*/
  public Long getAssertionDate(CycAssertion cycAssertion)
          throws UnknownHostException, IOException, CycApiException {
    String command = makeSubLStmt("asserted-when", cycAssertion);
    Object date = converseObject(command);
    if (date instanceof Integer) {
      return ((Integer) date).longValue();
    }
    if (date instanceof Long) {
      return (Long) date;
    }
    if (date.equals(CycObjectFactory.nil)) {
      return 0l;
    } else {
      throw new CycApiException("unexpected type of date returned " + date.toString());
    }
  }