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Exploring the Variety of Random
Documents with Different Content
 62 SENECA MYTHS AND LEGENDS also what seemed to be
ducks upon the water and these also saw the descending figure. The
creature-beings knew that a new body was coming to them and that
here below there was no abiding place for her. They took council
together and sought to devise a way to provide for her. It was
agreed that the duck-creatures should receive her on their interknit
wings and lower her gently to the surface below. The great turtle
from the under-world was to arise and make his broad back a
resting-place. It was as has been agreed and the woman came down
upon the floating island. Then did the creatures seek to make a
world for the woman and one by one they dove to the bottom of the
water seeking to find earth to plant upon the turtle's back. A duck
dived but went so far that it breathed the water and came up dead.
A pickerel went down and came back dead. Many creatures sought
to find the bottom of the water but could not. At last the creature
called Muskrat made the attempt and only succeeded in touching the
bottom with his nose but this was sufficient for he was enabled to
smear it upon the shell and the earth immediately grew, and as the
earth-substance increased so did the size of the turtle. After a time
the woman, who lay prone, aroused herself and released what was
in her hands, dropping many seeds into the folds of her garment.
Likewise she spread out the earth from the heaven world which she
had grasped and thus caused the seeds to spring into germination
as they dropped from her dress. The root of the tree which she had
grasped she sunk into the soil where she had fallen and this too
began to grow until it formed a tree with all manner of fruits and
flowers and bore a luminous orb at its top by which the new world
became illuminated.
 HOW THE WORLD BEGAN 63 Now in due season the Sky-
Woman2 lay beneath the tree and to her a daughter was born. She
was then happy for she had a companion. Rapidly the girl child grew
until very soon she could run about. It was then the custom of
Ancient One to say : "My daughter, run about the island and return
telling me what you have seen." Day by day the girl ran around the
island and each time it became larger, making her trips longer and
longer. She observed that the earth was carpeted with grass and
that shrubs and trees were springing up everywhere. This she
reported to her mother, who sat beneath the centrally situated great
tree. In one part of the island there was a tree on which grew a long
vine and upon this vine the girl was accustomed to swing for
amusement and her body moved to and fro giving her great delight.
Then did her mother say, "My daughter, you laugh as if being
embraced by a lover. Have you seen a man ?" "I have seen no one
but you, my mother," answered the girl, "but when I swing I know
someone is close to me and I feel my body embraced as if with
strong arms. I feel thrilled and I tingle, which causes me to laugh."
Then did the Sky-Woman look sad, and she said, "My daughter, I
know not now what will befall us. You are married to Ga'ha', and he
will be the father of your children. There will be two boys." In due
season the voices of two boys were heard speaking, eia'da'gon', and
the words of one were kind and he gave no trouble, but the words
of the other were harsh and he desired to kill his mother. His skin
was covered with warts and boils and he was inclined to cause great
pain. When the two boys were born, Elder One made his mother
happy but when Warty One was born he pierced her through the
arm pit and stood upon her dead body. We use this name for
convenience only.
 SE.YfrCA MYTHS AXD LEGEXDS So did the mother perish,
and because of this the Sky Woman wept. The boys required Uttle
care but instantly became able to care for themselves. After the
mother's body had been arranged for burial, the Sky Woman saw
the Elder One whom she called Good Mind, approach, and he said.
