A Mohawk Version of Creation

[Okwes]

A Mohawk Version of Creation
Posted by: "[e-mail]" [e-mail] ghwelker
Thu Jul 6, 2006 6:16 am (PST)
A Mohawk Version of Creation

In the regions above there dwelt man-beings who knew not what it is to see
one weep, nor what it is for one to die; sorrow and death were thus unknown
to them. And the lodges belonging to them, to each of the ohwachiras
[families], were large, and very long, because each ohwachira usually abode
in a single lodge.

And so it was that within the circumference of the village there was one
lodge which claimed two persons, a male man-being and a female man-being.
Moreover, these two man-beings were related to each other as brother and
sister; and they two were dehnino'taton [down-fended].

In the morning, after eating their first meal, it was customary for the
people to go forth to their several duties.

All the lodges belonging to the inhabitants of this place faced the rising
and extended toward the setting sun. Now then, as to the place where these
two down-fended persons abode, on the south side of the lodge there was an
added room wherein dwelt the woman-being; but the man-being lived in an
added room on the north side of the lodge.

Then in the morning, when all had gone forth, the woman-being habitually
availed herself of this opportunity to pass through her doorway, then to
cross the large room, and, on the opposite side of it, to enter the place
wherein abode the man-being. There habitually she dressed his hair, and when
she had finished doing this, it was her custom to come forth and cross over
to the other side of the lodge where was her own abiding place. So then, in
this manner it was that she daily devoted her attention to him, dressing and
arranging his hair.

Then, after a time, it came to pass that she to whom this female person
belonged perceived that, indeed, it would seem that she was in delicate
health; that one would indeed think that she was about to give birth to a
child. So then, after a time, they questioned her, saving: "To whom of the
man-beings living within the borders of the village art thou about to have a
child?" But she, the girl child, did not answer a single word. Thus, then,
it was at other times; they questioned her repeatedly, but she said nothing
in answer to their queries.

At last the day of her confinement came, and she gave birth to a child, and
the child was a girl, but she persisted in refusing to tell who was its
father.

But in the time preceding the birth of the girl child this selfsame
man-being at times heard his kinsfolk in conversation say that his sister
was about to give birth to a child. Now the man-being spent his time in
meditating on this event, and after awhile he began to be ill. And,
moreover, when the moment of his death had arrived, his mother sat beside
his bed, gazing at him in his illness. She knew not what it was; moreover,
never before had she seen anyone ill, because, in truth, no one had ever
died in the place where these man-beings lived. So then, when his breathing
had nearly ended, he then told his mother, saying to her: "Now, very soon
shall I die." To that, also, his mother replied, saying: "What thing is
that, the thing that thou sayest? What is about to happen?" When he
answered, he said: "My breathing will cease; besides that, my flesh will
become cold, and then, also, the joints of my bones will become stiff, And
when I cease breathing thou must close my eyes, using thy hands. At that
time thou wilt weep, even as it itself will move thee [that is, thou wilt
instinctively weep]. Besides that, the others, severally, who are in the
lodge and who have their eyes fixed on me when I die, all these, I say, will
be affected in the same manner. Ye will weep and your minds will be
grieved." Notwithstanding this explanation, his mother did not understand
anything he had said to her. And now, besides this, he told her still
something more. He said: "When I am dead ye will make a burial-case. Ye will
use your best skill, and ye will dress and adorn my body. Then ye will place
my body in the burial-case, and then ye will close it up, and in the added
room toward the rising sun, on the inside of the lodge, ye will prepare well
a place for it and place it up high."

So then, verily, when he had actually ceased breathing, his mother closed
his eyes, using her hands to do this. Just as soon as this was accomplished,
she wept; and also those others, including all those who were onlookers,
were affected in just the same manner; they all wept, notwithstanding that
never before this time had they known anyone, to die or to weep.

Now then, indeed, they made him a burial-case, then there, high up in the
added room in the lodge, they prepared a place with care, and thereon they
put the burial-case.

And the girl child lived in the very best of health, and, besides that, she
grew in size very rapidly. Moreover, she had now reached that size and age
when she could run hither and thither, playing about habitually. Besides
this she could now talk.

Suddenly those in the lodge were greatly surprised that the child began to
weep. For never before had it so happened to those who had children that
these would be in the habit of weeping. So then her mother petted her,
endeavoring to divert her mind, doing many things for this purpose;
nevertheless she failed to quiet her. Other persons tried to soothe her by
petting her, but none of their efforts succeeded in quieting her. After a
while the mother of the child said: "Ye might try to quiet her by showing
her that burial-case that lies up high, yonder, wherein the body of the dead
man-being lies." So then they took the child up there and uncovered the
burial-case. Now of course, she looked upon the dead man-being, and she
immediately ceased from weeping. After a long time they brought her down
there from, for she no longer lamented. And, besides this, her mind was
again at ease.

It was so for a very long time. Then she began to weep again, and so, this
time, her mother, as soon as possible, took her child up to where the dead
man-being lay, and the child immediately ceased her lamenting. Again it was
along time before one took her down there from. Now again she went
tranquilly about from place to place playing joyfully.

So then they made a ladder, and they erected the ladder so that whenever she
should desire to see the dead man-being, it would then be possible for her
to climb up to him by herself. Then, when she again desired to see the dead
person, she climbed up there, though she did so by herself.

So then, in this way matters progressed while she was growing to maturity.
Whenever she desired to see the one who had died, she would habitually climb
up to him.

In addition to these things, it was usual, when she sat on the place where
the burial-case lay, that those who abode in the lodge heard her conversing,
just as though she were replying to all that he said; besides this, at times
she would laugh.

But, when the time of her maturity had come, when this child had grown up,
and she had again come down, as was her habit, from the place where the dead
man-being lay, she said: "Mother, my father said"--when she said "my
father," it then became certain who was her father--"'Now thou shalt be
married. Far away toward the sun rising there he lives, and he it is who is
the chief of the people that dwell there, and he it is that there, in that
place, will be married to thee.' And now, besides this, he said: 'Thou shalt
tell thy mother that she shall fill one burden basket with bread of sodden
corn, putting forth her best skill in making it, and that she shall mix
berries with the bread, which thou wilt bear with the forehead strap on thy
back, when thou goest to the place where he dwells to whom thou shalt be
married."'

Then it was that her mother made bread of corn softened by boiling, and she
mixed berries with the corn bread. So then, when it was cooked, she placed
it in a burden basket, and it filled it very full.

It was then, at this time, that the young woman-being said: "I believe I
will go and tell it to my father." It was then that she again climbed up to
the place where the dead man-being lay. Then those who were in the lodge
heard her say: "Father, my mother has finished the bread." But that he made
any reply to this, no one heard. So then it was in this manner that she
conversed there with her dead father. Sometimes she would say: "So be it; I
will." At other times she would laugh. So after a while she came down and
said: "My father said: 'To-morrow very early in the morning thou shalt
start.'"

So then, when the next day came, and also when they had finished eating
their morning meal, the young woman-being at this time said: "Now I believe
I will start; but I will also tell my father, I believe." At this time she
now went thither where stood the ladder, and, climbing up to the place
whereon lay the burial-case of the dead man-being, she said: "Father, I
shall now start on my journey." So then again it was from what she herself
said that it was learned that he was her father.

It was at this time that he told her all that would befall her on her
journey to her destination, and, moreover, what would happen after her
arrival. So then, after she again came down, her mother took up for her the
burden basket which was full of bread, and placed it on the back of the
young woman-being, to be borne by means of the forehead strap, and then the
young woman-being went forth from the lodge and started on her journey, the
path extending away toward the sun rising; and thither did she wend her way.

