said to them, "I have now, again, made the necessary
preparations for the performance of your accustomed task. And now, moreover,
you had better start on your journey to make all things that grow on the
earth damp and mellow, and the soil as well. And this also shall be done;
they who are visiting us shall accompany you wherever you may go; and you
must carefully keep them from harm; and you must show them all things of
interest along your journey."

Then, taking up their implements and weapons the men of the lodge and their
guests departed. During the course of their long journey one of the hosts of
De'haen'hy6'well's and his men said, "You shall now see the things over
which we have charge. He whom you are wont to call Hawennfyo' (He the Ruler)
is the person who has charged us with all these matters; and we shall
continue to have the care of them as long as the earth endures- as long as
it lasts. We shall tend all those things which he has planted on the earth;
we shall habitually cause moisture (water) to fall on them, and we shall
also keep all the water in the several rivers on the earth fresh at all
times; and we shall also water all those things upon which you and your
people live, so that all things which he has made to' be shall live and
shall not perish for the need of water. And you, you human beings, shall
then live in health and contentment. Such are our duties from day to day."

Then it was that De'haen'hyo'wen's and his party looking down beneath saw
another earth far below them. As they proceeded they heard loud sounds; they
were like the voicings of Thunder when he approaches on earth; and now too
there began to be bright flashes of lightning, and then there began to be
rain; and then they, the raindrops, fell to the lower earth.

As they moved onward they saw a huge serpent which had formidable horns
protruding from its head. Then one of the hosts of De'hae'hyo'we's and his
friends said, "Look at that thing, moving along swiftly yonder. It is known
that were it to emerge permanently from the interior of the earth it would
bring great misfortune to the things that dwell on the earth. In fact, it
would bring to an end the days of a large multitude of you human beings. And
that it never come forth permanently out of the ground is one of the duties
with which we are strictly charged." Then, in a moment, the speaker
continued, "Now, also, you shall see what will take place when we kill it."

Having their attention thus called to it, the party of De'hae'hyo'we's
looking down saw on the lower earth a huge serpent having formidable horns
protruding from its head; it moved swiftly along the ground. As they watched
their hosts began to pursue it, and the voice of the Thunder was exceedingly
loud and the flashes of lightning amazingly vivid.

Finally, the huge serpent was hit by its pursuers and it began to flee from
them; it sought unsuccessfully to hide beneath standing trees, but these
trees were struck and riven into splinters; and then it fled to the
mountains, seeking to conceal itself beneath their shelter; but this was in
vain, for it was repeatedly hit by the men of Thunder, and finally, it was
killed.

As an explanation of this phenomenon, the hosts of De'hae'hyo'we's and his
friends said, "It is verily true that beneath the surface of the ground
whatever is otkon (i.e., malign by nature) moves to and fro from place to
place. It would, indeed, be most unfortunate for us all should this species
of being be permitted to travel from place to place upon the earth. And so
they are doomed to abide beneath the surface of the ground in the interior
of the earth.

"And now concerning the origin of these beings; it was he whom we call
O'ha'a' (The Ice-clad) that formed their bodies; and so too it came to pass
that he whom you call Hawennfyo' (i.e., the Disposer, or Ruler) decided that
so long as the earth endures these beings shall abide under the surface of
the earth. And, furthermore, we will say that we ourselves believe that He
who charged us with the performance of this task of keep-ing them beneath
the surface of the earth will cause it to come to pass, perhaps when the
earth is nearing its ending, then, and not until then, that these beings
shall be permitted to come forth upon the earth. So is it, indeed, to come
to pass that when the event is not distant-the ending of the earth-He will
bring to an ending the duties with which we are severally charged to be
performed for the benefit of the things that live upon the earth.

"And not until then shall the waters which are held in their several places
become polluted; all other things shall likewise become old and decayed upon
the earth; and all things that grow out of the ground too shall grow old and
sear; indeed, all things shall become withered and decayed. So, now let us
turn back homeward." Then turning homeward the party retraced their steps.
Upon reentering their lodge the spokesman of the party said to the old woman
who presided over the lodgehold (household), "We have now completed the task
of making damp and mellow all things that grow upon the face of the earth."

Then, the aged matron of the lodge arising from her seat went into the
adjoining room of the lodge and said to the Person who occupied that room,
"Now, they have, indeed, returned." Then the old woman withdrew and resumed
her accustomed seat.