"Grandmother, I wish to help you prepare the grave."' So he helped
his grandmother who continually wept, and deposited the body of
his mother in a grave. Thereupon did the grandmother speak to her
daughter : "Oh. my daughter." she said. "You have departed and
made the first path to the world from which I came bringing your
life. When you reach that homeland make ready to receive many
beings from this place below, for I think the path will be trodden by
many." Good Mind watched at the grave of his mother and watered
the earth above it until the grass grew. He continued to watch until
he saw strange buds coming out of the ground. Where the feet were
the earth sprouted with a plant that became the stringed-potato,
(onennoE"da'oI!'wet) where her fingers lay sprang the beans, where
her abdomen lay sprang the squash, where her breasts lay sprang
the corn plant, and from the spot above her forehead sprang the
tobacco plant. Xow the warty- one was named Evil Mind, and he
neglected his mother's grave and spent his time tearing up the land
and seeking to do evil. When the grandmother saw the plants
springing from the grave of her daughter and cared for by Good
Mind she was thankful and said, "By these things we shall hereafter
live, and they shall be cooked in pots with fire, and the corn shall be
your milk and sustain you. You shall make the corn grow in hills like
breasts, for from the corn shall flow our living." Then the
Grandmother, the Sky Woman, took Good Mind about the island and
instructed him how to produce
 HOtV THE WORLD BEG AX plants and trees. So he spoke to
the earth and said, "Let a willow here come forth," and it came. In a
like manner he made the oak, the chestnut, the beech, the hemlock,
the spruce, the pine, the maple, the button-ball, the tulip, the elm
and many other trees that should become useful. With a jealous
stomach the Evil Mind followed behind and sought to destroy the
good things but could not, so he spoke to the earth and said :
"Briars come forth," and they came forth. Likewise he created
poisonous plants and thorns upon bushes. L'pon a certain occasion
Good Mind made inquiries of his Grandmother, asking where his
father dwelt. Then did the Sky W oman say : "You shall now seek
your father. He lives to the uttermost east and you shall go to the far
eastern end of the island and go over the water until you behold a
mountain rising from the sea. You shall walk up the mountain and
there you will find your father seated upon the top." Good Mind
made the pilgrimage and came to the mountain. At the foot of the
mountain he looked upward and called. "My father, where art thou?"
And a great voice sounded the word : "A son of mine shall cast the
cliff from the mountain's edge to the summit of this peak." Good
Mind grasped the cliff and with a mighty- effort flung it to the
mountain top. Again he cried. "My father, where art thou?" The
answer came, "A son of mine shall swim the cataract from the pool
below to the top." Good Mind leaped into the falls and swam upward
to the top where the water poured over. He stood there and cried
again, "My father, where art thou?" The voice answered, "A son of
mine shall wrestle with the wind." So, there at the edge of a
terrifying precipice Good Mind grappled with Wind and the two
wrestled, each endeavoring to throw the other over. It was a terrible
battle and Wind tore great rocks from the mountain side and lashed
the water below, but Good Mind overcame Wind, and he departed
moaning in
 66 SENECA MYTHS AND LEGENDS defeat. Once more Good
Mind called, "My father, where art thou ?" In awesome tones the
voice replied, "A son of mine shall endure the flame," and
immediately a flame sprang out of the mountain side and enveloped
Good Mind. It Winded him and tortured him with its cruel heat, but
he threw aside its entwining arms and ran to the mountain top
where he beheld a being sitting in the midst of a blaze of light. "I am
thy father," said the voice. "Thou art my son." "I have come to
receive power," said the son. "I wish to rule all things on the earth."
"You have power," answered the father. "You have conquered. I give
to you the bags of life, the containers of living creatures that will
bless the earth." Thus did the father and son counsel together and
the son learned many things that he should do. He learned how to
avoid the attractive path that descended to the place of the cave
where Hanishe'ono11' dwells. Now the father said, "How did you
come to find me, seeing I am secluded by many elements?" The
Good Mind answered, "When I was about to start my journey Sky
Wom'an, my grandmother, gave me a flute and I blew upon it,
making music. Now, when the music ceased the flute spoke to me,
saying, 'This way shalt thou go,' and I continued to make music and
the voice of the flute spoke to me." Then did the father say, "Make
music by the flute and listen, then shalt thou continue to know the
right direction." In course of time Good Mind went down the
mountain and he waded the sea, taking with him the bags with
which he had been presented. As he drew near the shore he became
curious to know what was within, and he pinched one bag hoping to
feel its contents. He felt a movement inside which increased until it
became violent. The bag began to roll about on his back until he
could scarcely hold it and a portion of the mouth of the bag slipped
from his hand.