So it was surprising to her what a short distance the sun had raised itself
when she arrived at the place where her father had told her there was a
river, where a floating log served as a crossing, and at which place it was
the custom for wayfarers to remain over night, as it was just one day's
journey away. So the young woman-being now concluded, therefore, that she
had lost her way, thinking that she had taken a wrong path. She then
retraced her steps. Only a very short distance again had the sun gone when
she returned to the place whence she had started, and she said: "I do not
know but that I have lost my way. So I will question my father about it
again." She thereupon climbed up again to the place where her father lay in
the burial-case. Those who were in. the house heard her say: "Father, I came
back thinking that, perhaps, I had lost my way, for the reason that I
arrived so quickly at the point thou describedest to me as the place where I
should have to remain over night; for the sun had moved scarcely any
distance before I arrived where thou hadst told me there would be a river
which is crossed by means of a log. This, then, is the aspect of the place
whence I returned." At this time, then, he made answer to this, and she
alone heard the things that he said, and those other people who were in the
lodge did not hear what things he said. It is told that he replied, saying:
"Indeed, thou hadst not lost thy way." Now it is reported that he said:
"What kind of a log is it that is used in crossing there?" She answered, it
is said: "Maple is the kind of log that is used at the crossing, and the log
is supported by clumps of young saplings of basswood and ironwood,
respectively, on either side of the stream." He replied, it is said: "That
appears to be accurate, indeed, in fact, thou didst not lose thy way." At
this time, then, she descended and again started on her journey.

And again, it seems, the sun had moved only just a little before she again
arrived at the place whence she had returned. So she just kept on her
journey and crossed the river.

So, having gone only a short distance farther on her way, she heard a
man-being in the shrubbery say there from: "Ahem!" She of course paid no
attention to him, but kept on her way, since her father had told her what
would happen to her on the journey. Thus, in this manner, she did nothing
except hasten as she traveled on to her destination. Besides this, at times,
another man-being would say from out of the shrubbery: "Ahem!" But she kept
on her course, only hastening her pace as much as possible as she continued
her journey. But when she had arrived near the point where she should leave
the forest, she was surprised to see a man-being coming toward her on the
path, and he, when coming, at a distance began to talk, saving: "Stand thou,
for a short time. Rest thyself, for now thou must be wearied." But she acted
as though she had not heard what he said, for she only kept on walking. He
gave up hope, because she would not even stop, so all that he then did was
to mock her, saving: "Art thou not ashamed, since the man thou comest to
seek is so old?" But, nevertheless, she did not stop. She did not change her
course nor cease from moving onward, because her father had told her all
that would happen to her while she trudged on her journey; this, then, is
the reason that she did not stand. So then, after a while, she reached a
grassy clearing-a clearing that was very large--in the center of which there
lay a village, and the lodge of the chief of these people stood just in the
middle of that village. Thither, then, to that place she went. And when she
arrived at the place where stood his lodge, she kept right on and entered
it. In the center of the lodge the fire burned, and on both sides of the
fire were raised beds of mats. There the chief lay. She went on and placed
beside him her basket of bread, and she said: "We two marry." So he spoke in
reply saying: "Do thou sit on the other side of the fire." Thus, then, it
came to pass, that they two had the fire between them, and besides this they
uttered not a word together even until it became dark. Then, when the time
came, after dark, that people retire to sleep habitually, he made up his mat
bed. After finishing it he made her a mat bed at the foot of his. He then
said: "Thou shalt lie here." So thereupon she lay down there, and he also
lay down. They did not lie together; they only placed their feet together
[sole to sole].

And when morning dawned, they two then arose. And now he himself kindled a
fire, and when he had finished making the fire he then crossed the threshold
into another room: he then came out bearing an onora [string of ears] of
white corn. He said: "Do thou work. It is customary that one who is living
among the people of her spouse must work. Thou must make mush of hulled
corn." So she thereupon shelled the corn, and he himself went to bring
water. He also got a pot, a pot that belonged to him, and that was very
large. He poured the water into the pot and hung it over the fire.

And when she had finished shelling the corn, she hulled it, parboiling the
corn in the water. And when the corn was parboiled, she then poured the
grains into a mortar. She then got the pestle from where it stood, and
pounded the corn to meal. She brought the pestle down only once, and the
meal was finished. The chief marveled at this, for he had never seen one
make meal in so short a time. When she finished the meal, the water in the
pot which he had hung over the fire was boiling. She, thereupon, of course,
was about to put the meal into it, but he said: "Do thou remove thy
garments." So she then divested herself of her garments. She finished this
work, and then put the meal into the water. Now she stirred it, using a pot
stick for the purpose. But the man himself lay alongside on the mat bed,
having his eyes fixed upon her as she worked. So, of course, as the mush
continually spattered, drops of it fell continually in divers places on her,
all along her naked body. But she acted just as though she did not feel
this. When the mush was sufficiently cooked, her whole naked body was fully
bespattered with mush. At this moment he himself now removed the pot from
the fire, and then, moreover, he opened a door not far away and said: "My
slaves, do ye two come hither." Thereupon thence emerged two animals; they
were two large dogs. He said: "Do ye two wipe from along her naked body the
mush spots that have fallen on her." Thereupon his slaves, two individuals
in number, and besides of equal size, went thither to the place where she
was standing. Now, of course, they two licked her naked body many times in
many places. But, it is said, their two tongues were so sharp that it was
just as if one should draw a hot rod along over her naked body. It is said
that wherever they two licked the blood came at once. So it is said that
when they two had finished this work, she stood there bathed in blood. He
thereupon said: "Now, do thou dress thyself again." And she did redress
herself. But, it is said, he said to his two slaves: "Come, my slaves, do ye
two eat, for now the food that was made for you is cooked." So then the two
beasts ate. And when they two had finished eating, he said to them: "Now do
ye two reenter the other room." Thereupon they two reentered the other room,
and moreover he shut them up therein.

Then, it is reported, he said: "It is true, is it not, that thou desirest
that thou and I should marry? So, now, thou and I do marry."

So then the things that came to pass as they did during the time she was
there were all known to her beforehand, because her father had indeed
foretold all these things to her; hence she was able with fortitude to
suffer the burns without flinching, when the mush spattered on her while she
was cooking. If she had flinched when the drops of hot mush fell on her, he
would have said to her: "I do not believe that it is true that it is thy
wish that thou and I should marry." Besides this she bore with fortitude the
pain at the time when the two dogs licked the mush from her body. If she had
flinched to the point of refusing to finish her undertaking, it is also
certain that he would have said: "It is of course not true that thou
desirest that thou and I should marry."

And when his two beasts had finished eating, he then, it is said, showed her
just where his food lay. Thereupon she prepared it, and when she had
completed the preparation thereof, they two then ate the morning meal.

[Okwes]

A Mohawk Version of Creation (Part 2)


It is said that she passed three nights there, and they two did not once lie
together. Only this was done, it is reported: When they two lay down to
sleep, they two placed their feet together, both placing their heads in
opposite directions.

Then, it is said, on the third morning, he said: "Now thou shalt again go
thither to the place whence thou hast come. One basket of dried venison thou
shalt bear thither on thy back by means of the forehead strap. I will give
some meat to thy people. Moreover, the entire village of people with whom
thou dwellest in one place must all share alike in the division of the meat
when thou arrivest there."