In a short time the door flap separating the adjoining room was pushed aside
and the Person-a Man Being (Hen'gwe') -thrust his head through the doorway
and asked the returned men, "Have you now, indeed, completed the work? Have
you made damp and mellow all things that grow on the earth that is beneath
this one?"

Then the men replied in unison, "We have indeed accomplished our task as we
were charged to do." And the Person from the adjoining room said, "Now,
moreover, you must rest until there shall be another day; and then you shall
again re-commence the performance of the duties with which you are severally
charged."

[blackcrowheart]

This conversation supplied the opportunity of seeing the Person to
De'haen'hy6'wel''s and his party. They were convinced that he too was Man;
that he was, in fact, a Hen'gwe'. But they were surprised, and even amazed,
to see that one half of the body of this strange Person was in all respects
like that of a human being but that the other half of his body was, in
substance, crystal ice. They too, at this moment, felt a breeze that was
chilling strike them from out of that doorway; but at this moment, this
strange Man Being withdrew, and the door flap concealed the room from their
further gaze. Then, the aged matron of the lodge, addressing her guests,
said, "That Person whom you have just seen is, in fact, the Foremost One,
the Principal One, of all those who are charged with duties to perform in
the economy of the earth. And he is called by us De'hodya'tga'ewe' (i.e.,
He-Whose-Body-Is-Cleft-in-Twain); and He is also named Owi'son'dyon' (i.e..
It Casts Ice, or It Hails); and it is this that you saw when He showed his
face at the doorway, that there at once came forth from Him a cold breeze.
And so that act will immediately cause the prospective days and the
prospective nights on the earth below to become cold and wintry. Moreover,
when the day again dawns (i.e.. Next Year) He will again show His face but
the other side of his body, and immediately there will blow hither a warming
breeze."

Then the members of the lodge said one to another, "We now have paused in
our labors in order to rest. Moreover, tomorrow it will come to pass that we
shall take you back to the place whence you departed, for you have been here
now many days. And this is, of course, what you human beings call
Springtime."

Then all the members of the lodge fell asleep in their several places. When
morning came the door flap separating the room from the adjoining one was
again thrust aside, and the strange Man Being, De'hodya'tga'ewe', again
showed his face and the other half (the flesh side) of his body at the
doorway, and He called out aloud, "Now then, all you people, awake and
arise; it is now time to do so." Then all the sleepers awoke. And as they
awoke from sleep they severally outstretched their arise; it is now time to
do so." Then all the sleepers awoke. [me note: the following is exactly the
way the book has it and it doesn't make sense to me. It does start out with
"tions"] tions, as is the case on earth, when the voice of Thunder is heard.
There arose, too, a warm breeze of wind, and then the men of the lodge went
out.

It was but a short time after this that they re-entered the lodge and said
to their guests, "You should accompany us on our intended journey, so that
you may see an otkon (a daimon) which inhabits certain trees standing hard
by the place whence we returned. It is, indeed, now a long time that we have
been making attempts to kill and destroy this Being, for it is possessed of
very powerful orenda, or magic power."

Thereupon, De'hae'hyo'we's replied, "It is, of course, per-haps true, that
that should come to pass, that we accompany you to learn what manner of
being that may be."

So, all the men of the lodge started on their journey, and went directly to
the place where the being, the otkon, had its lair. Having gone a long
distance, the men of Thunder finally said to their guests, "There, indeed,
is the place where we have kept saying, 'An otkon abides.' You must stand in
yonder place, quite safely removed from any danger from this being. And then
you shall see it as we shall cause it to come forth from its lair."
Thereupon the party of De'hae'hyo'we's withdrew to the designated position.
Then they saw one of their hosts go forward and strike one of the trees
several sharp blows with his club; then they saw the being come forth from
its lair, I and they concluded that it was what they themselves called a
squirrel. But the Being, or Squirrel, in turn, thrust its body only partly
out of its hiding place; at once the Men of Thunder hurled their shots at
it; there were loud thunderings and the lightning flashes were vivid, and
there arose a great tumult and a terrific hurricane of wind.