 HOW THE WORLD BEGAN 67 Immediately the things inside
began to jump out and fall into the water with a great splash, and
they were water animals of different kinds. The other bag began to
roll around on his back but he held on tightly until he could do so no
more, when a portion of the mouth slipped and out flew many kinds
of birds, some flying seaward and others inland toward the trees.
Then as before the third bag began to roll about but he held on very
tight, but it slipped and fell into the water and many kinds of
swimming creatures rushed forth, fishes, crabs and eels. The fourth
bag then began to roll about, but he held on until he reached the
land when he threw it down, and out rushed all the good land
animals, of kinds he did not know. From the bird bag had come good
insects, and from the fish bag had also come little turtles and clams.
When Good Mind came to his grandmother beneath the tree she
asked what he had brought, for she heard music in the trees and
saw creatures scampering about. Thereupon Good Mind related
what had happened, and Sky Woman said, "We must now call all the
animals and discover their names, and moreover we must so treat
them that they will have fat." So then she spoke, "Cavity be in the
ground and be filled with oil." The pool of oil came, for Sky Woman
had the power of creating what she desired. Good Mind then caught
the animals one by one and brought them to his grandmother. She
took a large furry animal and cast it into the pool and it swam very
slowly across, licking up much oil. "This animal shall hereafter be
known as niagwaih, (bear) and you shall be very fat." Next came
another animal with much fur and it swam across and licked up the
oil, and it was named degiia"gon, (buffalo). So in turn were named
the elk, the moose, the badger, the woodchuck, and the raccoon,
and all received much fat. Then came the beaver (nangannia'gon') ,
the porcupine and the skunk. Now Good Mind wished the
 68 SENECA MYTHS AND LEGENDS deer to enter but it was
shy and bounded away, whereupon he took a small arrow and
pierced its front leg, his aim being good. Then the deer came and
swam across the pool and oil entered the wound and healed it. This
oil of the deer's leg is a medicine for wounds to this day and if the
eyes are anointed with it one may shoot straight. Again other
animals came and one by one they were named weasel, mink, otter,
fisher, panther, lynx, wild cat, fox, wolf, big wolf, squirrel, chipmunk,
mole, and many others. And many animals that were not desired
plunged into the pool of oil, and these Good Mind seized as they
came out and he stripped them of their fat and pulled out their
bodies long. So he did to the otter, fisher, weasel and mink. So he
did to the panther, wolf, big wolf, and fox, the lynx and the wildcat.
Of these the fat to this day is not good tasting. But after a time Evil
Mind secured a bag of creatures from the road to the Cave and
unloosed it, and evil things crawled into the pool and grew fat. So
did the rattlesnake and great bugs and loathly worms. Thus did Evil
Mind secure many evil monsters and insects, and he enticed good
animals into his traps and perverted them and gave them appetites
for men-beings. He was delighted to see how fierce he could make
the animals, and set them to quarreling. He roamed about visiting
the streams of pure water made by Good Mind and filling them with
mud and slime, and he kicked rocks in the rivers and creeks to make
passage difficult, and he planted nettles and thorns in the paths.
Thus did he do to cause annoyance. Now Good Mind sat with his
grandmother beneath the tree of light and he spoke to her of the
world and how he might improve it. "Alas," said she, "I believe that
only one more task awaits me and then I shall go upon my path and
follow your mother back to the world beyond the sky.
 HOW THE WORLD BEGAN 69 It remains for me to call into
being certain lights in the blackness above where Heavy Night
presides." So saying she threw the contents of a bag into the sky
and it quickly became sprinkled with stars. And thus there came into
being constellations (haditgwa"da') , and of these we see the bear
chase, the dancing brothers, the seated woman, the beaver skin, the
belt, and many others. Now it seems that Good Mind knew that
there should be a luminous orb and, so it is said, he took his
mother's face and flung it skyward and made the sun, and took his
mother's breast and flinging it into the sky made the moon. So it is
said, but there are other accounts of the creation of these lights. It
is said that the first beings made them by going into the sky. Shortly
after the creation of the stars (gadji"son"da') , the grandmother said
unto Good Mind, "I believe that the time has come when I should
depart, for nearly all is finished here. There is a road from my feet
and I have a song which I shall sing by which I shall know the path.
