IROQUOIS MYTHS AND LEGENDS 



33 



One day the Great Ruler said to his people: " We will make a 

 new place where another people may grow. Under our council 

 tree is a great cloud sea which calls for our help. It is lonesome. 

 It knows no rest and calls for light. We will talk to it. The 

 roots of our council tree point to it and will show the way." 



Having commanded that the tree be uprooted, the Great Ruler 

 peered into the depths where the roots had guided, and summoning 

 Ata-en-sic, who was with child, bade her look down. Ata-en-sic 

 saw nothing, but the Great Ruler knew that the sea voice was 

 calling, and bidding her carry its life, wrapped around her a great 

 ray of light 1 and sent her down to the cloud sea. 



Hah-nu-nah, the Turtle 



Dazzled by the descending light enveloping Ata-en-sic, there 

 was great consternation among the animals and birds inhabiting 

 the cloud sea, and they counseled in alarm. 



" If it falls it may destroy us," they cried. 



" Where can it rest?" asked the Duck. 



" Only the oeh-da (earth) can hold it," said the Beaver, " the 

 oeh-da which lies at the bottom of our waters, and I will bring it." 

 The Beaver went down but never returned. Then the Duck ven- 

 tured, but soon its dead body floated to the surface. 



Many of the divers had tried and failed when the Muskrat, 

 knowing the way, volunteered to obtain it and soon returned 

 bearing a small portion in his paw. " But it is heavy," said he, 

 " and will grow fast. Who will bear it? " 



The Turtle was willing, and the oeh-da was placed on his hard 

 shell. 



Having received a resting place for the light, the water birds, 

 guided by its glow, flew upward, and receiving the woman on their 

 widespread wings, bore her down to the Turtle's back. 



And Hah-nu-nah, the Turtle, 2 became the Earth Bearer. When 

 he stirs, the seas rise in great waves, and when restless and violent, 

 earthquakes yawn and devour. 



Ata-en-sic, the Sky Woman 



The oeh-da grew rapidly and had become an island when Ata- 

 en-sic, hearing voices under her heart, one soft and soothing, the 



1 The light was made by the Fire Beast, Ga-ha-shein-dye-tha. 



2 The belief that the earth is supported by a gigantic turtle is one that is shared by many 

 races. In the ancient myths of the Hindoos, for example, the earth is described as resting 

 on the back of four elephants which stand upon the back of an enormous turtle. In Iroquoian 

 ceremonies the turtle symbol plays an important part. 



