From Seneca Folklore
It happened that when the travellers took a stroll in the country, while the men of the lodge were absent they came on a spring of water which formed a large pool. One of the party, using his bow as a rod, thrust it into the pool to see whether he could find any living thing in it; but he saw nothing to attract his attention. When they returned to the lodge they again stood their bows in the usual place, in a corner of the room. When the men of the lodge had returned home from their excursion into the country one of them said, “There is something in this lodge that has the smell of game (i.e., something to be killed),” and he at once began looking around from place to place. Then the others after sniffing the air exclaimed, “It is true; there is something in here that smells like a game animal.” At this one went to the place where the bows belonging to the band of Dehaenhyowens were standing and, taking one of the bows in his hand, said, “It is, indeed, this bow that has the scent.” Turning to Dehaenhyowens he said: “To what place have you been? What is the place like where you touched something with this bow?” Answering, Dehaenhyowens 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 ran swiftly to the spring. When they arrived there Dehaenhyowens said to his companions, “There, in the spring and pool. I thrust my bow to rouse whatever might dwell therein.” One of the men of the country answered: “It is certain that some mysterious creature abides herein. We shall see what it is. Do you, our friends, stand yonder, a little aloof, and then you shall see the thing done, when we shall kill it.”
Heeding this admonition, the band of Dehaenhyowens drew back a short distance and watched the men of the country make their dispositions for the attack. They did not wait long to see a wonderful phenomenon, for the men of the country at once began their task. One touched with a rod the bottom of the pool whence flowed the spring of water. Thereupon 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 fled from the spot to seek safety. There were also 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 Dehaenhyowens 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 it they said to the old woman: “We have now killed that uncanny creature, that Otkon (or, “What customarily uses its orenda (magic power) destructively). 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. It may have been there a long time, since it had grown so large. We have barely escaped, perhaps, some great misfortune.” The old woman replied gratefully, “What a very remarkable affair it is, in which our visitors have been of assistance to us.” In a moment she asked: “What is the Otkon? What is the form and kind of thing you have so fortunately killed?” The men answered: “It is the Great Blue Lizard which we have destroyed.” So they rested for the night.
The next morning the old woman said to the men of her lodge: “For myself, I am thinking that it is just the time of the year when you should again make mellow and moist all the things that grow on the earth. What do you say?” 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 moist all the things that severally grow on the earth.’ ” So saying, he ceased talking with her.
Arising from her seat and pushing aside gently the door flap at the entrance to the adjoining room, the aged woman made the inquiry just noted. The person addressed answered: “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.”
Allowing the door flap to fall back, the old woman withdrew to her own apartment in the lodge. In order to make the needed preparations for carrying out the purpose of her inquiry she gathered a quantity of corn husks and, again entering the place in which the lake was situated, she heaped once more the corn husks along the shore. When she had placed the corn husks around the entire circuit of the lake she set them on fire. When the fire had become brisk and bright the old woman, turning to the men of the lodge, said: “I have now again made the necessary preparations for the performance of your accustomed task, and you shall start on your journey to make all things that grow on the earth moist and mellow and the soil as well. They who are visiting us shall accompany you wherever you may go; you must carefully keep them from harm, and you must show them all things of interest on your journey.”
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 the Dehaenhyowens and his men said: “You shall now see the things over which we have charge. He whom you are wont to call Hawenniyo (the Ruler) is the person who has charged us with all these matters, and we shall continue to have he care of them so long as the earth endures. We shall tend all these things which he has planted on the earth; we shall habitually cause water to fall on them; we shall keep all the water in the several rivers on the earth fresh at all times; and we shall water all those things upon which you and your people live, so that all things which he has made to be 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 Dehaenhyowens and his party, looking beneath them, saw another earth far below. As they proceeded they heard loud noises, like the voicings of Thunder (Hinon) when he draws near on earth; and there began to be bright flashes of lightning, and next there began to be rain; and, finally, 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 Dehaenhyowens and his friends said: “Look at that creature 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. To see that it never comes forth permanently out of the ground is one of the duties with which we are strictly charged.” In a moment the speaker continued, “Now you shall see what will take place when we will kill it.” As the party of Dehaenhyowens watched, their hosts began to pursue the serpent. 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 began to flee from them. It sought unsuccessfully to hide beneath standing trees, but these trees were struck and riven into splinters; then it fled to the mountains, seeking to conceal itself beneath their shelter; but this also was in vain, for it was repeatedly hit by the men of Thunder, and, finally, was killed.