There is one more matter that troubles me for I see that your
brother is jealous and will seek to kill you. Use great care that you
overcome him and when you have done so confine him in the cave
and send with him the evil spirit beasts, lest they injure men." When
morning came the Sky Woman had departed and her journey was
toward the sky world. Good Mind felt lonely and believed that his
own mission was about at end. He had been in conflict with his
brother, Evil Mind, and had sought, moreover, to overcome and to
teach the Whirlwind and Wind, and the Fire Beast. Soon Evil Mind
came proposing a hunting trip and Good Mind went with him on the
journey. When they had gone a certain distance the Evil Mind said,
"My elder brother, I perceive that you are about to call forth men-
beings who shall live on the island that we here have inhabited. I
propose to afflict them with disease and to make life difficult,
 70 SENECA MYTHS AND LEGENDS for this is not their world
but mine, and I shall do as I please to spoil it." Then did Good Mind
answer and say, "Verily, I am about to make man-beings who shall
live here when I depart, for I am going to follow the road skyward
made first by my mother." "This is good news," answered Evil Mind.
"I propose that you then reveal unto me the word that has power
over your life, that I may possess it and have power when you are
gone." Good Mind now saw that his brother wished to destroy him,
and so he said, "It may happen that you will employ the cat-tail flag,
whose sharp leaves will pierce me." Good Mind then lay down and
slumbered, but soon was awakened by Evil Mind who was lashing
him with cat-tail flags, and yelling loudly, "Thou shalt die." Good
Mind arose and asked his brother what he meant by lashing him and
he answered, "I was seeking to awaken you from a dream, for you
were speaking." So, soon again the brother, Evil Mind, asked, "My
brother, I wish to know the word that has power over you." And
Good Mind perceiving his intention answered, "It may be that deer-
horns will have power over me ; they are sharp and hard." Soon
Good Mind slept again and was awakened by Evil Mind beating him
with deer-horns, seeking to destroy him. They rushed inland to the
foot of the tree and fought each other about it. Evil Mind was very
fierce and rushed at his brother thrusting the horns at him and
trying to pierce his chest, his face or tear his abdomen. Finally, Good
Mind disarmed him, saying, "Look what you have done to the tree
where Ancient One was wont to care for us, and whose branches
have supplied us with food. See how you have torn this tree and
stripped it of its valuable products. This tree was designed to
support the life of men-beings and now you have injured it. I must
banish you to the region
 HOW THE WORLD BEGAN 71 of the great cave and you
shall have the name of Destroyer." So saying he used his good
power to overcome Evil Mind's otgont (evil power) and thrust him
into the mouth of the cave, and with him all manner of enchanted
beasts. There he placed the white buffalo, the poison beaver, the
poison otter, snakes and many bewitched things that were otgont.
So there to this day abides Evil Mind seeking to emerge, and his
voice is heard giving orders. Then Good Mind went back to the tree
and soon saw a being walking about. He walked over to the place
where the being was pacing to and fro. He saw that it was
S'hagodiiwen"gowa, who was a giant with a grotesque face. "I am
master of the earth," roared this being (called also Great Defender),
for he was the whirlwind. "If you are master," said Good Mind,
"prove your power." Defender said, "What shall be our test?" "Let
this be the test," said Good Mind, "that the mountain yonder shall
approach us at your bidding." So Defender spoke saying, "Mountain,
come hither." And they turned their backs that they might not see it
coming until it stood at their backs. Soon they turned about again
and the mountain had not moved. "So now, I shall command," said
Good Mind, and he spoke saying, "Mountain, come hither," and they
turned their backs. There was a rushing of air and Defender turned
to see what was behind him and fell against the onrushing
mountain, and it bent his nose and twisted his mouth, and from this
he never recovered. Then did Defender say, "I do now acknowledge
you to be master. Command me and I will obey." "Since you love to
wander," said Good Mind, "it shall be your duty to move about over
the earth and stir up things. You shall abandon your evil intentions
and seek to overcome your otgont nature, changing it to be of
benefit to man-beings, whom I am about to create."
 72 SENECA MYTHS AND LEGENDS "Then," said Defender,
"shall man-beings offer incense tobacco to me and make a song that
is pleasing to me, and they shall carve my likeness from the
substance of trees, and my orenda will enter the likeness of my face
and it shall be a help to men-beings and they shall use the face as I
shall direct. Then shall all the diseases that I may cause depart and I
shall be satisfied." Again Good Mind wandered, being melancholy.
Looking up he saw another being approaching. "I am Thunder," said
the being. "What can you do to be a help to me?" asked Good Mind.
"I can wash the earth and make drink for the trees and grass," said
Thunder. "What can you do to be a benefit to the men-beings I am
about to create ?" asked Good Mind. "I shall slay evil monsters when
they escape from the under-world," said Thunder. "I shall have
scouts who will notify me and I shall shoot all otgont beings." Then
was Good Mind satisfied, and he pulled up a tree and saw the water
fill the cavity where the roots had been. Long he gazed into the
water until he saw a reflection of his own image. "Like unto that will
I make men-beings," he thought. So then he took clay and molded it
into small images of men and women. These he placed on the
ground and when they were dry he spoke to them and they sprang
up and lived. When he saw them he said unto them, "All this world I
give unto you. It is from me that you shall say you are descended
and you are the children of the first-born of earth, and you shall say
that you are the flesh of Iagen"tci, she the Ancient Bodied One.
When he had acquainted them with the other first beings, and
shown them how to hunt and fish and to eat of the fruits of the
land, he told them that they should seek to live
 HOW THE WORLD BEGAN 73 together as friends and
brothers and that they should treat each other well. He told them
how to give incense of tobacco, for Awen'ha'i', Ancient Bodied One,
had stripped the heaven world of tobacco when she fell, and thus its
incense should be a pleasing one into which men-beings might
speak their words when addressing him hereafter. These and many
other things did he tell them. Soon he vanished from the sight of
created men beings, and he took all the first beings with him upon
the sky road. Soon men-beings began to increase and they covered
the earth, and from them we are descended. Many things have
happened since those days, so much that all can never be told.
 2. THE BROTHERS WHO CLIMBED TO THE SKY. There were
once three brothers who had spent their lives as hunters. At last one
growing tired of the chase suggested that, as a break in the
monotony of existence, they would walk to the end of the earth
where the sky touched the water of the great seas. This proposition
met with favor with all and together they set out on their long
journey. Many years of adventure were spent, when at last they
reached the spot where the sky bends down to earth (
gaenhyakdondye ) . For two changes of the moon they camped near
this spot and watched the mysterious things that happened about
the blue dome's rim. Each day it rose high from the earth and fell
back upon the sea. When it rose the water would recede and when
it fell the water would rise high on the shore. Finally two brothers
desired to run upon the sand beneath the rim of the bowl but the
third brother hung back and was afraid, but seeing the others afar
off he ran beneath the rim and hastened to overtake them but just
as the two stepped out from the farther side of the blue wall it came
down and the third was crushed ; but his spirit sped forward like the
wind on its journey. The two mourned the loss of their brother in
this summary way but continued their adventure. Now on the other
side of the sky all things seemed turned around. Before them was a
high rounded hill and when they ascended it they found a large
village in the distance. A man came running toward them. It was
their brother. "How came you here, brother?" they asked. "We did
not see you pass us," but all the other brother would say was,
"Never hesitate, never delay !" and passed on. They saw an old man
approaching. His youthful vigor and strong, well-proportioned body
surprised them. No 74
 THE SKY CLIMBERS 75 earthly symptoms of old age had
he. His white hair alone betokened that. Coming near he greeted
them. "I am the Father of All," he said, "and my son is
T'hahon'hiawa"kon, the Great Spirit. He is the ruler of all below. Now
let me advise you. When you see him call him quickly and say
'Nya'we"skano' ' ! If you fail to speak first he will say, 'you are mine,'
and you will no more be men but spirits as your brother is." The
brothers went their way and came to a high white lodge. As they
walked up the path a tall handsome man stepped out.
"Nyawe"skano' !" shouted the brothers in chorus. "DogeDs !"
responded the being. "Come in. I have been watching you a long
time." The brothers entered the lodge. "How are your bodies, men
?" asked the being. "Good indeed !" replied the brothers. "Untrue,"
said the great being. "I am the Master of Life and know! One of you
must lie down and I will purify him first, and then the other." One
brother placed himself upon the ground. Master of Life took a small
shell, placed it to his lips, tapped him upon the neck, and then
carefully sealed the shell with a lump of clay. He now began to skin
the prostrate man. He stripped every muscle from its fastenings,
took out the organs, and separated the bones. He cleansed each
fibre from corruption and disease with a fluid from his mouth and
then put the man together again. The same process was repeated
with the second brother. Then, placing the shells upon their mouths,
he loosened the clay and tapped the necks of the men. Sitting up
they said, "It seems as if we have slept." Every power of your bodies
is renewed," said the Master of Life. "How would you like to test
your skill now?" And, leading the way, he entered a beautiful forest
sur 
 76 SENECA MYTHS AND LEGENDS rounded by a hedge.
The borders of the grove were lined with beds of vegetables and
flowers. "Come into the inner part of my garden," said the Master of
Life, "and see my droves of deer." A stalwart buck with proud
branching antlers came bounding toward them. "He is the swiftest of
all my runners," said the Master of Life. "Try to catch him." The men
followed after and easily overtook the fleeing deer. "He has given us
good speed," said the brothers, nor was this the only power. For
long they tried their skill in every way and found it equal to any task
that creatures could perform. Returning to the great white lodge the
brothers saw a messenger of wondrous swiftness come speeding
toward them. Upon his wide expanded chest was suspended a
brilliant ball of light. In some unknown tongue he shouted as he
dashed by on his journey. "Do you understand his words, or do you
even know him ?" asked the Master. "He is Sun, my messenger,
Ho'sen'age"dag6wa. Each day he brings me news. Nothing from east
to west escapes his eyes. He has just told me of a war raging even
now between your people and another nation, so come, let us look
down upon the earth." Going to a high hill the men looked down
through a hole in the sky and saw the struggling bands of men, saw
the flaming lodges, and even the cries of anguish and rage. "Such
things men will ever do," said the Master of Life as he led them
away. The brothers lived long in the upper world and learned much
that their tongues never could tell. They saw untennanted villages
awaiting the coming of tribes yet to be born and saw their own
lodges where they should be when they came again as spirits. Many
good things the great Master of Life told them, and our preachers
proclaim them now.
 THE SKY CLIMBERS 77 At last the Master told them they
must depart, and, guided by two messengers, they descended to the
earth by night and slept on the ground. In the morning they
discovered that their native village was overgrown with trees, and
following a path through the woods came to another settlement. In
a council they told their story and no one knew them except a sister,
aged and on the verge of the grave. "The war of which you speak,"
said they, "took place fifty years ago." The men did not love earth
now but longed for their lodges in the sky world. They were men of
wonderful physical power and neither pestilence nor enchantments
could kill them but two fiery shafts of the sky did. They then
journeyed back to the great white lodge, but this time could not
return.1 i This was because the Creator had first spoken. To have
resisted death by the hand of a mysterious power one must salute it
with its own greeting.
 3. THE DEATH PANTHER.1 Now the old folk say this is true.
Two boys were fast friends and always were seen together. Their
favorite sport was to play in the waters of a deep lake that washed
the feet of a tall white-headed mountain that lay a distance from the
village. One day as they splashed in the water, swimming, diving,
and sporting as boys do, one suggested that they both dive at the
same instant and see which could remain below the surface the
longer. This suggestion was at once acted upon and each time they
dove they remained below a greater time. In the course of the game
one of the boys, Oohoosha, by name, discovered a flat projecting
rock to which he could cling. As he lay holding fast to the rock after
a dive he saw a hazy indistinct object approaching him and when it
neared him he saw that it was a tall warrior whose smooth glistening
body was the color of the sky or the color of clear water when the
clouds pass over. "Come with me," said the man, in a friendly
manner and although he had never heard this language before,
Oohoosha strangely understood it now. So, marveling, he followed.
