76 MYTHS OF THE IROQUOIS. 



ORIGIN OF THE HUMAN RACE. 



The Iroquois legend of an origin of the human race, which includes 

 the creation of the spirits of good and evil, is undoubtedly of modern 

 origin. 



In the great past, deep water covered all the earth. The air was 

 filled with birds, and great monsters were in possession of the waters, 

 when a beautiful woman was seen by them falling from the sky. Then 

 huge ducks gathered in council and resolved to meet this wouderfui 

 creature and break the force of her fall. So they arose, and, with pinion 

 overlapping pinion, unitedly received the dusky burden. Then the 

 monsters of the deep also gathered in council to decide which should 

 hold this celestial being and protect her from the terrors of the water, 

 but none was able except a giant tortoise, who volunteered to endure 

 this lasting weight upon his back. There she was gently placed, while 

 he, constantly increasing in size, soon became a large island. Twin 

 boys were after a time brought forth by the woman — one the spirit of 

 good, who made all good things, and caused the maize, fruit, and tobacco 

 to grow ; the other the spirit of evil, who created the weeds and all ver- 

 min. Ever the world was increasing in size, although occasional quak- 

 ings were felt, caused by the efforts of the monster tortoise to stretch 

 out, or by the contraction of his muscles. 



After the lapse of ages from the time of his general creation Ta-rhu°. 

 hiilwilh-ku", the Sky Holder, resolvdl upon a special creation of a race 

 which should surpass all others in beauty, strength, and bravery; so 

 from the bosom of the great island, where they had previously subsisted 

 upon moles, Ta-rhu°-hiilwah-ku'' brought out the six pairs, which were 

 destined to become the greatest of all people. 



The Tuscaroras tell us that the first pair were left near a great river, 

 now called the Mohawk. The second family were directed to make their 

 home by the side of a big stone. Their descendants have been termed 

 the Oneidas. Another pair were left on a high hill, and have ever been 

 called the Onondagas. Thus each pair was left with careful instructions 

 in different parts of what is now known as the State of New York, ex- 

 cept the Tuscaroras, who were taken up the Koanoke River into North 

 Carolina, where Tarhu"-hia-wahku° also took up his abode, teaching 

 them many useful arts before his departure. This, say they, accounts 

 for the superiority of the Tuscaroras. But each of the six tribes will 

 tell you that his own was the favored one with whom Sky Holder made 

 his terrestrial home, while the Onondagas claim that their possession of 

 the council fire prove them to have been the chosen peoi^le. 



Later, as the numerous families became scattered over the State, some 

 lived in localities where the bear was the principal game, and were 

 called from that circumstance the clan of the Bear. Others lived where 

 the beavers were trapped, and they were called the Beaver clan. For 

 similar reasons the Snipe, Deer, Wolf, Tortoise, and Eel clans received 

 their appellations. 