But, in a short time, the Men of Thunder ceased for a moment, having failed
to hit the Being. At once the Squirrel, or Being, quickly descended the tree
on which it then was, and running to another tree climbed it in an effort to
escape its tormentors. But, in a very short time, the Men of Thunder
shivered this tree, and the Squirrel fled back to the tree in which was its
lair and it swiftly climbed back into it. And the Men of Thunder said, "Now,
indeed, you have seen what we call otkon (daimon). And the time is now,
indeed, long since we have been making vain efforts to destroy this Being,
this great Otkon." In replying De'hae'hyo'we's said, "It is now our turn; we
will now attempt to kill the Otkon." But the Men of Thunder answered, "We
fear that the attempt will not result favorably; you may be injured, for,
indeed, this is an Otkon endued with power beyond measure." But
De'hae'hyo'we's assuringly replied, "We know that we ourselves can do this
task." Then the Men of Thunder replied, "If you are determined to make the
attempt, we will assist you, should you fail in your attempt." At once one
of the party of De'hae'hyo'we's went up to the tree in which the Squirrel
had its lair and tapped on it with his club. As soon as he began to tap on
the tree the Squirrel again thrust out its head and half its body and gazed
at the men. Then De'hae'hyo'we's, taking a knob-headed arrow from his
quiver, shot at it, hitting it fair in the head, and then the body of the
Squirrel came tumbling to the ground.

Thereupon the Men of Thunder took up the body of the Squirrel to carry back
with them and then with their guests they started for their home. When they
reached their lodge the Men of Thunder said to the old woman, "Now, in fact,
our visitors, for their part, have killed it-they have, indeed, killed the
Otkon, which for a very long time we have failed to kill."

Answering this statement of the men of her lodge, the old woman said, "I am
indeed very thankful to receive this news. This then shall be done; the skin
of this Otkon shall belong to me, seeing that it is so precious, and it
shall be the robe of my couch." And so De'hae'hyo'we's set to work and
carefully skinned the Squirrel; and then he neatly prepared it and then he
spread it on a suitable frame to dry. When it had thoroughly dried
De'hae'hyo'we's presented it to the old woman, assuring her that that was
the method his people employed in preserving the skins of animals. The old
woman received the skin with many thanks, for she felt that she had come
into possession of a skin which was very precious to her.

Then, addressing the men of her lodge she said, "They who are our visitors
are the ones who have accomplished this matter for us. So in token of this
the following shall come to pass and that is, that one of these persons, our
visitors, shall remain here as one of us; he shall become a coworker with
you, for the reason that he and his kindred were able to accomplish that
which you yourselves were unable to do."

In giving assent to this proposition the men replied, "Let that, too, be
done; let Him who is foremost among us speak it, and it shall be done." The
old woman replied, "That is even so; His consent is all that is required to
accomplish this desirable thing." And she at once arose from her seat, and
going thence to the doorway leading to the adjoining room, and pushing aside
the door flap she said, "Behold. Will you confirm the proposition that one
of the men visiting us shall remain here as one of us, while his companions
shall return hence to their own homes? And the reason for this is, that he
was able to kill the Squirrel-the Otkon-and since the men who live in this
lodge had for so long a time failed to do it; I desire further that he shall
at all times assist them and that he shall be a coworker with them."

Answering the old woman, De'hae'hyo'we's said, "I willingly confirm this
proposition, if it so be, that he himself is freely willing, and, of course,
that he will, perhaps, volunteer to have his life pounded (in a mortar). It
will then, as you know, be possible for him to help them continually." And
He ceased speaking.

Then the old woman returned to the group comprising the party of
De'hae'hyo'we's and said to elect man, "Hatch'kwi' (Behold), wilt thou
confirm the proposition that thou shalt remain here alone, while your
companions return to their own homes? If thou wilt be willing to agree to
this proposition, I will, furthermore, give thee a new name, and this shall
be the name by which they shall hereafter habitually call thee, namely,
Daga'en'da' (i.e.. The Thaw, or the Warm Spring Wind)."

Thereupon, this member of the party of De'hae'hyo'we's replied, "I willingly
agree to this proposal; I am quite willing to be an assistant to them in
their work." And the old woman answering, said, "I am much pleased that the
matter is now settled. We, indeed, have become of one opinion, having one
purpose in view." At this time De'hodya'tga'ewe"' interrupted by saying,
"Now, then, do bring his person (body) into this room, and let him at once
be prepared for his duties."

Then, the old woman addressing the visitor, who had consented to remain,
said, "Come. The time has now arrived for doing what you have agreed to do
for us, for doing what you require to fit yourself for your new duties."

Then the man who had consented to remain entered the room in which abode
De'hae'hyo'we's. As soon as he had entered the room De'hae'hyo'we's said to
him, "Here stands the mortar. Thou must place thyself in it. Now, verily,
thou shalt change thyself, thy person, as to the kind of its flesh and thy
life." Obeying his instructor, the man at once placed himself in the mortar,
that is, in the hollowed end of the mortar wherein the grain was usually
pounded, and then De'hae'hyo'we's drew near and taking up the pestle pounded
him in the manner in which corn is pounded, striking three several blows,
and he then said to the visitor. "Thy flesh has now changed in kind. The
task is now accomplished. So now you may sing to try your voicr."

The transformed man began to sing, and De'hae'hyo'we's and his one remaining
friend heard the singing, which sounded to them exactly like the voice of
approaching Thunder on y that its volume was somewhat less, as they heard it
And hey said, one to the other, "Now, it is known that he, Daga e" da , is
approaching." and, shortly, their transformed friend re-entered the room.

In a short time thereafter the old woman said to the men of the lodge, now
including the newly transformed person, "Furthermore, you shall now start on
your journey, and you shall now begin again to make mellow and wet anew all
the things that are earth-products, growing on the earth beneath. And this,
moreover, shall be done. Daga'e-da shall take the lead. And so it shall be
he whom they who dwell on the earth below shall name first in the Spring of
the year.

Of course the human beings will say, -Now. the Warm Wind of Spring_has come
down; now the hot spring wind blows again And so now the spring season will
come upon us.' And it shall continue thus, moreover, so long as the earth
shall stand, that it shall be customary when the Spring season arrives for
the human beings to name him first, who came from the earth beneath. And it
shall be customary for them to say. Now the Warm Wind of Spring has
descended - the Spring Wind.' And, verily, they shall never forget, indeed,
each several time it arrives - the interchange on the earth - the line of
demarcation between the snowtime and the summertime, for Daga'e-da' shall
continue to change the prospective days and the prospective nights of the
future time. Now, you men must start to accompany a part of the way homeward
those who have been visiting us for so many days." But before they got
started she resumed her discourse, saying, "Now I will tell you who are
human beings of the earth that it is even I whom you call the 'Nocturnal
Light-Orb' (the Moon). And He it is whom you and your ancestors have called
De'hae'hyo'we's, and sometimes Hawenni'yo' (the Master or Ruler), who has
commissioned me. And this is what He has commissioned me to do: When it
becomes dark on the earth, then it is I who shall cause it to be measurably
light and to be warm on the earth, so that it become not too cold nor too
dark; so that all the things that should grow, may grow unharmed on the
earth, and also all those things on which you, human beings, live, dwelling
as you do on the earth beneath. Until the time that the earth shall stand no
more He has commissioned me to act and to do my duty. It is thus with us
all. He has commissioned us only for the time during which the earth beneath
shall stand, or endure. Moreover, I will now impart to you the following
information, so that you ofi'gwe' (human beings), living on the earth, shall
know that they who abide here in this place are, as you know, those whom you
call 'Hadi-wennoda'dye's' (They Whose Voices Stand Out from Place to Place),
the Thunderers; and so that you shall know that He who established this
world is One whom you call De'hae'-hyawa'gi' and also Hawenni'yo', or the
Ruler, or the Disposer.

"It was He who decreed that these men shall customarily appear to the lower
world from a certain direction, and that is, from the west, and that they
shall move in the direction of the east.

"And so let this be a sign to you who dwell on the lower earth, that when it
so comes to pass that these Men of Thunder shall come from the east, you
shall know at once its meaning, and shall say one to another, 'Now, it seems
that the time is coming near at hand in which He will take to pieces the
earth as it stands.' Verily, such is the strict manner in which He has
commissioned us, charging us with definite duties. It is well known that the
Diurnal Light-Orb (the Sun) customarily comes from one certain direction; in
like manner, it is also true of me, for I too must appear to the lower world
from one certain direction. And this obligation on our part is fixed; and
our coming shall never occur in a different manner as long as the earth
endures-at least until that day in the future when He himself whom you call
sometimes Hawenni'yo' shall change and transform what He himself has
established.