As an explanation of this phenomenon the hosts of Dehaenhyowens and his friends said: “It is verily true that beneath the surface of the ground whatever is otkon (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. Hence such beings 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 the Evil-minded One* that formed their bodies; and it came to pass that he whom you call Hawenniyo (the Ruler) decided that so long as the earth endures these beings shall abide under the surface of the earth. Furthermore, we ourselves believe that He who charged us with the performance of this task of keeping them beneath the surface of the earth will cause it to come to pass, perhaps when the earth is nearing its end – 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 even is not distant – the end of the earth – He will bring to an end the duties with which we are severally charged, to be performed for the benefit of the things that live upon the earth. Not until then shall the water which are held in their several placed become polluted; finally 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 scar; indeed, all things shall become withered and decayed. Now let us turn back homeward.”
* The wind god whose activities earned him this epithet.
Then the party, turning homeward, retracted their steps. On reentering their lodge the spokesman of the party said to the old woman who presided over the lodgehold (household), “We have now competed the task of making moist and mellow all things that grow upon the face of the earth.” Arising from her seat, the aged matron went into the adjoining room the lodge and said to a person who occupied that room, “Now, they have, indeed, returned.” With these words the old woman withdrew and resumed her accustomed seat.
In a short time the door flap separating the adjoining room was thrust aside and a man (hen’gwe, or “The male Man-Being), thrusting his head through the doorway, asked the men who had returned, “Have you now, indeed, completed the work? Have you made moist and mellow all things that grow on the earth beneath this one?” The men replied in unison, “We have indeed accomplished our task as we were charged to do.” Thereupon the person from the adjoining room said, “Now you must rest until there shall be another day; then you shall again recommence the performance of the duties with which you are severally charged.”
The conversation gave Dehaenhyowens and his party the opportunity of seeing the speaker. They were convinced that he was human; that he was, in fact, a hen’gwe. But they were amazed to see that while half of the body of this strange person was in all respects like that of a human being, the other half of his body was crystal ice. They felt, too, a breeze that was chilling strike them from out of the doorway; but at this moment the strange man withdrew the door flap, concealing the room from further observation.
The aged matron of the lodge, addressing her guests, said: “That person whom you have just seen is, in fact, the principal one of all those who are charged with duties to perform in the economy of the earth. He is called by us Dehodyadgaowen (i.e. the Cloven-bodied Man); his is named also Owisondyon (Cast/Falling Hail). It is this feature that you saw when he showed his face at the doorway, and that explains why there came forth from him a cold breeze. This act will immediately cause the prospective days and nights on the earth to become cold and wintry. However, when the day again dawns he will again show his face and the other side of his body, and immediately there will blow hither a hot breeze.”
Then the members of the lodge said one to another: “We have paused in our labors in order to rest. 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. This is, of course, what you human beings call springtime.” Having said this, 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, Dehodyadgaowen, showed himself in the doorway, and called out aloud, “Now then, all your people, awake and arise; it is time to do so.” At this all the sleepers awoke, and as they awoke, they outstretched their arms and bodies, yawning and uttering loud vociferations, as are heard on earth in the voice of Thunder. There arose a warm breeze, and then the men of the lodge went out. It was but a short time after this that the men reentered the lodge and said to their guests: “You should accompany us on our intended journey, so that you may see an Otkon which inhabits certain trees near the place whence we returned. It is a long time that we have been making attempts to kill and destroy this being, for it is possessed of very powerful orenda.” Thereupon Dehaenhyowens replied, “It is of course right that we should accompany you to learn what manner of being that may be.”
So all the men of the lodge started on their journey, going directly to the place where the being that was otkon had its lair. Having gone a long distance, the men of Thunder finally said to their guests: “There, indeed, is the place in which the Otkon abides. You must stand in yonder place, quite removed from any danged from this being, and you shall see it as we shall cause it to come forth from the lair.” Thereupon the party of Dehaenhyowens withdrew to the designated position. They saw one of their hosts go forward and hit one of the trees several sharp blows with his club; they saw the being come forth from its lair and concluded that it was what they called a squirrel. But the being, or squirrel, thrust its body only partially out of its hiding place; at once the men of Thunder hurled their shots at it; there were loud thunderings and lightning flashes were vivid, and there arose a great tumult and a terrific hurricane. 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 very soon the men of Thunder shivered this tree, whereupon the squirrel, having fled back to the first tree, swiftly climbed back into its lair. Then the men of Thunder said: “Now, indeed, you have seen what we call Otkon. The time is long in which we have been making vain efforts to destroy this being, this great Otkon.”
