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16 200 While absent from home should one see something larger then common of its kind, some of his family were to die soon. On travelling, suppose a little bird called tsi ki li li, flies over singing, going the same direction the man is travelling, he is soon to meet a stranger. Or should one of these birds light near, or sing about a house, some visitor is sure to come. should one see two squirrels on a tree fighting, and should they fall off so as to die by the fall, some of his own near relatives are soon to die. should one hear wailing, like mourning for the dead, some of his friends were soon to die. should one see other apparition of a friend and it should suddenly disappear, that friend was soon to die. should a hen crow some one in the family was soon to die
should a dog in a wonderful manner talk like a person it would be a sign of some very awful catastrophe.
so also, if a homany pestle should move about the house when no one touched it it would be a sign that all in the house were soon to die. A screech owl making some uncommon noise is a sign of death. should a tree fall without wind, then ? towards the house some in the house were soon to die. should one hear a little bird called Tso wi sku (yewne) singing very fast and loud, Tsu wi, tsu wi &c. he might know the enemy was just about the town. should an owl light on Peach, or other trees among the houses in a town, and sing, it foretells the approach of the enemy in few days
When warriors were absent on a war expedition, if the sounding the war whoop, and the sound was long and protracted, the warriors were killing their enemies; but if the sound was short and hasty they were getting killed.
should a bird fly into a house some visitor was coming.
Dear sir, should you be able to read the foregoing scrawl, I hope you will be prepared to excuse the very poor performance Doubtless, at different times I have written some things twice or thrice If so it has been from forgetfulness. I can only say, sir, that a desire to gratify a friend of the much abused Indians, has beguiled the hours, and rendered the task of writing a peculiar pleasure, and should it be possible for me to please or oblige you in any respect hereafter I shall still rejoice in doing it, yours truly, D.S. Butrick