"So now, moreover, the time has arrived for you to start for your home; but,
first, before you depart, you must stroll about this upper world to see
everything that may be beneficial to you and to your people in the days to
come; and by the time you will return from this tour of inspection, I will
have made ready what you shall take with you, when you shall go again to
make mellow and wet the earth beneath. And this, too, upon which I am at
work is something about which I must tell you some-thing. I am engaged in
making myself a mantle, and the material out of which I am weaving it is.
indeed, truly what you think it is-for it is human hair with which I am
working. And you have observed as well, that each time I lay my work aside
for a moment, my small dwarf dog often undoes quite all that I have done. I
will now tell you by what means I obtain the human hair with which I am
making myself a mantle.

"It is a fact, that when some human being dies on the earth below, one hair
from his or her head detaches itself and departs thence, coming directly to
me. And it is these hairs that I am using in making my mantle.

"And this too serves as a sign to me that one has ceased to be on the earth
below, and that that person is traveling hither. And this too shall endure
as long as the earth beneath shall endure and have form. Moreover, mark this
well, that when He will cause the expiring of human beings on the earth
below to cease, it shall just then and not before be possible for me to
finish the mantle upon which I am working; and that (the number of hairs in
the mantle) shall then bear witness to the number of persons who have
visited the earth below while it lasted. So now you may take a stroll."

Then the men of the lodge and the entire party of De'hae'hyo'we's started
out to view the notable things in the vicinity of the lodge. They first went
to that place where for the first time during their visit they saw the
beauty and pleasantness of that upper world; they admired the strawberry
plants, growing there and bearing luscious berries, that were as tall as the
high grasses among which they grew; and they were also in bloom, for their
bearing season was continuous; and they saw too the growing trees full of
rich blossoms; never before had they seen such beautiful flowers, which
supplied the light of that upper world; and they saw the plants and the
shrubs and bushes full of fruits of all kinds, all growing luxuriantly; and
never before had they seen such fine paths leading in various directions;
and they saw along these paths the trees whose overhanging boughs and lower
branches loaded with blossoms made them seem like long bowers of flowers,
freighted with all manner of fragrance.

They also saw figures of human beings - on'gwe' - promenading along the
paths from place to place, but they realized that their faces were sights
(or visions), and so it was not possible for them to hold any conversation
with them.

Farther along in their ramble they came to a village which was inhabited,
there being many lodges standing in different places in the manner of a
village of human beings.

In passing through the village one of the hosts, addressing De'hae'hyo'we's,
said, "In this lodge, standing here apart, thy mother dwells. She was still
on the earth below when you and your party departed on this journey; but she
started for this country soon after you had departed therefrom. Here, also,
dwell your relations - all those who were able to observe the customs of
their ancestors during the time they dwelt on the earth below."

It was then that they returned to the place where the old woman awaited
their return, and on entering the lodge they said to her, "We have now
returned from our ramble." And the old woman answered, "I have quite
completed my preparations. And now, moreover, you must start on your journey
homeward and the men of the lodge will accompany you a part of the way home.
In going home, you must go around by the place where abides the Light-Orb
(the Sun) that travels by day. Let them see him too. And may your dreams
fore-shadow your safe arrival home."

Thereupon they departed from the lodge of the old woman. Not far distant
from the home of their hosts there stood a lodge. One of their hosts told
De'haen'hy6'we"'s and his friend that that was the lodge of the Sun. They
said, "Thence, he starts to give light to the world beneath this one."

Having reached the lodge, they entered it and they saw the Sun engaged in
cooking chestnut meal mush. And then one of the men of Thunder said, "We are
now on our journey, accompanying these human beings a part of their way
home.

We are taking these men back to the earth below this one, And the reason
that we have come around this way is that we desired to have you and them
see one another."

[blackcrowheart]

Then the Master of the lodge raised his voice and said to his visitors, "It
is I, indeed, who has met with you and it is I whom you habitually call in
your ceremonies Ho'sge'age'dagona', He-the-Great- War-Chief, and our Elder
Brother, the Diurnal Orb of Light.' And I have just completed my usual
preparations for my journey upon which I am about to start Furthermore, just
as soon as you will depart hence, I will start on my journey to make the
earth below light and warn again.

And in a short time, the visitors, having seen all that was interesting in
the lodge, said, "Let us now, moreover, go hence on our journey," and they
at once resumed their own course.