Thereupon, it is told, he climbed up above and drew down quarters of meat
that had been dried. It is said that he piled it very high in the lodge
before he descended. He then put the meat into her burden basket until it
was full. Then, it is told, he took up the basket, and he shook the basket
to pack the meat close. It actually did settle so much, it is told, that
there was but a small quantity [apparently] in the basket. Now, he again
began to put meat into the basket. It was again filled. And he again shook
it to cause it to settle, and again it settled until it occupied but a very
small space in the basket. Thus he used all the meat thrown down, and yet
the basket was not full. Thrice, it is told, he drew down the quarters of
meat, and each time, it is said, did the meat nearly fill the lodge. Not
until then was the basket filled. So then, when the basket was full, it is
told, he said: "When thou arrivest there, thou and the inhabitants of the
place must assemble in council, and the meat shall be equally divided among
you. Moreover, thou must tell them that they severally must remove the
thatched roofs from their lodges when the evening darkness comes, and that
they must severally go out of them. And they must store all the corn [hail]
that will fall in the lodges, for, indeed, verily, it will rain corn [hail]
this very night when thou arrivest there. So now thou must bear on thy back
by means of the forehead strap this basket of dried venison." Thereupon he
took up the basket for her, and he said: "Thou must carefully adjust the
burden strap in the proper place, because it will then not be possible for
thee to move the burden strap to a new place, no matter how tired so ever
thou mayest become, until thou indeed arrivest there. Now, at that time thou
must remove thy burden." So then, when she had completed her preparations,
she adjusted the burden strap so that it passed over her forehead at the
fittest point. She then said: "Now I believe I have completed my
preparations, as well as chosen just where the burden strap shall pass."
Thereupon he released his hands from holding up the basket for her, and now,
moreover, she started on her journey homeward.

Now, moreover, the basket she carried on her back was not at all heavy. But
when she had gone perhaps one-half of the way back on her journey, the
burden began to be heavy in a small measure. Then, as she continued her
journey, it gradually became heavier. The instant she reached the inside of
the lodge, the burden strap became detached and the basket fell to the
ground, and the dried meat fell out of it. The meat filled the space within
the lodge, for did she not bring much meat on her back? For thrice, is it
not true, he had pulled down meat in his lodge when he was putting the meat
into her basket at the time when he was making up her burden? It was then
that she told them that they must remove the thatched roofs from their
lodges when it became evening.

Then she said: "He has sent you some meat. Now then, my kinsfolk, take up
this meat lying in the lodge." Then at that time her people took up the
dried meat, and so they all carried it away. She then said: "Ye must remove
the thatched roofs from the lodges that severally belong to you the first
time ye go to sleep, because my spouse has sent word that he will give you
some white corn [white grains] during the time that ye will again be asleep.
It will rain white grains while ye again are asleep." So, when it became
dark, it showered corn [hail] during the entire night, and so by this means
they had much grain [hail] when day dawned.

Then, in truth, they removed the roofs from their several lodges, and they
retired to sleep. So, when they awakened, in truth, then there was very much
corn [hail] lying in the lodges. The white corn [grain] lay above one's
knees in depth. Thus lay the white corn, for so long as they slept it
showered white corn [grain]. The reason that he gave her people corn was
because he had espoused one of their people.

After a suitable time she started back, going to the lodge of her spouse.
Verily she again made the journey in the same time that it took her the
first time she went thither. So then, when she arrived there, she of course
at that time related to him all that had happened to her during her journey
to and from home. Of course they two now abode together, for the reason, of
course, that they two were espoused.

After a time he then said: "I am ill." So then, his people marveled at what
he said, for the reason that they did not know what it was for one to be
ill. So, therefore, at the time when they comprehended what had occurred in
regard to him, they, of course, individually, as was customary, studied the
matter, and informed the man who was ill what to do. It would seem, one
would imagine, that his illness did not abate thereby, even though many
different persons made the attempt, and his recovery was yet an
unaccomplished task. So thus it stood; they continued to seek to divine his
Word. Then, therefore, when they failed to cure his illness, they questioned
him, saving: "How, then, perhaps, may we do that thou mayest recover from
thy illness?' Then he answered them, saying: "I am thinking that, perhaps, I
should recover from my illness if ye would uproot the tree standing in my
dooryard [on my shade], and if there beside the place from which ye uproot
the tree I should lay myself in a position recumbent."

So thereupon his people uprooted the tree that stood in his dooryard. This
tree belonged to the species wild cherry [dogwood; in Tuscarora,
Nakwe�nen'ie�thu�],
and was constantly adorned with blossoms that gave light to the people
dwelling there; for these flowers were white, and it was because of this
that the blossoms gave light, and, therefore, they were the light orb [sun]
of the people dwelling there.

So when they had uprooted the tree, he said to his spouse: "Do thou spread
for me something there beside the place where stood the tree." Thereupon
she, in fact, spread something for him there, and he then lay down on what
she had spread for him. And so, when he lay there, he said to his spouse:
"Here sit thou, beside my body." Now at that time she did sit beside his
body as he lay there. He then said to her: "Do thou hang thy legs down into
the abyss." For where they had uprooted the tree there came to be a deep
hole, which extended through to the nether world, and the earth was upturned
about it.

That, then, it is true, came to pass, that while he lay there his suffering
was mitigated. All his people were assembled there, and moreover, they had
their eyes fixed on him as he lay there ill, marveling at this thing that
had befallen him himself; for the people dwelling here did not know what it
is to be ill. So then, when he had, seemingly, recovered from his illness,
he turned himself over, turning upon his side, and then, resting himself on
his elbows, he at the same time looked into the hole. After a while he said:
"Do thou look thither into the hole to see what things are occurring there
in yonder place." He said this to his spouse. Thereupon she bent forward her
body into the hole and looked therein. Whereupon he placed his fingers
against the nape of her neck and pushed her, and she fell into the hole.
Then he arose to a standing posture, and said to his people: "Now do ye
replace the tree that ye have uprooted. Here, verily, it lies." They
immediately reset the tree, so that it stood just as it did before the time
they uprooted it.

But as to this woman-being, she of course fell into the hole, and kept
falling in the darkness thereof. After a while she passed through it. Now
when she had passed through the thickness thereof to the other world she of
course looked about her in all directions, and saw on all sides of her that
everything was blue in color; that there was nothing else for her to see.
She knew nothing of what would, perhaps, happen to her, for she did not
cease from falling. But after a time she looked and saw something; but she
knew nothing of the thing she saw. But, verily, she now indeed was looking
on a great expanse of water, albeit she herself did not know what it was.

So this is what she saw: On the surface of the water, floating about hither
and thither, like veritable canoes, were all forms and kinds of ducks
(waterfowl). Thereupon Loon noticed her, and he suddenly shouted, saying: "A
man-being, a female one is coming up from the depths of the water." Then
Bittern spoke in turn, saying: "She is not indeed coming up out of the
depths of the water." He said: "She is indeed falling from above." Where
upon they held a council to decide what they should do to provide for her
welfare. They finally decided to invite the Great Turtle to come. Loon
thereupon said to him: "Thou shouldst float thy body above the place where
thou art in the depths of the water." In the first place, they sent a large
number of ducks of various kinds. These flew and elevated themselves in a
very compact body and went up to meet her on high.. And on their backs,
thereupon did her body alight. Then slowly they descended, bearing her body
on their backs.

Great Turtle had satisfactorily caused his carapace to float. There upon his
back they placed her. Then Loon said: "Come, ye who are deep divers, which
one of you is able to dive so as to fetch up earth?" Thereupon one by one
they severally dived into the water. It was at this time that Beaver made
the attempt and dived. The time was long and there was only silence. It was
a long time before his back reappeared. He came up dead, his breathing
having failed him. Thereupon they examined his paws, but he had brought up
no earth. Then Otter said: "Well, let it be my turn now; let me make another
attempt." Whereupon he dived. A longer time elapsed before he came to the
surface. He also came up dead in his turn. They then examined his paws also.
Neither did he, it is said, bring up any earth. It was then that Muskrat
said: "I also will make the desperate attempt." So then he dove into the
water. It was a still longer time that he, in turn, was under water. Then,
after a while, he floated to the surface, coming up dead, having lost his
breath. Thereupon, again, they examined the inside of his paws also. They
found mud. He brought up his paws and his mouth full of mud.

It was then that they made use of this mud. They coated the edge of the
carapace of the Great Turtle with the mud. Now it was that other muskrats,
in their turns, dived into the water to fetch mud. They floated to the
surface dead. In this way they worked until they had made a circuit of the
carapace of the Great Turtle, placing mud thereon, until the two portions of
the work came together. Thereupon Loon said: "Now there is enough. Now it
will suffice." Thereupon the muskrats ceased from diving to fetch up mud.

Now, verily, this man-being sat on the carapace of the Great Turtle. After
the lapse of sufficient time, she went to sleep. After a while she awoke.
Now then, the carapace of the Great Turtle was covered with mud. Then,
moreover, the earth whereon she sat had become enlarged in size. At that
time she looked and saw that willows had grown up to bushes along the edge
of the water. Then also, when she again awoke, the carcass of a deer,
recently killed, lay there, and now besides this, a small fire burned there,
and besides this, a sharp stone lay there. Now, of course, she dressed and
quartered the carcass of the deer and roasted some pieces thereof, and she
ate her fill. So, when she had finished her repast, she again looked about
her. Now, assuredly, the earth had increased much in size, for the earth
grew very rapidly. She, moreover, saw another thing; she saw growing shrubs
of the rose-willow along the edge of the water.

Moreover, not long after, she saw a small rivulet take up its course. Thus,
then, things came to pass in their turn. Rapidly was the earth increasing in
size. She then looked and saw all species of herbs and grasses spring from
the earth, and also saw that they began to grow toward maturity.

Now also, when the time had come for her to be delivered, she gave birth to
a female man-being, a girl child. Then, of course, they two, mother and
daughter, remained there together. It was quite astonishing how rapidly the
girl child grew. So then, when she had attained her growth, she of course
was a maiden. They two were alone; no other man-being moved about there in
any place.

So then, of course, when she had grown up and was a maiden, then, of course,
her mother was in the habit of admonishing her child, saying, customarily:
"Thou wilt tell me what manner of person it is who will visit thee, and who
will say customarily: 'I desire that thou and I should marry.' Do not thou
give ear to this; but say, customarily: 'Not until I first ask my mother."'

Now then, in this manner, matters progressed. First one, then another, came
along, severally asking her to become his wife, and she customarily replied:
"Not until I first ask my mother." When she would tell her mother what
manner of person had asked her to marry him, her mother would answer, saying
customarily: "No; he is not the person." But after a while the maiden said:
"One who has a deep fringe along his legs and arms paid a visit." The elder
woman said: "That is the one, I think, that it will be proper for you to
marry." Thereupon she returned to the place where the young man stood. She
said: "We should marry, she says." The young man answered, saying: "When it
is dark, I shall return." So then, when the appointed time arrived, he also
came back. Then it was that he paid court to her. But, I think, they two, he
and the maid, did not lie together. When she lay down so that she could
sleep, he laid one of his arrows beside her body. Thereupon he departed.
Then, at his return, he again took his arrow and departed again, carrying
the arrow away with him. He never came back afterward.

After a while the elder woman became aware that the maiden was growing in
size, caused by the fact that she was pregnant.

So when the day of her delivery had come, she brought forth twins, two male
infants. But during the time that she was in travail, the maiden heard the
two talking within her body. One of them said: "This is the place through
which we two shall emerge from here. It is a much shorter way, for, look
thou, there are many transparent places." But the other person said: "Not at
all. Assuredly, we should kill her by doing this thing. Howbeit, let us go
out that other way, the way that one, having become a human being, will use
as an exit. We will turn around and in a downward direction we two will go."
So then the former one confirmed what this one had proposed, when this one
said: "Thus it shall continue to be."

But, however, he now contested another matter. He did not comply when the,
second one said: "Do thou take the lead." He said: "Not at all; do thou go
ahead." So then it was in this manner that they two contended, and he who
said: "Right in this very place let us two go straight out, for assuredly
this way is as near as that," gained his point. Finally, the other agreed
that he himself should take the lead. At that time, then, he turned about,
and at once he was born. So at that time his grandmother took him up and
cared for him. Then she laid him aside. At that time she again gave
attention to her [the daughter], for now, indeed, another travail did she
suffer. But that other one emerged in another place. He came out of her
armpit. So, as to him, he killed his mother. Then, his grandmother took him
up and attended to his needs also. She completed this task and laid him
alongside of the one who had first come. So thereupon she devoted her
attention to her child who was dead. Then, turning herself about to face the
place where she had laid the two infants, she said: "Which of you two
destroyed my child?" One of them answered, saving: "Verily, he himself it
is, I believe." This one who had answered was a very marvelously strange
person as to his form. His flesh was nothing but flint. Over the top of
his head there was, indeed, a sharp comb of flint. It was therefore on this
account that he emerged by way of her armpit.

[Okwes]

A Mohawk Version of Creation (Part 3)

But the flesh of the other was in all respects similar in kind to that of a
man-being. He spoke, saying: "He himself, indeed, killed her." The other one
replied, saying: "Not at all, indeed." He again said: "Indeed, he himself
killed her." Thus then, in this manner, the two debated. But he who was
guilty of killing her did not swerve from his denial, and so then he finally
won his point. Whereupon their grandmother seized the body of him whose
flesh was verily that of a man-being and with all her might cast him far
into the bushes. But the other, whose flesh was flint, was taken up and
cared for by her. And it was also wonderful how much she loved him.

Now, in its turn, she again laid her hands on the flesh body of her girl
child, who was verily now not alive. She cut off her head and said: "Even
though thou art now dead, yet, albeit, thou shalt continue to have a
function to perform." And now she took up the flesh body and hung it on a
tree standing hard by her lodge, and she said: "Thou shalt continue to give
light to this earth here present. But the head also she hung in another
place, and she said: "Thou also shalt continue to have a function. Thou
shalt have less power to give light." Thus then she completed her
arrangements for supplying herself with light. Now, assuredly, she had made
fast the sun for herself, and also the moon. She imposed on them the duty of
furnishing her with light for their part. Verily, indeed, it was the head of
her girl child who was dead that she used to make the moon, but her body she
made into the sun. They were to be fixed always in one place, and were not
to be moving from place to place. Now, besides this, she restricted them to
herself and her grandson, saying: "We two, entirely alone, shall ever be
supplied by this light. No other person shall use it, only we two
ourselves."

When she had now, indeed, finished all of her task, she was surprised by the
moving of the, grasses at the spot whither she had cast the other one of her
grandchildren. He was alive; he had not died; for she thought when she had
cast him far away that he would, of course, die, but, howbeit, he had not
died. He walked about there among the bushes. But after a while he came
thence toward the lodge of his grandmother, but she ordered him away,
saying: "Go thou far off yonder. I have no desire whatever to look on thee,
for thou it is, assuredly, who hast killed my girl child. So, then,
therefore, go thou far off yonder." Verily, he then went from there. But,
albeit, he was moving about in a place not far from the place where the
lodge stood. Besides this, the male child was in good health, and his growth
was rapid.

After awhile he made for himself a bow and also an arrow. Of course he now
went about shooting from place to place. He went, indeed, about from place
to place, for now, of course, the earth was indeed of considerable size. The
earth, indeed, verily continued to grow in size. So at times he would return
to the side of the lodge. The, other boy, his younger brother, looked and
saw that he had a bow and also an arrow. Then he spoke to her, his
grandmother, saying: "Thou shouldst make for me a bow and also an arrow, so
that I also should have them." So, thereupon, she made him a bow and also an
arrow; and, then, therefore, they both had bows and arrows.

So now, verily, they two wandered about shooting. So then he whose body was
exactly like that of a man-being went in his shooting along a lake shore,
even at the water's edge. There stood a clump of bushes there, whereon
rested a flock of birds. He shot at them and they flew over the lake, but
the arrow fell into the water. Thereupon he went thither to the water's
edge, and cast himself into the lake; he desired to go and recover his
arrow. So when he leaped into the water, he did not feel that he had plunged
into the water, because he fell supine on the ground. There was no water
there. He arose and was surprised that a lodge stood there, and that he had
arisen beside the doorway. He looked into the lodge and saw a man sitting
therein. The man who was sitting in the lodge said: "Enter thou here." So
then he entered, and he who sat therein said: "Thou hast now arrived. I
assuredly invited thee that thou shouldst come here. Here, then, lies the
reason that I sent for thee. It is because I hear customarily the kind of
language thy grandmother uses toward thee. She tells thee that she does not
love thee, and the reason of it is that she believes that what Tawi'skaron'
customarily says is true. He says, customarily, of course, that thou
killedst her who was the mother of you two. Now, what he customarily says is
not true, and the grandmother of you two firmly believes the things that he
says, so that is the reason that I desire that thou shouldst come hither.
For the fact is, she discriminates between you two, loving him, but not
thee. Here, then, I have made a bow and an arrow as well for thee. Here,
then, take them." So thereupon he accepted them. They were marvelously fine
in appearance. He said: "Thou must make use of these as thou goest about
shooting, for sometimes thou hast asked thy grandmother to make thee a bow
somewhat better than the one thou madest for thyself, yet she would,
customarily, not give ear to it, and besides that she would habitually
refuse, and then order thee away. She would customarily say: 'Go thou from
here. I have no desire to be looking at thee, for thou art the one assuredly
who killed my girl child.' Now this, customarily, was the kind of discourse
she spoke. So now, then, another thing. Here, of course, are two ears of
sweet corn. These thou must take away with thee. One of the ears is not yet
ripe; it is still in its milky state, but, as to the other. it is mature.
Thou must take them with thee. As to the one in the milky state, thou must
roast it for thyself; but as to the one that is mature, it shall be for seed
corn." Thereupon, then, when he had finished speaking, telling him all
things, he said: "Here they are, then." Whereupon he took them.

It was at this time also that he told him, saying: "But, as to that, I am
thy parent." That was said by him whose lodge stood there and who is the
Great Turtle. Then the young man departed.

So then when he had returned home in traveling, he would habitually run
along the lake shore and would say, customarily: "Let this earth keep on
growing." He said: "People call me Maple Sprout [Sapling].," Verily, as far
as he customarily ran, so far the earth grew anew, and., besides that, maple
saplings customarily would produce themselves. So then, it was his custom to
do thus. On whatever side in turn he would run along the shore of the lake,
just as far as he would run, just so far would this come to pass: new earth
would form itself, and also maple saplings formed themselves into trees. He
also said, customarily, as he ran along: "Let the earth increase in size"
and: "Maple Sapling will people habitually call me." Thus it was, by means
of this kind, that the earth became enlarged to the size it now has when we
look at the size of this world.

So then, at this time, in turn, he formed severally the various bodies of
the animals. Therefore, Sapling customarily would take up a handful of
earth, and would cast it upward. Customarily, many hundreds of living
things, as many as the handfuls he threw up, flew away in different
directions. He customarily said: "This shall continue to be your condition.
When ye wander from place to place, ye must go in flocks." Thereupon a duty
devolved upon this species of animals, for example, that they should
habitually make roosts. Now, of course, different animals were severally
asked to volunteer to aid man. Whichever of them would give ear to this,
would say to it: "I, I think, will volunteer." Thereupon they would
customarily ask him, saying: "Well then, permit us to see in what way thou
wilt act when thou protectest thy offspring." The Bear, therefore,
volunteered. Now then he acted so rudely that it was very marvelously
terrifying. The manner in which he would act ugly would, I think, kill
people. Thus, indeed, he exhibited to them how he would defend his
offspring. They said: "Not at all, we think, shouldst thou volunteer."
Whereupon, of course, others offered themselves as volunteers. Nevertheless,
none were acceptable, because their methods of defending their offspring
were terrible. So one after another volunteered. After a while the Pigeon
said: "It is time now, I think, that I should volunteer." Whereupon,
assuredly, they said: "How then wilt thou do when thou protectest thy
offspring? Let us see." Then Pigeon flew hither and thither, uttering cries
as it went. Then sometimes it would again alight on a bough of a tree. In a
short time it would again fly, winging its way from place to place, uttering
cries. So then they said: "Now, this will be suitable." At the same time
they had lying by them a dish containing bear's oil; they therein immersed
Pigeon, and they said: "So fat shall thy offspring customarily be." It is
for this reason that the young of the pigeon are as fat as a bear usually
is.

During this time Tawi'skaron' was watching what Sapling was doing. Thereupon
he began to imitate him by also making animal bodies. But this work was too
difficult for him to allow his doing it correctly. He failed to make
correctly the bodies of the animals just as they are. He formed the body of
a bird as he knew it. So, when he had finished its form, he let it go, and
now, I think, it flew. Forsooth, it succeeded in flying, but it flew without
any objective point. And, I believe, it did not become a bird. Now then he
had completed the body of what we know as the bat. So then, when he,
Sapling, had completed in their order the bodies of the marvelously various
kinds of animals, they began to wander over the face of the earth here
present.

Then, as Sapling was traveling about over the face of the earth, he, after a
while, marveled greatly that he could not in any place still see the
different kinds of animals. Thereupon he traveled about over the face of the
earth seeking for them. He also thought, forsooth: "This is an astonishing
matter; where, perhaps, have they gone--they, the animals whose bodies I
have made?" So then, while he went from place to place, and while he was
looking for the animals, he was startled. Near him a leaf made a noise, and
looking thither he was surprised to see a mouse peering up there among the
leaves. The mouse that he saw is called the Deer-mouse, and, of course, he
had intended to shoot it, but the Deer-mouse spoke to him, saying: "Do thou
not kill me. I will tell thee then where have gone those things thou art
seeking, the animals." So then in truth he resolved not to kill it, and then
he spoke and said: "Whither then have the animals gone?" Thereupon the
Deer-mouse said: "In that direction there is a range of great mountains of
rock. There in the rocks they abide, and are indeed shut up. If, when thou
arrivest there, thou lookest, thou wilt see a large stone placed over the
cavern, which stone one has used for the purpose of closing it up. It is
Tawi'skaron' himself and his grandmother who have together done this; it is
they who imprisoned the, animals." So then, therefore, he went thither. It
was true then that a stone lay over the place where was the opening into the
rock; it was closed therewith. So he then removed the stone from it, and he
now said: "Do ye all come forth. For, assuredly, when I caused you to be
alive, did I intend that ye should be imprisoned here. Assuredly, I intended
that ye should continue to roam from place to place over this earth, which I
have caused to be extant." Thereupon they did in fact come forth. There was
a rumbling sound, as their feet gave forth sounds while they kept coming
forth. So, at this time, the grandmother of Tawi'skaron' said: "What thing,
perhaps, is now happening? There is a rumbling sound." She thus addressed
her grandson, Tawi'skaron'. Before Tawi'skaron' could reply, she spoke
again, saying: "It is true, undoubtedly, that Sapling has found them there
where thou and I have the animals imprisoned. So then, let us two go at once
to the place wherein we two immured them." Then at once they two went out,
and without delay ran thither. So when they two arrived there, it was even
so; the Sapling stood there, having opened the cavern in the rock, and
verily a line of animals ever so long was running. The two rushed forward
and took up the stone again, and again shut in those that had not come out,
and these are animals great in size and now dwelling therein.