The dark green water began to clear and in the distance, he thought
he saw a number of boys playing ball. The guide led Oohoosha into
a large moss-covered council hall where a stout preacher, with a
yellow and pink face, swaying body and large round eyes was
declaiming to the people. "God created all good things and made
men as well as fish !" he shouted, as the bubbles floated up from his
mouth. "The earth people are his children as well as we, so why
should not we who know and foreknow many things, notify them
that trouble is coming and warn them to avoid it ?" i Related by
Edward Cornplanter, Jan., 1905, at Newtown, Cattaraugus
reservation. 78
 THE FIRE BEAST 79 "I will go," said the boy's friend, as he
pulled his cap. "It is my office." The preacher rolled his eyes and
looked at the speaker, with a shudder and then called out,
"Gaa'siondie't'ha' has promised to go. May he succeed !" The
preacher sat down and the dances began, and long and solemnly
the people danced. After these ceremonies the boy's friend told him
that he must go up to the earth-world and warn men of disaster. He
took him to his lodge and bade him care for it during his absence.
He was to have free access to everything save the back room of the
lodge which he must shun. With a few general instructions he
departed, leaving Oohoosha to care for his interests. For four moons
the boy kept watch, over the lodge and dwelt there but no one came
near him, and when at last the friend returned Oohoosha asked how
he had fared. "Ah !" sighed the man, "do not ask me. You must not
stay here longer, for in my madness you may see me as I am. I am
the messenger of death. He is Sondowekowa, I am Gahachendietoh.
I am in disguise but should you see me you would soon die, so
depart and preach what I whisper that henceforth mankind may
profit." With trembling limbs and blanched face the boy listened to
the whispered words of his friend and when he had learned all, he
shot upward to the surface of the lake. Striking out he swam to the
shore and searching beneath a rock shelter he found his clothing as
fresh as when he had doffed them. Dressing, he set out to find his
comrade. He came to the village but found on its site only charred
and blackened frames. A deep-trodden trail bordered with the bones
of dogs and fragments of kettles led away to the west, and following
it Oohoosha saw a new village, but only a few houses were there.
The people who moved like ghosts silently about were gaunt and
scarred. Suddenly a lodge door opened and out rushed his old
comrade, who seeing Oohoosha, drew back with a cry of
 80 SENECA MYTHS AND LEGENDS fear and surprise ; but
Oohosha calling, he came forward timidly and took his hand. Looking
at him doubtfully he spoke. "Oh, Oohoosha !" he cried. "How came
you back from death ! I thought you drowned four moons ago when
we dived in the lake." "While I clung to a rock," answered
Oohoosha," a man came to me and said 'follow!' I did not drown but
lived this while in the under-water world. Now, tell me, why is the
village so altered and why do the people stalk silently about, with
dull eyes?" "Ah me !" said the comrade. "A devastating war has been
waged and we are reduced in number ; a terrible famine has swept
away the game and crops ; a pestilence carried away all but a
handful of our people, then to add to our trouble a marauding band
came and burned our village while we slept." "And did no warning
sign appear?" asked Oohoosha. "Yes, but we knew it not as such
until it was long too late and then we noticed a blue panther floating
high in the trees. He had no visible face but from his tail shot flames
of fire."2 "That creature," exclaimed Oohoosha, "is the herald of
disaster. His name is Gaa'siohdie't'ha' and when he is seen all men
must burn tobacco. Tobacco incense is the sign that disaster is not
wanted and when he has breathed it he will go away satisfied with
the offering and turn aside the impending evil. But come, I must call
a council and tell the people." 2 A comet or shooting star is
considered a sign of the death pan ther.
 4. THE GREAT BEAR CONSTELLATION. In the days of the
first people, before the creation of our kind of man-beings, there
were seven brothers. All were hunters, but one was not as skillful as
the others, and he was called the Lazy One. The brothers on a
certain occasion had failed to find any game though they had hunted
many moons. They became very hungry and their minds were
charged with magic because of their long fast. When their hunger
semed unendurable they resolved to go out and make one last effort
to find game. One brother was reluctant to go and clung to his bed,
but the others wrestled with him and forced him to go with them,
but he assumed to be so weak that they had to make a burden litter
upon which they carried him. Four brothers carried this burden, one
went before with a torch and one behind with a kettle, hoping for
food. When they had gone a long way in this manner the leading
brother said : "By aid of my torch I see the tracks of a large bear. I
believe that we shall soon overtake him." When he had said this the
lazy brother in the litter said, "I am very weak and you must bathe
me with your salivary fluid."1 They paused to do this though the
brothers did not like to delay their hunt. After a time the bear tracks
appeared to be fresh before them and all five brothers made ready
for the hunt. The rear brother commenced to gather firewood for the
feast. Thus they traveled for three days more until the bear
appeared just ahead. 'We must now abandon you, brother," said the
litter-bearers, for we are weak and all of us shall have to assist in
killing him before he overpowers us. Now, we shall leave you here
alone and we hope you may recover." i In this manner he hoped to
absorb the power or strength of his brothers. 81
 82 SENECA MYTHS AND LEGENDS When the lazy brother
found himself abandoned he leaped up and ran ahead. Being full of
power from the bath he had received and from his rest, he quickly
engaged the bear and killed it with an axe. When his brothers came
up he had skinned the bear and had cut off some meat. Soon the
brother who bore the torch made a fire and the brother with the
kettle had placed the meat therein. When all were satisfied they
looked about them and discovered that they were far up in the air
and that the earth was a good ways below them. They looked down
and saw that the blood and oil from the bear had stained the leaves
of the trees and made them red, orange and yellow. This is how the
autumn leaves became colored. After a time they went on their
journey and soon found that the bear had revived, though they had
killed and eaten him. So they again pursued him, being hungry, and
when they killed him it was autumn again. This bear chase keeps up
all the time, — year after year, and has been so since the first people
came. If you will look into the sky where the bear-chase cluster is
seen to the north, you will find the man with the torch at the end of
the group (big dipper or great bear constellation), and will see the
man with the pot in the middle of the handle. It seems also that
there is a cave in which the bear hides and out of which he comes at
the time the brothers are very hungry. Then he is pursued until killed
by the brother who has saved his strength. This keeps on forever. So
we call those stars Nia'gwai' hades'he' (Bear they pursuing are).
 THE SEVEN DANCING BROTHERS. From a painting by
Richard J. Tucker.
 5. THE SEVEN BROTHERS OF THE STAR CLUSTER.1 Seven
brothers2 had been trained as young warriors, each day they
practised in front of their mother's lodge, but this did not please the
mother. With the boys was an uncle whose custom it was to sit
outside the lodge door and drum upon a water drum, that the boys
might learn to dance correctly. In time the boys became perfect in
their dancing, and then announced that they were about to depart
on an expedition to test their skill. The seven assembled about the
war post and began their dance. They then went into their mother's
lodge and asked her to supply them with dried meat and parched
corn for their journey but she sent them away, scoffing at their
presumptions. Again they danced and again returned for food. "I will
not give you so much as a small cake of corn bread," said the
mother hoping to restrain them. But they went back to their dance.
A third time they returned but again were repulsed. The fourth
dance started and the oldest youth changed his tune to the song of
Djihaya. With great enthusiasm he sang compelling his brothers to
dance a dance of magic. Hearing the wierd music the mother rushed
out of the lodge and saw her sons dancing in the air over the trees.
This greatly startled her and she cried, "Return, my sons ! What
manner of departure is this?" But the song continued and the boys
danced higher and higher. Again the mother cried, "Oh, my eldest
son, will you not return?" But the eldest son would not listen, though
his heart was touched. Then the mother screamed, "Oh my eldest
son, will you not hear your mother's voice ? Only look down to me !"
Then was the oldest son's heart touched 1 Related by Edward
Cornplanter. 2 Cf. Barbeau, Origin of Seven Stars, Huron Mythology,
p. 59. 83
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