In replying, Dehaenhyowens said: “It is now our turn, we will attempt to kill the Orkon.” 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 beyond measure.” Dehaenhyowens replied assuringly, “We know that we can accomplish this task.” “If you are determined to make the attempt, we will assist you should you fail,” said the men of Thunder. Going up to the tree in which the squirrel had its lair, one of the party of Dehaenhyowens tapped on it with his club. Forthwith the squirrel again thrust out its body and gazed at the men. Taking a knob-headed arrow from his quiver, Dehaenhyowens shot at it, hitting the squirrel fair in the head and causing it to come tumbling to the ground.
Thereupon the men of Thunder, taking up the body of the squirrel, started for home, with their guests. When they reached the lodge the men of Thunder said to the old woman, “Now, in fact, our visitors have killed it; they have indeed killed the Otkon, which for a very long time we have failed in our attempts to kill.” Answered this, the old woman said: “I am thankful to receive this news. This then shall be done: the skin of this Otkon shall belong to me; as it is so precious, it shall be the robe of my couch.” So Dehaenhyowens carefully skinned the squirrel; after doing this he neatly prepared the skin, which he spread on a suitable frame to dry. When it had thoroughly dried Dehaenhyowens presented it to the old woman, assuring her 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: “Our visitors are the ones who have accomplished this thing for us. In token of this one of our visitors shall remain here as one of us. He shall be 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 the men replied: “Let that, too, be done; let him who is foremost among us say it, and it shall be done.” The old woman replied: “That is so; his consent is all that is required to accomplish this desirable thing.” At once arising from her seat, she went to the doorway leading to the adjoining room and, pushing aside the door flap, 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? 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 failed for so long a time to do so. I desire that he shall assist them at all times and be a coworker with them.” Answering the old woman, Dehodyadgaowen said: “I willingly confirm this proposition, if it be that he himself is freely willing, and that of course he will volunteer to have his life pounded (in a mortar). Then, as you know, it will be possible for him to help them continually.” With this he ceased speaking.
Returning to the group comprising the party of Dehaenhyowens, the old woman said: “Hatch’kwi! (Behold!), wilt thou confirm the proposition that thou shalt remain here alone while thy companions return to their own homes? If thou wilt be willing to agree to this, I will give thee a new name. This shall be the name by which they shall hereafter habitually call thee, namely, Dagaeda (i.e., the Thaw, or the Warm Spring Weather). The member of the party of Dehaenhyowens replied, “I willingly agree to this proposal; I am quite willing to be an assistant to them in their work.” To this the old woman answered: “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 Dehodyadgaowen interrupted by saying, “Now, then, do you bring his person (body) in to this room, and let him at once be prepared for his duties.” The old woman, addressing the visitor who had consented to remain, said, “Come! The time has arrived for doing what you have agreed to do for us, what you require to fit you for your new duties.” Accordingly, the man entered the room which adjoined the one in which he and his friends were, and in which abode Dehodyadgaowen. As soon as he had entered Dehodyadgaowen 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.” Obeying his instructor, the man at once placed himself in the hollowed end of the mortar wherein the grain was usually pounded, whereupon Dehodyadgaowen drew near, and taking up the pestle, pounded him in the manner in which grain is pounded, striking three blows. Having done this, he said to the visitor: “Thy flesh has now changed in kind. The task is accomplished. Thou mayst sing to try thy voice.” The transformed man began to sing, and Dehaenhyowens and his one remaining friend heard the singing, which sounded to them exactly like the voice of approaching thunder, only that the volume was somewhat less, as it seemed to them. They said one to the other, “Now it is known that he, Dagaeda, is approaching,” and soon their transformed friend reentered the room.