Sapling kept saying: "Do ye two not again immure them." Nevertheless,
Tawi'skaron' and his grandmother just placed thereon other stones. So then
the kinds of animals that we know are only those that came out again.

So then it came to pass that Sapling, as he traveled from place to place,
went, after a while, along the shore of the lake. There, not far away, he
saw Tawi'skaron', making for himself a bridge of stone [ice] across the
lake, which already extended far out on the water. Thereupon Sapling went
to the place where he went on working. So then, when he arrived there, he
said: "Tawi'skaron', what is this that thou art doing for thyself?" He
replied, saying: "I am making a pathway for myself." And then, pointing in
the direction toward which he was building the bridge, he added: "In that
direction there is a land where dwell great animals of fierce dispositions.
As soon as I complete my pathway to that other land, thereon will they
habitually come over. Along this pathway will they be in the habit of coming
across the lake to eat habitually the flesh of human beings who are about to
be [who are about to dwell here] on this earth." So then Sapling said to
him: "Thou shouldst cease the work that thou art doing. Assuredly the
intention of thy mind is not good." He replied, saying: "I will not cease
from what I am doing, for, of course, it is good that these great animals
shall be in the habit of coming hither to eat the flesh of human beings who
will dwell here."

So, of course, he did not obey and cease from building the bridge for
himself. Thereupon Sapling turned back and reached dry land. So along the
shore of the sea grew shrubs. He saw a bird sitting on a limb of one. The
bird belonged to the class of birds that we are accustomed to call the
bluebirds. Sapling then said to the Bluebird : "Thou shalt kill a
cricket. Thou shalt remove one hind leg from it, and thou shalt hold it in
thy mouth, and thou shalt go thither to the very place where Tawi'skaron' is
working. Hard by the place where he is working thou shalt alight, and thou
shalt cry out." The bird replied, saying: "Yo'' [very well]."

Thereupon it verily did seek for a cricket. After a while it found one, and
killed it, too. Then it pulled out one of its hind legs and put it into its
mouth to hold, and then it flew, winging its way to the place where
Tawi'skaron' was at work making himself a bridge. There it alighted hard by
him at his task. Of course it then shouted, saying: "Kwe', kwe', kwe', kwe',
kwe'." Thereupon Tawi'skaron' upraised his head and looked and saw a bird
sitting there. He believed from what he saw that it held in its mouth the
thigh of a man-being, and also that its mouth was wholly covered with blood.
It was then that Tawi'skaron' sprang up at once and fled. As fast as he ran
the bridge which he was making was dissipated.

Now then, verily, the father of Sapling had given him sweet corn, and now he
roasted this corn. A great odor, a sweet odor, was diffused. So when the
grandmother of Tawi'skaron' smelt it, she said: "What other thing again is
Sapling roasting for himself?" She addressed Tawi'skaron' saying: "Well, let
us two go to see it, where he has his fire built." Now, of course, they two
had at once uprisen, and they two ran. They two arrived where he had kindled
his fire, and they two saw that it was true that he was roasting for himself
an ear of sweet corn. Verily, the fatness was issuing from it in streams on
the grains, along the rows of grains until only the cob was left, so fat was
the corn. The grandmother of Tawi'skaron' said: "Whence didst thou bring
this?" He replied: "My father gave it to me." She answered, saying: "Thou
dost even intend that the kinds of men who are to dwell here shall live as
pleasantly as this, hereon this earth." And just then she took up a handful
of ashes, and she cast them on the ear of corn that was roasting. At once
the fat of the corn ceased from issuing from the roasting ear. But Sapling
very severely rebuked his grandmother for doing this. Whereupon he again
took up the ear of corn and wiped off the ashes that had fallen upon it.
Then he again set it to roast; but it was just possible for it to exude only
a small amount of fatness again, as it is now when one roasts ears for
himself. It is barely visible, so little does the fatness exude.

Now the grandmother of Sapling fetched ripened corn that Sapling had
planted, and she shelled it. Then she poured it into a mortar. And now she
took the pestle and with it pounded the corn, and she made haste in her
pounding, and she said: "Verily, thou wouldst have mankind exceedingly well
provided. Verily, they shall customarily be much wearied in getting bread to
eat. In this manner then shall they customarily do with the mortar and also
the pestle." She herself had finished them. Whereupon Sapling rebuked her
for what she had done. He, in regard to this matter, said: "That which thou
hast done is not good."

Then, verily, while Sapling was traveling, he was surprised to find that it
became dark. So then he mused, saying: "Why, this seems to be a marvelous
matter, this thing that thus takes place." Thereupon he returned homeward.
Arrived there, he found the sun in no place whatsoever, nor did he find
Tawi'skaron' and his grandmother. It was then that he looked about him. So
then he looked and saw a light which was like the dawn. There from he
understood that the sun was in that place. He therefore sought servants who
would accompany him to fetch the sun. Spider volunteered; so also did
Beaver; so also did Hare; so also did Otter. So at this time they made
themselves a canoe. When they had completed the canoe, they all then placed
themselves in the canoe, and they then of course began to paddle, directing
their course toward the place where the dawn shone forth, toward the place
where lay the sun. The trees stood together, and on their tops lay the sun.
So then Sapling said: "Thou, Beaver, do thou cut down the tree; and thou,
Spider, shalt climb the tree, and at the top of the tree thou shalt fasten
thy cord. Then thou shalt descend, hanging by thy cord, until thou reachest
the ground." And he said to Hare: "As soon as the tree falls, thou must
seize the sun. Thou art assuredly an adept at skulking through the
underbrush. No matter how difficult the ground be, thou art able of course
to flee by stealth, if at this time it so be that one pursue thee from place
to place." He said: "But thou, Otter, shalt care for the canoe. If it be so
that we all get aboard the canoe, thou shalt turn back the canoe at once."

[Okwes]

A Mohawk Version of Creation (Part 4)


All this, then, came to pass. Beaver, of course, worked there, biting out
pieces from the tree; and Spider, for his part, climbed to the tree top, and
having reached the top, he then, verily, fastened his cord about it.
Thereupon he let himself down, and again alighted on the earth. So then,
when there was, of course, little to cut, and the prospect was encouraging
that it would be possible to fell the tree, then Spider pulled on the cord.
Then, in fact, the tree toppled over.

Thereupon Hare rushed forward and seized the sun, for, indeed, Tawi'skaron'
and his grandmother both came running up. It was then that Hare fled, taking
the sun away with him. Now, of course, they pursued him in many places; he
fleetly scurried through the shrubbery. After a time he directed his course
straight for the canoe; for then, indeed, the others, his friends, were
aboard the canoe. He came thither on the bound, and got aboard the canoe. At
the same time with this, Otter pushed off the canoe, and they again began to
paddle.

So then, as they rowed back, Otter, it is said, did verily continue to talk.
They forbade him, but he did not obey. Then a person struck him a blow with
a paddle on his mouth. (It is for this reason that now the mouth of the
Otter is such that one would think that it had been broken off long ago. His
lower jaw is shorter than the upper. It is plain where one struck him with a
paddle.)