They had not gone very far when the Men of Thunder said "It is now time for
us to begin. And, moreover, it shall be Daga'e'da' who shall be the first
one to act."

Then Daga'e'da', the former member of the party of De'hae'hyo'we's, began to
sing in a loud voice and thus set his orenda (mystic power) to work out his
function. And then the two human beings who were to return to the earth
below saw it in the distance beneath them, and they heard, too he people
dwelling on the earth say, "Now the beginning of the Spring Season has come
upon us. Indeed, the Spring Wind is blowing warm and hot, and now, too, the
Thunders are singing thence, in the distance."

Then the party moved on; and they looked down on the earth below from above
the sky and the clouds, and they saw the effect of the singing of the
Thunder Men. At this time the voices of the Thunder Men who were singing
sounded loud and angry, as it were, as they moved along the sky, and on the
earth below fell torrents of rain with great force, and they, too, saw the
creeks and rivers swell and overflow their banks.

"They had not, seemingly, to the human beings of the party, gone very far,
when they were startled by their alighting on the earth below. And then one
of the Thunder Men said to them "Now, indeed, you are again at your homes.
Indeed you departed hence, and so now we have fully discharged our
obligation to bring you safely back to your homes. So, more- over, we will
now tell you something regarding another matter.

It is now a long time since the former inhabitants of this country have
withdrawn from here and have gone to another settlement. You will, indeed,
find them in the place where they are now living." Having conducted them
some distance on the ground, one of the Men of Thunder said, "Moreover, we
will now separate one from another. And, in the future, this, too, shall
come to pass. And that is, that you must keep us in remembrance. And,
moreover, for this purpose, you shall employ the Native Tobacco (i.e.,
Gaye'gwanowe'gwa'gona), making an offering thereby in words and in act. And
this shall be quite sufficient for the purpose, for we will hear the
thanksgiving and will accept the offering at once; and in like manner shall
it be done to all those, and only to those, who are charged by Him with
duties and important functions. If you should think of Him or of Them, that
is the chief and essential thing - the employment of Native Tobacco by you
in this important matter habitually. Such is the method which you who still
live on the earth here below must customarily employ in forming your
messages of thanksgiving. Verily, such is the regulation and decree ordained
and promulgated by Him whom you call Dehae'hyawa'gi', and familiarly as
Hawenni'yo' (He, the Master). And these are the words which we thought it
necessary for you to hear before we separated one from another. So may you
have good dreams (i.e., good luck)."

Then the two parties separated, the one from the other. And the Men of
Thunder departed from the earth, going back into cloudland, and so back to
their own lodge.

In their turn, De'hae'hyo'we's and his lone companion started from the place
where they had been left. They were not long in finding the traces of the
former home of their friends, and they found that the place had become
overgrown with trees which had grown large and which stood thick; and one
who was unacquainted with the facts would be in doubt whether or not any
person had ever lived in that place before that time. Then De'hae'hyo'we's
said to his companion, "Verily, it seems that now we must depend on
ourselves to find our people. We must, therefore, now go to seek the place
where they now dwell." And they started, directing their course eastward,
toward the sunrise, as they had been instructed.

At no great distance they saw the smoke from a village, and they made their
way to it. So, on entering the first lodge they reached, De'haen'hy6'we."s
said, "We have now returned home." In reply, the master of the lodge said,
"Whither did you go? And who are you? As to myself, I do not know you."

Answering him De'hae'hyo'we's said, "Have you not at any time heard a
tradition, that a number of men, thirty in all, started on a journey
following the path of the Sun - a party formed by De'hae'hyo'we's and
Gae'hyakdon'dye', two famous war chiefs, of men who had thoroughly
habituated themselves to warlike exercises? They undertook while going
toward the sunsetting to kill and scalp all the people whom they might
encounter on their way."

Then the master of the lodge said to them in reply, "I myself know nothing
of the matter about which you are speaking. When such a thing may have taken
place I do not know. It may be that the old woman, living in yonder lodge,
may, perhaps, for her part, know about this matter. You should go over to
consult her about it."

Then De'hae'hyo'we's and his companion passed on, going to the lodge pointed
out to them. So entering the lodge in which the old woman designated lived,
De'hae'hyo'we's again said, "Do you know the circumstance in the history of
your people that in the long ago, some men - warriors, three times ten in
number - went on an expedition, from which they never returned; the party
was formed by two war chiefs, De'haen'hyo'we.''s andGae-'hyakdon'dye'? They
went toward the sunsetting, following the path of the Sun."