In a short time thereafter the old woman said to the men of the lodge, now including the newly transformed person: “You shall now start on your journey, and you shall begin to make mellow and moist anew all the things that are growing on the earth beneath. And this, moreover, shall be done. Dagaeda shall take the lead. 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 being will say, ‘Now the warm wind has come down; now the hot spring wind blows again; and so now the spring season will come upon us.’ They shall never forget, indeed, each time the line of demarcation between the snowtime and the summertime arrives, for Dagaeda shall continue to change the days and nights of the future. You men must start to accompany part of the way homeward those who have been visiting us for so many days.”
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 Deaunhyawagon, sometimes Hawenniyo (the Master or Ruler), who has commissioned me. And this is what He was commissioned me to do: When it becomes dark on the earth it is I who shall cause it to be in some measure light and warm on the earth, so that it becomes neither too cold nor too dark; so that all the things which should grow may grow unharmed on the earth, including 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 endure. Moreover, I will now impart to you the following information so that you ongwe (human beings) living on the earth shall know that they who abide here in this place are those whom you call Hadiwennodadye’s (the Thunderers); and so that you shall know that He who established this world is One whom you call Deaunhyawagon and also Hawenniyo. It is He who decreed that these men shall customarily come to the lower world from the west and that they shall move toward the east.
“So let this be a sign to you who dwell on the lower earth that when it comes to pass that these men of Thunder come from the east you shall know at once its meaning, and shall say one to another, ‘Now it seems that the time is 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. 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 Hawenniyo, shall transform what He himself has established.
“Now the time has arrived for you to start for your home; but first, before you depart, you must journey about this upper world to see everything that may be beneficial to you and to your people in the days to come. By the time you return from this journey of observation I will have made ready what you shall take with you when you shall go again to make mellow and wet the earth beneath. This, too, upon which I am to work is something about which I must tell you something. I am engaged in making myself a mantle, and the material out of which I am weaving it is, indeed, what you think it is – human hair. You have observed as well that each time I lay my work aside for a moment my small cut as often undoes quite all that I have done. In will not tell you by what means I obtain the human hair of which I am making myself a mantle. When some human being dies on the earth below one hair from his head detaches itself and departs thence, coming directly to me. It is such hairs that I am using in making my mantle. This serves as a sign to me that one has ceased to be on the earth below, and that that person is travelling hither. This shall continue as long as the earth beneath shall endure and have form. Moreover, mark this well, that when He shall cause the death of human beings on the earth below, it shall then and not before be possible for me to finish the mantle on which I am working; and the number of hairs in this mantle will then bear witness to the number of persons who have visited the earth below while it lasted. Now you may take an observation trip.”
Thereupon the men of the lodge and the entire party of Dehaenhyowens started out to view the notable things in the vicinity of the lodge. They went to that place where for the first time during their visit they had seen the beauty and pleasantness of that upper world; they admired the strawberry plants, bearing luscious berries, as tall as the high grasses among which they grew; these were in bloom, for their bearing season was continuous. They saw, too, the growing trees full of fine 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. Never before had they seen paths so fine leading in various directions; and they beheld along these paths the trees whose overhanging boughs, loaded with blossoms, were scented with all manner of fragrance.
They beheld all figures of human beings (ongwe) promenading along the paths from place to place, but they realized that these were shades (or shadows), and that consequently it was not possible to hold conversation with them. Farther along in their ramble they came to a village which was inhabited, there being many lodges in different places in the manner of a village of human beings. In passing through the village one of the hosts, addressing Dehaenhyowens, said: “In this lodge, standing here apart, your mother dwells. She was still on the earth below when you and your party left 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.”
Then they went back to the place where the old woman awaited their return. On entering the lodge they said to her: “We have now returned from our ramble,” to which she replied: “I have quite completed my preparations. Now you must start on your journey homeward, and the men of the lodge will accompany you part of the way. In going home you must pass around by the place where abides the Light Orb that travels by day. Let them see Him too. May your dreams foreshadow 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 Dehaenhyowens and his friends that that was the lodge of the Sun. “Thence,” they said, “he starts to give light to the world beneath this one.” Having reached the lodge, they entered it, and within they saw the Sun engaged in cooking chestnut-meal mush. One of the men of Thunder said: “We are now on our journey, accompanying these human beings part of their way home. We are taking these men back to the earth below this one. The reason that we have come around this way is that we desired to have you and them see one another.” Then the Master of the lodge, raising his voice, 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’dagowa, He-the-Great-War-Chief, and our Elder Brother, the Diurnal Orb of Light. I have just completed my usual preparations for the journey on which I am about to start. Furthermore, just as soon as you depart hence I will start on my journey to make the earth below light and warm again.