So when they had arrived at home, Sapling said: "It shall not continue to be
thus, that a single person rules over the sun." Then it was that he cast the
sun up to the center of the sky, saving: "There where the sky is present,
thereto must thou keep thyself attached, and, besides this, thou shalt
continuously journey onward." He pointed thither, and said: "'The place
where it plunges itself into the deep [that is, the west]' people will
habitually call the place whither thou shalt habitually descend, the place
wherein thou shalt habitually be immersed. At these times, verily, darkness
will come upon the earth present here; and 'The place where the sun rises
[that is, the east]' people will habitually call the place whence thou wilt
habitually peer out, and people will say, 'Now the Sun has come out.' Then
shalt thou raise thyself upward there from. Thus thou shalt continue to have
this function to perform. Thou shalt continue to give light to this earth."
Besides this he said: "When so ever mankind mention thee, they will ever say
customarily: 'He is the Great Warrior who supplies us with light.'" So then,
in its turn, now came of course the luminary, the Moon, which was his
mother's head, and which his grandmother had also placed on the top of a
standing tree. This, too, he threw up to the sky, saying: "The power of thy
light at night shall be less." He added: "At times they will see thee in
full. Every night thy size shall diminish until it is gone. Then again, thou
shalt every night increase in size from a small beginning. Every night,
then, thou shalt grow until the time comes when thou hast completed thy
growth. So now, thus it shall be as to thy mode of existence." Moreover he
said: "Whenever mankind who shall dwell here on earth mention thee, they
will keep saying customarily: 'Our Grandmother, the luminary pertaining to
the night.'"

Then Sapling now formed the body of a man and also that of a woman [of
the race of mankind]. His younger brother, Tawi'skaron', watched him there.
So then, when he had, of course, caused them to live, he placed them
together.

Then it was that Sapling started upon a journey to inspect the condition of
the things he had finished on the earth then standing forth. Then, at that
time, he came again to review those things and to see what things man [of
the human race] was doing.

Then he returned to the place in which he had given them liberty. So then he
found the two doing nothing except sleeping habitually. He merely looked at
them, and went away. But when he came again their condition was unchanged;
they slept habitually. Thus then, in this manner matters stood the very few
times he visited them, the condition was unchanged; they slept customarily.
Thereupon he took a rib from each, and substituted the one for the other,
and replaced each one in the other body Then, of course, he watched them,
thinking of what perhaps might now happen. It was therefore not long before
the woman awoke. Then she sat up. At once she touched the breast of the man
lying at her side, just where he had placed her rib, and, of course, that
tickled him. Thereupon he awoke. Then, of course, that matter was
started--that matter which concerns mankind in their living; and they also
started that matter for which in their kind their bodies are provided--that
matter for which reason he is a male human being and she a female human
being.

Then Tawi'skaron' also formed a human being, but he was not able to imitate
Sapling, as the form of the human being he poorly made showed. Tawi'skaron'
addressed Sapling, saying: "Do thou look, I also am able, myself, to form a
human being." So when Sapling looked at that which made him say "I am able
to form a human being," he saw that what he had formed were not human beings
at all. The things he formed were possessed of human faces and the bodies of
otkon [monsters], subtly made otkon. Sapling spoke to him, saving: "That
assuredly is the reason that I forbade thee, for of course thou art not able
to do as I myself am doing continually." Tawi'skaron' answered, saying:
"Thou wilt nevertheless see that I can after all do as thyself art doing
continually, because, indeed, I possess as much power as thou hast." Now,
verily, at this time they two separated. And now, Sapling again traveled
from place to place on the surface of the earth. He went to view things that
he had completed. After a while, then, Sapling promenaded along the shore of
the sea. There he saw Tawi'skaron' standing about in different places. At
the water's edge lay the body of a man-being who was as white as foam.
When Sapling arrived there, he said: "What is this that thou art doing?"
Tawi'skaron' replied, saying: "Assuredly, I have made the body of a male
man-being. This person whose body lies here is better-looking than is the
one whom thou hast made." Assuredly, I have told thee that I have as much
power as thou hast; yea, that my power is greater than is thy power. Look
thou, assuredly his body is as white as is the body of the one whom thou
hast formed." Sapling answered, saying: "What thou sayest is assuredly true.
So then, if it be so, let me be looking while he makes movements of his body
and arises. Well, let him stand, and also let him walk." Whereupon Flint
said: "Come! Do thou arise. But he that lay there did not make a single
movement. Then, of course, Tawi'skaron' put forth all his skill to cause
this being to live and then to arise. He did everything possible to do it
but he could not effect his purpose and failed to cause him to come to life,
for he did not come to life. Then Sapling said: "Is this not what I have
been saying, that thou art not able to do as I can do?" He added: "What
purpose, in its turn, will be served by having his body lying here, having
no life? Is it only this, that he shall always lie here? That is the reason
that I habitually forbid thee to make also the things that thou seest me
making; for, assuredly, thou art not able to do the things that I am doing."
So then, of course, Tawi'skaron' said: "Well, then, do thou cause that one
there to live." So, in truth, Sapling consented to this. He drew near to the
place where the man lay, and bent over and breathed into his nostrils, and
he at once began to breathe, and lived. He said to him: "Do thou arise and
also do thou stand, also do thou keep traveling about on this earth." The
body of a woman had he also formed at that place. Sapling caused both of
them to live.

Tawi'skaron' spoiled and undid some of the things that Sapling had prepared.
The rivers to-day in their different courses have been changed, for, in
forming the rivers, Sapling provided them with two currents, each running in
a contrary course, currents made for floating objects in opposite
directions; or it may be that it is a better explanation to say that in the
middle of the river there was a division, each side going in a direction
contrary to that of the opposite side, because Sapling had intended that
mankind should not have, as a usual thing, any difficult labor while they
should be traveling. If, for any reason, a person would wish to descend the
current, it would indeed not be a difficult matter simply to place himself
in a canoe, and then, of course, to descend the current of the river; and
then, if it should be necessary for him to return, he would, of course,
paddle his canoe over to the other side of the river, and just as soon as he
passed the division of the stream then, of course, his canoe would turn
back, and he would then again be descending the current. So that is what
Sapling had intended; that mankind should be thus fortunate while they were
traveling about on rivers, but Tawi'skaron' undid this.

Now, moreover, Tawi'skaron' himself formed these uplifted mountains; these
mountains that are great, and also these divers rocky cliffs-he himself made
them, so that mankind who would dwell here would have cause to fear in their
continual travelings.

Now, moreover, Sapling and also Tawi'skaron' dwelt together in one lodge,
each occupying one side of the fire opposite to that of the other. It was
then, verily, usual when they two had returned to abide in the lodge, that
Tawi'skaron' kept questioning Sapling, asking him what object he feared, and
what would most quickly kill him. Sapling replied: "A weed that grows in the
swampy places, a sedge called 'it-cuts-a-person,' is one thing. I think,
when I do think of it, that that weed struck against my body by someone
would cut it. I do believe that it would cut through my body." Then
Tawi'skaron' replied, saying: "Is there no other object which gives thee
fear?" Sapling, answering, said: "I usually think that the spike of a
cattail flag would kill me if one should strike me on the body with it."
(These two things that Sapling spoke of, his father had told him to say,
when he had been at his father's lodge.)

At that time Sapling said: "What thing then dost thou fear?" Tawi'skaron'
said: "Yellow flint, and also the horns of a deer. I suppose, when I do
think of it, that I should perhaps die at once should one strike me with
either."

So after that when Sapling traveled, if he saw a stone of the yellow chert
kind, he would customarily pick it up and place it high on some object, and
also, if he saw a deer's horn, he would pick it up and would place it high
on some object.

