IROQUOIS MYTHS AND LEGENDS 



117 



OT-TO-TAR-HO, THE TANGLED 



It was at some time during the remote period before the organiza- 

 tion of the Iroquois Confederacy, that there was born among the 

 Onondagas a most remarkable personage named Ot-to-tar-ho, 1 

 and whether myth or human, he still lives in a legend that will 

 be remembered and retold as long as there are Iroquois remaining. 



The legend runs that in his youth he was gentle and mild, fond 

 of innocent amusements and the chase, and was beloved by his 

 people who looked forward to the time when he would be chosen 

 their chief and become their counselor. But one day when hunting 

 in the mountains he chanced to kill a strange bird which, though 

 beautiful in plumage, was virulently poisonous. Unaware of its 

 deadly nature Ot-to-tar-ho, delighted with his prize, plucked its 

 bright feathers to decorate his head and while handling them 

 inhaled their poison which entering his brain maddened him and 

 upon his return to the village in insane rage, he sought to kill those 

 whom he met. Amazed at the strange transformation the people 

 were in great consternation and fled from him in fear. No more 

 the gentle Ot-to-tar-ho; no more did he care for their games; no 

 more did he care for the chase, but was sullen and morose and 

 shunned all companionship with his people who also avoided him 

 for he had developed a mania for killing human beings. 



The poisonous fire that burned in his brain had so distorted his 

 features that he became hideous to behold; his long glossy hair fell 

 from his head and in its stead there grew serpents that writhed 

 and hissed when he brushed them back from his face and coiled 

 around his pipe in rage when he smoked. 



Many believed he had been witched, that some ferocious animal 

 had taken possession of him; others that he was controlled by an 

 evil spirit who was seeking to destroy the nation. Various were 

 the surmises of the people but the mystery baffled them and their 

 appeals to their medicine men were received by these wise men in 

 silence; yet they sought by long fasting and dancing and various 

 incantations to appease the wrath of the evil one, but their efforts 

 were all in vain for still the demon if demon it was, continued to 

 dominate Ot-to-tar-ho, who only became more furious and violent 

 and seemed to have endowed him with supernatural powers. 



His mind had become so powerful that it could project a thought 

 many miles through the air and kill whomsoever he desired. De- 

 veloping clairvoyance of vision and prophecy, he could divine other 

 people's thoughts and through this power came to dominate the 



1 In Seneca this name is To-do-da-ho. 



See Origin of the Wampum Belt, page 138. 



