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NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



the Ruler bestowed universal authority upon the two Spirits, 

 Good and Evil, who remain on the earth always. 



The Ruler, the Great Creative Being, is known by various 

 names, Sho-gwa-yah-dih-sat-oh (He Who Created Us), Ha-wen- 

 ni-yu (He Who Governs), Hah-ni-go-e-yoo (Good Mind), Great 

 Spirit and Tha-nio-do-oh or To-no-do-oo, the latter being generally 

 adopted by the Iroquois. 1 



This mythical island of the Iroquois is a place of eternal peace. 

 In its abundance there are no burdens to weary; in its fruitfulness 

 all needs are endlessly provided. To its perpetual calm death 

 never comes, and to its tranquillity, no desire, no sorrow nor pain. 



The council tree 



In the far away days of this floating island there grew one stately 

 tree 2 that branched beyond the range of vision. Perpetually 

 laden with fruit and blossoms, the air was fragrant with its per- 

 fume, and the people gathered to its shade where councils were 

 held. 



'The term Great Spirit is not Iroquoian but Algonquian and a literal interpretation of 

 their word, Tchi Manitou. The Iroquois equivalent would be Notwais'ha-gowane, (Spirit 

 Great), a term never associated with the idea of the Supreme Deity. Morgan used the term 

 Great Spirit in the League of the Iroquois but probably because it was the popular name 

 with white men. The idea of a Supreme Being was not a well developed one until the 

 advent of white missionaries. 



The present religious system of the Iroquois requires that The Maker be addressed as 

 Ho-dia-nok'-da Hed'-io-he, Our Creator. This custom was inaugurated by Ga-nio'-dai'-io', 

 the Seneca prophet, and is found in section 49 of the Gai'-wi-io' code. The Blue Sky trans- 

 lation which the writer has at hand reads as follows: 



So now another one I will tell you. 



There is a controversy in the upper world. Two beings are disputing over you the children 

 of earth. Two beings are disputing. One is the Great Ruler and the other is the Cave 

 Dweller. And you who know only of the earth know nothing of the discussion. 



So now the Evil One said, " I am the ruler of the earth because when I command I speak 

 but once and men obey." 



Now Haweni'io said this to the Evil One, " The earth is mine for I have created it and 

 men and you did no part of it." 



The Evil One answered, " I do acknowledge that you have created all but I say men 

 beings obey me and do not obey you." 



Now Haweni'io said to the Evil One, " The children (at least) are mine for they have 

 done no wrong." 



So answered the Evil One, " Now I tell you the children are mine for when I say, 1 Pick 

 up a stick and smite your playfellow.' they do. Aye, the children are mine." 



Then Haweni'io said, " I will send my messengers once more to tell how I feel. In that 

 way I will claim my own." 



The Evil One replied, " Even so it will not be long before they forget and transgress the 

 law of the prophecy. And this I will say, one word, and they will do what I say. It is 

 true that I delight in the name, Ila-nis'se-o-no. It is true that who speaks of me, though 

 on the other side of the earth, will find me at his back." 



Then spoke Haweni'io and said to men beings. " Now you must not say Haweni'io, Ruler, 

 because the Evil One calls himself Ruler. And whoever is mine must say, Ho-dia-nok'-da 

 Hed'-io-he, Our Creator, and when you speak of the Evil One, say Se-go-ie-wat'-ha, Tor- 

 mentor, for then he knows that you are aware that he is the punisher of evil souls that leave 

 the earth." 



So now they (the messengers) said it and he (Ga-nio'-dai'-io 1 ) said it. 

 Nia'-ie-huk (So it was). 



2 The central tree in the heaven world was the apple. This tree figures in all the various 

 Iroquois cosmogonic myths. Later in the center of the lower world the Good Mind created 

 another tree, the tree of light. 