In a short time, the visitors having seen all that was interesting in the lodge, said: “Let us now 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; Dag-aeda shall be the first one to act.” Dagaeda, the former member of the part of Dehaenhyowens, began to sing in a loud voice, thus setting his orenda to work to carry out his function. Then the two human beings who were to return to the earth below saw the earth in the distance beneath them, and they heard, too, the 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 Thunderers are singing in the distance.
Then the party moved on. Looking down on the earth from above the sky and the clouds they saw the effect of the singing of the Thunder men. At this time the voices of the Thunder men 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 saw the creeks and rivers swell and overflow their banks.
To the human beings of the party they had not gone very far, as it seemed, when they were startled by alighting on the earth. Thereupon one of the Thunder men said to them: “Now, indeed, you are again at your homes whence you departed, so we have fully discharged our obligation to bring you safely back. Moreover, we will now tell you something regarding another matter. It is a long time since the former inhabitants of this country withdrew from here and went to another settlement. You will find them in the place where they are now living.”
Having conducted their friends some distance on the ground, one of the men of Thunder said: “We will now separate one from another. You must keep us in remembrance. For this purpose you shall employ the native tobacco, making an offering thereby in words and in acts. This will be quite sufficient for the purpose, for we shall hear the thanksgiving and accept the offering at once. 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 habitually of native tobacco by you in this important matter. Such is the method which you who still live on the earth here below must regularly employ in forming your messages of thanksgiving. Such is the regulation and decree ordained and promulgated by Him whom you call Deaunhyawagon, familiarly as Hawenniyo. These are the words which we thought it necessary for you to hear before we separated one from another. May you have good dreams.”
Then the two parties separated, the one from the other; and the men of Thunder departed from the earth, going back into the cloudland to their own lodge.
In turn Dehaenhyowens 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. They found that the place had become thickly overgrown with large trees to so great an extent that one unacquainted with the facts would be in doubt whether or not any person had ever lived in that place.
On seeing this, Dehaenhyowens said to his companion: “Verily, it seems that we must depend on ourselves to find our people. We must, therefore, go to seek the place where they now dwell.” Thereupon they started, directing their course eastward, as they had been instructed. At no great distance they saw the smoke from a village and made their way to it. On entering the first lodge they reached, Dehaenhyowens said, “We have now returned home.” In reply the master of the lodge said: “Whither did you go, and who are you? As for myself, I do not know you.” Answering him, Dehaenhyowens said: “Have you not at any time heard the tradition which says that a number of men (three tens) started on a journey along the path of the Sun – a party formed by Dehaenhyowens and Gaenhyakdondye, two famous war chiefs, of men who had thoroughly habituated themselves to warlike exercises? They undertook while going toward the sunset to kill and scalp all the peoples whom they might encounter on their way.” 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 know about this matter. You should go over to consult her concerning it.”
So Dehaenhyowens and his companion passed on, going to the lodge pointed out to them. On entering the lodge Dehaenhyowens said to the old woman: “Do you know the circumstance in the history of your people when 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 war chiefs, Dehaenhyowens and Gaenhyakdondye. They went toward the sunset, following the path of the Sun.” Answering his question, the old woman said: “It is indeed true that such an event took place. I have heard my deceased grandmother say many times that when she was still a child men to the number of 30 started out on an expedition, but they never returned to their homes.” After some moment of thought she added: “Probably the man who dwells yonder in that lodge not far away from here remembers the whole matter, for he has had an exceedingly long life, and so is probably familiar with the tradition about which you speak. Therefore you would better visit him and seek further information from him.”
Thereupon Dehaenhyowens and his companion again started on their quest for some one who knew them. On 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 many years ago, in which warriors to the number of 30 departed hence 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 happened: There lived a people yonder, some distance away, where this affair took place. There were a number of young men who had grown up together, all about 16 years of age; 30 of these organized themselves into a war party, binding themselves together by means of an oath or vow. Having full organized their troop, they caused the people of the entire community to assemble at the Long Lodge of public gatherings, whereupon Dehaenhyowens 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 on an expedition along the path of the Sun. We have made the agreement strong, for we have commingled our minds. 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 renounce our kindred, and we also forswear our lives. We shall now depart hence, directing our course toward the West, for we desire to make a journey to the place of the sunset – to the place where the Diurnal Light Orb is wont to make his way to and fro. Our band have appointed me and my dear brother to be their chiefs to lead them. We, too, have made a solemn vow that no matter what the situation confronting us we will nevertheless pass onward in our journey. We have indeed enlisted in this matter seriously by “notching the stick.” This is, of course, as you well know, the pledge that each one of us will do what we have agreed to do with one another.’ Thereupon, they departed from us, and they have never returned.”
