At intervals during the relation of a story the auditors must exclaim “hĕ^n‘´.” This is the sign that they were listening. If there was no frequent response of “he,” the story teller would stop and inquire what fault was found with him or his story.
It was not only considered a breach of courtesy for a listener to fall asleep, but also a positive omen of evil to the guilty party. If any one for any reason wished to sleep or to leave the room, he must request the narrator to “tie the story,” “e^nsĕgägha‘´a.” Failing to say this and afterwards desiring to hear the remainder of the tale, the narrator would refuse, for if he related it at all it must be from the beginning through, unless “tied.” Thus “ĕ^nsĕgäha‘´a” was the magic word by which a legend might be told as a serial (from ĕ^nsege´odĕ).
A story teller was known as “Hage´otă’” and his stock of tales called “ganondas‘hägo^n”. Each listener gave the story teller a small gift, as a bead, small round brooch, beads, tobacco, or other trinket. To tell stories was called “ĕ^nsege´odĕ^n”, and the gift was termed “dagwa´niatcis,” now an obsolete word.
d pronounced with the tip of the tongue touching the upper teeth, as in enunciating English _th_ in with; the only sound of _d_ employed in writing native words
r slightly trilled; this is its only sound
t pronounced with the tip of the tongue touching the upper teeth, as in enunciating the English _th_ in with; this is its only sound
^n marks nasalized vowels, thus e^n, o^n, ai^n, ĕ^n, ä^n, â^n
‘ indicates an aspiration or soft emission of breath
t‘h In this combination _t_ and _h_ are separately uttered, as _th_ in the English words hothouse, foothold
I FUNDAMENTAL FACTORS IN SENECA FOLK-LORE
The myths and legends of the Seneca are built upon certain well recognized and deeply rooted postulates. Each bit of folk-lore must have its consistency adjudged by these elements in order to be credible. Any myth or legend that offended the standards so set would immediately be rejected by the Seneca as spurious. To a large extent the premises of folk-lore are founded on folk-thought, and woe to the innovator who sought to direct his theme from the accepted thought patterns.
Among the basic beliefs upon which the folk-tale is built are the following: