976 THE GHOST-DANCE RELIGION [eth.abn.14 



In the mythology of many primitive nations, from the ancient Hindu 

 to our own Indian tribes, the turtle <>r tortoise is the supporter of the 

 earth, the Atlas on whose back rests the burden of the whole living- 

 universe. A reason for this is found in the amphibious character of 

 the turtle, which renders it equally at home on land and in the water, 

 and in its peculiar shape, which was held to be typical of the world, 

 the world itself being conceived as a huge turtle swimming in a 

 limitless ocean, the dome of the sky being its upper shell, and the flat 

 surface of the earth being the bony breastplate of the animal, while 

 inclosed between them was the living body, the human, animal, 

 and vegetal creation. In Hindu mythology, when the gods are ready 

 to destroy maukind, the turtle will grow weary and sink under his 

 load and then the waters will rise and a deluge will overwhelm the 

 earth. (Fislce.) 



The. belief in the turtle as the upholder of the earth was common to 

 all the Algonquian tribes, to which belong the Arapaho and Cheyenne, 

 and to the northern Iroquoian tribes. Earthquakes were caused by his 

 shiftiug his position from time to time. In their pictographs the turtle 

 was frequently the symbol of the earth, and in their prayers it was 

 sometimes addressed as mother. The most honored clan was the Turtle 

 clan; the most sacred spot in the Algonquian territory was Mackinaw, 

 the " Island of the Great Turtle; " the favorite medicine bowl of their 

 doctors is the shell of a turtle; the turtle is pictured on the ghost shirts 

 of the Arapaho, and farther south in Oklahoma it is the recognized 

 stock brand by which it is known that ahorse or cow belongs to one 

 of the historic Delaware tribe. 



27. Tahi'na'aNa nia'huna 



Nii'nisa'na, na'nisa'na, 

 Na'rjani'na ta'hn 'iia'aiili nia huna', 



Talm na . : in:'i nia'huna, 

 Na'nisa'na, nii'nisa'na, 

 Xu'naiii'na ta'hcti nia huna', 



Ta'h&ti 'nia'huna'. 



Trtinnlation 



My children, my children, 



It is I who make the thunder as I circle about — 



The thunder as I circle about. 

 My children, my children, 

 It is I who make the loud thunder as I circle about — 



The loud thunder as I circle about. 



This song evidently refers to the Thunderbird. It is one of the old 

 favorites from the north, and is sung to a sprightly tune in quick time. 

 It differs from the others in having only a part instead of all of the 

 line repeated. 