Dehaenhyowens, 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.” Then Dehaenhyowens asked, “Who were the chiefs of those who departed?” The old man said, “Dehaenhyowens and his brother, Gaehyakdondye; these two persons were chosen as the chiefs of the party.” To this Dehaenhyowens responded, “Verily, grandsire, we are the remaining members of that party – my brother, Gaehyakdondye, our friend Dagadye, 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.” Dehaenhyowens, however, answered: “Nevertheless, we are the very persons who started, at least those of us who still are left alive; and we have now arrived home again.” On hearing this, the old man said: “If possible, then, do tell me the name of the chief of our people when you departed.” Dehaenhyowens quickly answered, “Dagaidondye was the name of the chief of our people at that time.” Now convinced of what he 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 full acquainted with that matter. Now, I admit that I am convinced that it is indeed you and your friends who departed so many years ago, and that it is you, too, who have returned home; and as it is meet so to do, our present chief shall now be made cognisant of this matter. So remain here in this lodge, and I will now send him word of your return, to await his pleasure.”
Accordingly the chief was made acquainted with the matter at once. Forthwith he sent out runners, giving notice to all the people to assemble immediately in the Long Lodge of public meetings to hear news most startling and important; he set the following day for the assembly of the people. When the morning of the next day dawned all the people, having made the necessary preparations to attend the great council, hurriedly gathered in the assembly hall. Dehaenhyowens and his two companions went there in company with his 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. When all were seated the chief arose, and ceremoniously greeted the newly arrived men in these words: “We have learned only a hint of what occurred during your expedition, and we desire fervently to know more of the events which took place while you have been absent. So now we shall listen to the whole account, and we will hear the leader of the party.”
Thereupon Dehaenhyowens arose, amidst deep silence, and spoke briefly, as follows: “There were 30 of us who started on the expedition along the path of the Sun; but only three of us have returned. It is I who bear the name Dehaenhyowens. On this hand sits my brother, Gaehyakdondye, for such is the name that he bears; and on this hand sits our friend, Dagadye, for such is the name that he bears. So many only are we who survive. It came to pass during the time of our expedition along the path of the Sun to the skyland that one of our number remained there as an assistant to the people in that far-away land. It is quite impossible for him to return again to this earth to live.” Then Dehaenhyowens related at great length all that they had seen from the time they had left their homes until their return. After speaking thus Dehaenhyowens resumed his seat.
The chief then said: “It was in fact a marvelous thing that was done by your party. It is a very long time since you departed from your homes; but now you have returned, only you three persons. Of course, one of the most essential things about this matter to be remembered is that Deaunhyawagon forewilled that you, and only you, should be enabled to return home safely. Preparations have been made so that we may now exchange greetings, and this shall be done. You, the surviving ones of the party, three in number, will take a suitable position, and 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 Dagaidondye. Then we will do this: We will mutually and severally stroke one’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 this was the custom of our fathers on such occasions.”
Accordingly Dehaenhyowens and his two friends too suitable positions in which 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, women, and children arose and greeted them. When the ceremony was over the chief said: “We will do in the future all the things that we have today learned should be done. This, too, you shall know – you who have just returned home – that we shall be equal with you 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. Everything is in readiness for us to rejoice and be happy, seeing that you have returned home in safety and health. 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; thus shall they amuse your minds, and you may rejoice. When that shall have passed we shall dance, beginning with the Pigeon Song, or Song of the Pigeons. When that is passed it will be time for us to disperse to our homes.” Thereupon Dehaenhyowens, arising, said: “It is marvelous to know that we have been absent from our people during three generations; and we are rejoicing that we have, though much fewer in numbers, 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. 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 ceremony, which is quite long and exciting. Even the children danced to show their pleasure at seeing the returned men.
Source:
Seneca fiction, legends, and myths, F.W. Hodge, 1918
Kotharian Lightning 