Then, verily, it came to pass that they two had again returned home. The
height of one side of their lodge was not great, but the height of the other
side was greater. Sapling occupied the side which had the greater and
Tawi'skaron' the side which had the lesser height. Then it was that Sapling
increased the intensity of the fire by putting hickory bark on it. Then,
assuredly, it became a hot fire, and then, assuredly, the legs of
Tawi'skaron' began to chip and flake off from the intense heat of the fire.
Then, of course, Tawi'skaron' said: "Thou hast made too great afire. Do thou
not put another piece of bark on the fire." But Sapling nevertheless put on
the fire another piece of bark, and then, of course, the fire became
greater. Now the fire was indeed hot, and now, too, Tawi'skaron's whole body
was now flaking off in chert chips. Now, too, he was angry, because Sapling
kept putting more bark on the fire, and, besides that, his side of the lodge
having only a slight height, he had only very little space in which to
abide. Now he writhed in the heat; indeed, Tawi'skaron' became so angry that
he ran out at once, and running into the marsh, he there broke stalks of the
sedge called "it-cuts-a-person." Then he came thence on a run to the lodge,
and then said: "Sapling, I now kill thee," and then struck him blows with
the stalks he had brought back. So then they two now began to fight, the one
using the stalk striking the other blows. But after a while Tawi'skaron'
became aware that his blows against Sapling did not cut him. Whereupon he
then darted out again, and then went to get this time the spike of the
cattail flag. So then, as soon as he returned, he rushed at Sapling and
struck him blows. Again his blows failed to cut him. Then it was that
Tawi'skaron' fled, and then Sapling pursued him. Now, of course, they two
ran. In ever direction over the entire earth they two ran. So whenever
Sapling saw a yellow flint stone or a deer horn on a high place he would
customarily seize it suddenly, and would hit Tawi'skaron' therewith.
Customarily chert chips would fly when he hit him. Thus then he hit him as
they went running. Whenever Sapling saw a horn or a yellow chert stone he
would seize it suddenly and hit Tawi'skaron' with it. Then after a while he
killed him. Now, at this time, toward the west, where the earth extends
thitherward, there lies athwart the view a range of large mountains that
cross the whole earth. There, so it is said, his body lies extended. He fell
there when he was killed. Now, besides, it is plain, when we consider in
what condition the earth is, that when we look about we see that the surface
is uneven, some places being high, even ranges of mountain, while some are
for their part low. This was, of course, done by the two as they ran from
place to place, fighting as they went. That is the reason that the surface
of the earth is uneven.

Now then, as it was the custom of Sapling to travel, he met a male
man-being. Sapling said: "What dost thou as thou goest?" He replied, saying:
"I come inspecting the earth, to see whether it is just as I put it forth."
Sapling replied, saying: "Verily, indeed, this is a marvelous matter about
which thou art now on thy way, for the reason that assuredly it was I,
Myself, who completed this earth." The other person answered and said: "Not
at all; for I myself have completed this earth." Whereupon Sapling replied,
saying: "Well then, if it be so, let it be made plain verily, that thou
didst complete this earth. He added: "At our two backs, at a distance, there
is a range of high mountains of rock which is in appearance like a wall, so
perpendicular are the rocks. Hither must thou move them close to thy body.
If, perhaps, thou art able to do this, it will be certain that thou didst
indeed complete this earth; if thou wilt only speak, telling that mountain
range to move itself hither." He added: "Now do it then." Thereupon the
other person said: "Thus it will, I think, come to pass." Then he called
out, saying: "Come thou, yon mountain range, move thyself hither. Do thou
stand beside my body." But the mountain range remained there; the mountain
was still there unchanged. It did not move thence. Sapling spoke and said:
"There, that is exactly what I have been saying, that thou hast not
established this earth." The other person again replied, saying: "Well then,
let it become evident, if it be true, that thou hast established the earth.
Come then, do thou move that rock mountain hither." Sapling replied and
said: "Thus then will I do." Thereupon he called out to the range of
mountains. He said: "Come, move thyself hither." Then, verily, it moved
itself thence. Close to his body, at his back, did it come to a standstill.
The cliff even lightly grazed his shoulder blades. Then Sapling said: "Now
turn thyself around to the opposite side and look where the range of
mountains is." Whereupon he turned about and the rock struck his nose and,
as to him, his nose became awry. Then at that time he spoke, saying: "Truly,
indeed, thou hast established this earth here present. It was not at all I
who did it. If, then, thou wilt consent to it that I may live, I will then
ever continue to aid thee. I will protect at all times thy people who are to
dwell on this earth." Sapling replying said: "Truly it shall thus come to
pass. Mask shall mankind ever call thee, and also Grandfather."

Then, verily, during the time that Sapling was again traveling to inspect
anew the things that he had finished on this earth, then he saw another male
man-being. He addressed him, saying: "What art thou doing on thy way?" The
other said: "It seemed that it became necessary for me to see thee." Sapling
replied: That is undoubtedly true." The other person answered and said: "I
desire that thou shouldst consent to permit me still to live. If thou wilt
then consent to what I say, I will give assistance to thee; I will watch
over their bodies, and I will also give them life and support and, moreover,
I will continue to defend mankind, whom thou wilt cause to dwell on this
earth which thou hast completed." Replying, Sapling said: "Let me see what
kind of power thou hast." Thereupon the male man-being, whose name of old is
Hi'non' [Thunder], started upon a run and went up into the clouds. Now,
verily, rumblings were heard; it thundered in the clouds, and lightnings
were also emitted, and moreover many flashes shot forth, seeming as though
only one from their rapidity. So then the man-being descended again where
Sapling was standing, and he said: "Now assuredly thou didst see what kind
of power I have." Sapling, replying, said: "It is true indeed that thou art
able to do just as thou didst tell me not long ago." Then he continued: "Art
thou able to cast water habitually on this earth as the summers come?" The
other answered, saying: "I am able to do so." Sapling said in reply: "So
then let me see how thou wilt do this." The other person replied: "Yo'; so
be it." Now he again ascended on high where the clouds are present. Now then
again it thundered, and besides, the lightning flashed, and the clouds
became thick, and besides this they became black. Then it came forward, from
the sea did it come over the dry land, raining a, it came. It was marvelous
as it came along. Then of course the rain passed. Then he again returned to
the place where Sapling was moving about. So then Sapling spoke to him,
saying: "What thou art able to do is satisfactory. So it will indeed come to
pass. It shall follow closely the course pointed out in thy request. So now,
indeed, it will be thy duty to travel continually, for it was thou thyself
that requested this. Do thou not then ever fail to do thy duty. Thou must,
of course, ever be vigilant; if at whatever time it be there come dangers to
the lives of men because great serpents move from place to place in the
depths of this earth and also in the sea; if it come to pass that at some
time these great serpents desire to seize people as they severally travel
from place to place, thou must at once kill such serpents, and when thou
killest them, they will be that on which thou shalt feed. Other animals
also, equal in otkon orenda [malefic magic power] to these, all such
shall fare like them. Thou wilt ever have these to watch--have these as thy
adversaries. Now then, of course, I have finished this matter. Now then such
is the office thou hast assumed. Mankind will name thee "Our
Grandfatherwhose-voice-is-customarilv-uttered-in-divers-places."' Then,
indeed, they two parted company. There the, legend ends.

Notes:
[families]
[down-fended]

Iroquoian Cosmology, by J. N. B. Hewitt; Twenty-First Annual Report of the
Bureau of American Ethnology, 1899-1900 Washington D.C., Government Printing
Office [1903] ] and is now in the public domain.