806 IROQUOIAN COSMOLOGY [eth. ann. 43 



it fled to the mountains, seeking to conceal itself beneath their shelter; 

 but this was in vain, for it was repeatedly hit by the men of Thunder, 

 and finally, it was killed. 



As an explanation of this phenomenon, the hosts of De'hae"'- 

 hyo'we°'s and his friends, said," It is verily true that beneath the sur- 

 face of the ground whatever is otkon (i. e., malign by nature) moves to 

 and fro from place to place. It would, indeed, be most unfortunate 

 for us all should this species of being be permitted to travel from 

 place to place upon the earth. And so they are doomed to abide 

 beneath the surface of the ground in the interior of the earth. 



"And now concerning the origin of these beings; it was he whom we 

 call O'hfi'ii' (The Ice-clad) that formed their bodies; and so too it 

 came to pass that he whom j'^ou call Hawgnnl'yo' (i. e., the Disposer, 

 or Ruler) decided that so long as the earth endures these beings shall 

 abide under the surface of the earth. And, furthermore, we will say 

 that we ourselves believe that He who charged us with the performance 

 of this task of keeping them beneath the surface of the earth will 

 cause it to come to pass, perhaps when the earth is nearing its ending, 

 then, and not until then, that these beings shall be permitted to come 

 forth upon the earth. So is it, indeed, to come to pass that when the 

 event is not distant — the ending of the earth — He will bring to an 

 ending the duties with which we are severally charged to be performed 

 for the benefit of the things that live upon the earth. 



"And not until then shall the waters which are held in their several 

 places become polluted; all other things shall likewise become old and 

 decayed upon the earth; and all things that grow out of the ground too 

 shall grow old and sear; indeed, all things shall become withered and 

 decayed. So, now let us turn back homeward." 



Then turning homeward the party retraced their steps. Upon 

 reentering their lodge the spokesman of the party said to the old 

 woman who presided over the lodgeliold (household), "We have now 

 completed the task of making damp and mellow all things that grow 

 upon the face of the earth." 



Then, the aged matron of the lodge arising from her seat went into 

 the adjoining room of the lodge and said to the Person who occupied 

 that room "Now, they have, indeed, returned." Then the old 

 woman withdrew and resumed her accustomed seat. 



In a short time the doorflap separating the adjoining room was 

 pushed aside and the Person — a Man Being (Hen'gwe') — thrust his 

 head through the doorway and asked the returned men, "Have you 

 now, indeed, completed the work? Have you made damp and mellow 

 all things that grow on the earth that is beneath this one?" 



Then the men replied in unison, "We have indeed accomplished our 

 task as we were charged to do." And the Person from the adjoining 

 room said, "Now, moreover, you must rest until there shall be 



