IROQUOIS — FENTON 419 



the title by contest. The creator agreed to call the stranger "headman," should 

 he demonstrate sufficient magic strength to summon a distant mountain toward 

 them. They sat down facing the east with their baclcs to the west and held 

 their breath. Now the great False-face shook his giant turtle rattle and the up- 

 roar freightened the game animals. He summoned the mountain toward them, 

 but it moved only part way. Now it was the creator's turn, and he summoned 

 the mountain, which came directly up to them. However, his rival, becoming 

 impatient, suddenly looked around, and the mountain struck his face. The im- 

 pact broke his nose bridge, and pain distorted his mouth. Now the creator real- 

 ized that this fellow had great power. He assigned him the task of driving 

 disease from the earth and assisting the people who were about to travel to and 

 fro hunting. The loser agreed that if humans make portrait masks of him, call 

 him grandfather, make tobacco offerings, and set down a kettle of mush, that 

 they too shall have the power to cure disease by blowing hot ashes. The creator 

 gave him a place to dwell in the rocky hills to the west near the rim of the 

 earth, and he agreed to come In whichever direction the people summon him. 



The Good Hunter's Adventure 



Later, as humans went about the earth, in the fall men went into the woods 

 hunting. They carried native tobacco and parched corn meal for mush. They 

 were tormented by shy, querulous beings who flitted timidly behind trees with 

 their long hair snapping in the wind. Sometimes a hunter returned to his camp 

 to find the ashes of his fire strewn about the hearth and the marks of some 

 great, dirty hand where someone had grasped a house post for support as he 

 leaned over and pawed in the fire. The hunter agreed to stay home while his 

 partner went afield. During the morning, a False-face approached cautiously, 

 sledging on one hip, now and then standing erect to gaze about before proceed- 

 ing. Going to the hearth, he reached into the ashes and scattered the coals as if 

 seeking something. That night the hunter had a dream in which the False-face 

 requested tobacco and mush. The next day, the hunter set a kettle down for 

 them. The Faces came and taught him their songs and their method of treating 

 patients with hot ashes. In a subsequent dream, they requested him to remem- 

 ber them every year with a feast, saying they are everywhere in the forests, 

 bringing luck to those who remember them. 



Another legend from Chauncey Johnny John tells of a hunter who 

 inadvisedly shot but failed to kill an old man whom he discovered sit- 

 ting on a log in the forest. The man returned the arrow, instructed 

 the hunter to make 100 bark bowls, to cook a great kettle of mush, and 

 provide tobacco for a company of 100 who would appear next day. 

 The amazed hunter fulfilled everything, and when he was ready. Faces 

 of all ages gathered around his fire. The old man, who was their leader, 

 taught him a tobacco invocation and three songs. They showed him 

 how to cure by blowing hot ashes, and presented him with a miniature 

 mask to serve as a model for making larger ones. 



Hunters returned home to their villages. They related their strange 

 adventures and revealed their dreams. Sometimes after returning 

 home, they had new dreams and received further instructions. They 

 showed their people how to make masks and they organized a medicine 

 company. 



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