IROQUOIS MYTHS AND LEGENDS 



45 



do-yah. And great was the rejoicing of the Thunderers and war- 

 riors. 



Now, that Gun-no-do-yah had been saved, He-no would never 

 permit him to revisit the earth, but that he might have him ever 

 near him, made him one of his aids to accompany him during his 

 storms and hurry the lightning. 



Lake Ontario is noted for its violent winds, and when they 

 drive the canoe high on the waves, the Indians know that the 

 spirit of the snake is there " twisting the water " in its revenge 

 and when the lightning darts quick across the sky, they whispei 

 in awe, " Gun-no-do-yah is chasing it! " 



O-SE-HA-DA-GAAR 1 , THE DEW EAGLE 



He-no, the Thunderer. Ga-oh, Spirit of the Winds. The Fire Spirit, 

 the Listeners, and Flame Bearers 



In the myth lore of the Iroquois, where everything animate 01 

 inanimate is endowed with supernatural powers either evil or 

 good, the myths relating to the sun, so fecund with life-giving 

 power, have special significance. 



Although never wandering from his path across the sky, the 

 Sun 2 controls his broad dominion through his assistants, Serving 

 Spirits, whom he endows with various powers and sends down to 

 Earth to fulfil his missions. 



To some is given the care of the fruits, others guard the grains, 

 nothing is overlooked; and these guarding spirits, ever watchful 

 of their duties, faithfully serve the Sun. 



But there are others. Spirits of Evil, who roam the Earth, and 

 defying the Sun, seek to overthrow its beneficent power. Among 

 these is the Fire Spirit who, malevolently jealous of the Spirits of 

 Good, may summon his Flame Bearers and, descending to Earth, 

 burn and destroy the harvests. 



At the coming of the Fire Spirit, mountains shrink down, the 

 thirsting valleys suck dry the streams and springs, Night pales her 

 stars, and all Earth faints. 



1 Should be Os-ha-da-ge-a'. 



2 The Sun, according to a myth in the writer's collection, is the chief messenger of the 

 Creator. It is his duty to observe all the activities of men and nature and report them to 

 his superior. " He is the eye of the Creator," said Soson'dowa who related the tale. The 

 sun is especially the patron spirit of war and lingers as he watches the conflict. Thus days 

 of battle are longer. Each morning he emerges from under the sky dome (horizon) 

 where its rim touches the far east sea. The east wind blows as he mounts the sky path, 

 chough •' maybe it is the wind of the bowl when it is lifted." When Ende'ka Da'kwa 

 descends on the west water, the bowl lifts again for the fraction of a moment and he shoots 

 under and leaves the world to Night. The raising of the sky dome twice each day makes 

 the tides of the ocean " but they don't come even now days " remarks the myth teller. 