Answering these questions the old woman said, "It is indeed true that such
an event took place. I have heard my deceased grandmother customarily say
that when she was still a child men to the number of thirty started out on
an expedition, but that they never returned to their homes." And then after
some moments of thinking she added, "Probably the man who dwells yonder in
that lodge, not far away from here, remembers the whole matter, for he has
been living during an exceedingly long life; and so he probably is familiar
with the tradition about which you speak. So you had better visit him and
seek for further information from him."

So De'hae'hyo'we's and his companion again started on their quest for
someone who might know them. Reaching their new destination they found the
very old man, of whom the old woman had spoken, and they asked him, "Do you
remember an affair which took place hitherto many years ago, in which
warriors to the number of thirty departed hence, going on an expedition
along the path of the Sun?"

After a few moments of reflection the old man replied, "I remember the
matter full well. This is what took place: There lived a people yonder, at
some distance from here; and there is where this affair took place; there
were a number of young men who had grown up together, and they were all
about sixteen years of age; and thirty of these young men organized
themselves into a war party, binding themselves together by means of an
oath, or vow.

"And when they had fully organized their troop, they caused the people of
the entire community to assemble at the Long-lodge of public gatherings. And
when the people were assembled in the Long- lodge De'hae'hyo'we's arose and
said, 'Now then, it shall be made known to you who have assembled here that
we have indeed completed our preparations. We, young men, who are three tens
in number, have enlisted by notching the stick to go out on an expedition
along the path of the Sun.

We made the agreement strong, for we commingled together ; our minds into
unity; and so now it is as if we had only a single head, only a single body
of flesh, only a single life, and we shall bleed as one person. Moreover, we
now renounce our kindred, and we also forswear our lives. Moreover, we will
now depart from here. We will direct our course toward the sunsetting, for
we desire to make an excursion to the place of sunsetting-to the place where
the [ Diurnal Light-Orb customarily promenades to and fro. Our band have
appointed me and my dear brother to be their chiefs I to lead them. We, too,
have made a solemn vow that no matter what the situation confronting us, no
matter what will be transpiring ahead of us, we will nevertheless pass
onward in our journey.

"We have indeed enlisted in this matter seriously by notching the stick, and
this is of course, as you well know, the pledge that each one of us will do
what we have agreed to do one with another.' Then they departed from us, and
they have never returned."

Then, De'hae'hyo'we's replying to the old man said, "How long ago may it be
since that event took place?" The old man answered, "It is now three
generations ago; that is, three generations have passed away since that
time." And then De'hae'hyo'we's asked, "Who were the chiefs of those who
departed?" And the old man said. "De'hae'hyo'we's and his brother,
Gae'hyakdon'dye'. These two persons were chosen as the chiefs of the party."

To which De'hae'hyo'we's replied, "Verily, Grandsire, we are the remaining
members of that party-my brother, Gae'hyakdon'dye', our friend, Daga'dye',
and I. So many of the number have now returned home. It was, verily, our
party that departed from the place where your and my people formerly dwelt,
at that place yonder not far away."

But the old man, still doubting what he had heard, said, "It is probably not
you who went away, because it appears from your youthful aspect that you
have just reached manhood. and that event occurred a very long time ago."

De'hae"'hy6'we"'s, however, answered, saying, "Nevertheless, we are the very
persons who started, those of us who still are left alive. We have now
arrived home again." And the old man said, "If possible, then, do tell me
the name of the chief of our people when you departed."

De'hae'hyo'we's quickly answered, "Daga'hidon'dye' was the name of the chief
of our people at that time." Now convinced of what he had doubted, the old
man answered, "That statement is, indeed, also true. The fact that he was my
grandfather is the reason why I am so fully acquainted with that matter. And
now I submit that I am convinced that it is indeed you and your friends who
departed so many years ago, and that it is you who have returned home. And
as it is meet so to do, our present chief shall now be made cognizant of
this matter. So remain here in this lodge, and I will now send him word of
your return to await his pleasure."

So the chief was made acquainted with the matter. He at once sent out
runners, giving notice to all the people to assemble immediately in the
Long-lodge of public meetings to hear something that was most startling and
important; he set the following day for the assembling of the people.

