1635.J THE DROUGHT AND THE CROSS. 69 



and caused him to fly another way.^ On this a 

 clamor arose. The popular ire turned against the 

 priests, and the obnoxious cross was condemned to 

 be hewn down. Aghast at the threatened sac- 

 rilege, they attempted to reason away the storm, 

 assuring the crowd that the lightning was not a 

 bird, but certain hot and fiery exhalations, which, 

 being imprisoned, darted this way and that, trying 

 to escape. As this philosophy failed to convince 

 the hearers, the missionaries changed their line of 

 defence. 



" You say that the red color of the crosts 

 frightens the bird of thunder. Then paint the 

 cross white, and see if the thunder will come." 



This was accordingly done ; but the clouds still 

 kept aloof The Jesuits followed up their advan- 

 tage. 



" Your spirits cannot help you, and your sor- 

 cerers have deceived you with lies. Now ask the 

 aid of Him who made the world, and perhaps 

 He will listen to your prayers." And they added, 



1 The following is the account of the nature of thunder, given to Bre- 

 beuf on a former occasion by another sorcerer. 



" It is a man in the form of a turkey-cock. The sky is his palace, and 

 he remains in it when the air is clear. When the clouds begin to grum- 

 ble, he descends to the earth to gather up snakes, and other objects which 

 the Indians call okies. The lightning flashes whenever he opens or closes 

 his wings. If the storm is more violent than usual, it is because his 

 yoimg are with him, and aiding in the noise as well as they can." — Rela- 

 tion des Hurons, 1636, 114. 



The word ohi is here used to denote any object endued with super- 

 natural power. A belief similar to the above exists to this day among 

 the Dacotahs. Some of the Hurons and Iroquois, however, held that the 

 thunder was a giant in human form. According to one story, he vomited 

 from time to time a number of snakes, which, falling to the earth, caused 

 the appearance of lightning. 