So, when the morning of the next day dawned, all the people made the
necessary preparations to attend the great council and hurriedly made their
several ways to the assembly hall. De'haell'hy6'well's and his two
companions also went there in company with their host, the old man, whose
grandfather was a former chief of his people. The assemblage was large, for
everyone who could possibly leave home attended in person.

When all were seated, the chief arose, and, ceremoniously greeting the newly
arrived men, said, "We have learned only a hint of what occurred during your
expedition, and we desire fervently to know more of the events through which
you have passed while you have been absent. And so now we shall listen to
the whole account. And we will now listen to the leader of the party,
De'hae'hyo'we's."

De'hae'hyo'we's then arose amidst great silence and spoke only as follows:
"There were thirty of us who started on the expedition along the path of the
sun; but there are only three of us who have returned. It is I who bear the
name De'hae'hyo'we's. On this hand sits my brother, Gae'hyakdon'dye', for
such is the name that he bears; and on this hand sits our friend, Daga'dye',
for such is the name that he bears; so many only are we who survive. "And
this, too, came to pass during the time of our expedition along the path of
the Sun, to the skyland. One of our number remains there as an assistant to
the people in that far-away land. It is, moreover, quite impossible for him
to return to this earth to live again."

And then De'hae'hyo'we's related at great length all that had occurred to
him and his party from the time they had left their homes until their
return. He told of all things that had transpired and all things that they
had seen during their absence; these things were recited in detail,
completing the recital with their return home. Then De'hae'hyo'we's resumed
his seat.

The chief then said, "It was in fact a marvelous thing that was done by this
party. It is a very long time ago since you departed from your homes. But,
now, you have returned to them, numbering only three persons. Of course, one
of the most essential things about this matter to be remembered is that
De'hae'hyo'we's, sometimes called Hawennryo', forewilled that you, and only
you, should be enabled to return home safely.

"Furthermore, preparations have been made so that we may now mutually and
severally exchange greetings. And, further, then, this shall be done. You,
the surviving ones of the party, three in number, will take a suitable
position, and then I will take the lead in a ceremonial greeting to you; for
I of course stand in the stead of the one who was the chief of the people
when you departed; my name is, indeed, Daga'hidon'dye' and then we will do
this: we will mutually and severally stroke one another's body in greeting.
This ceremony shall be for all persons, including our children-we will all
greet one another in this ceremonial manner; for such was the custom of our
fathers on such occasions."

So De'hae'hyo'we's and his two friends arose and took suitable positions to
receive the greetings of the people. And the people with the chief in the
lead came forward and cordially stroked their bodies according to the
custom. All the men, all the women, and all the children arose and greeted
them.

When the ceremony was over the chief said, "This, too, shall be done. We
will do. in the future, all the things that we have today learned should be
done. And this, too, you shall know - you who have just returned home-that
you and we shall be equal in the enjoyment and disposition of the things
that we possess; so that our minds and yours shall think in peace. Here. you
know, dwell the people, and now of course we again shall commingle and
associate together. So now, too, everything is ready for us to rejoice and
be happy, seeing that you have returned home in safety and health.

"And the first thing to be done is to make merry by a game. They whose
bodies are strong will play at a game of lacrosse ball; and thus shall they
amuse your and our minds, that you may rejoice. When that shall have passed,
then we shall dance, beginning with the Song of the Pigeons.

"And when that is passed, it will be time for us to disperse to our homes."
Thereupon, De'hae'hyo'we's arose and said, "It is indeed a marvelous matter
to know that we have been absent from our people during three generations.
And that, too, that we are rejoicing that we have, though much decreased in
number, returned to our homes. We are indeed very happy that we are again
one people with you."

Then the young men went to the public gaming grounds and there engaged in an
exciting game of lacrosse ball. And when this game was over, the people
assembled in the Long-lodge of public meetings and there they performed the
ceremony of the Song of the Pigeons. They danced all the songs of this
cere-mony, which is quite long and exciting. Even the children danced to
show their pleasure at seeing the returned men. (This is the end of the
story.)

A Traditional Journal of an Expedition to the Skyland

Iroquois
From J. N. B. Hewitt, "Iroquoian Cosmology," 43rd Annual Report of the
Bureau of American Ethnology. 1925-26 (Washington, 1928),pp. 449- 891.