NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



few Iroquois societies, perhaps, are more venerable. One authority 

 has contended that it is a tribal branch of an organization found 

 everywhere among Indians throughout the continent and produced 

 good arguments to support the theory, but an examination of its 

 traditions and ritual would lead to the opinion that it is purely 

 Iroquois. No doubt similar organizations existed and perhaps 

 were affiliated with it, but it does not seem probable that it should 

 have been widely found. 



In order to understand the organization it is necessary first to 

 understand the legend of its origin when many otherwise obscure 

 allusions will be made apparent. The legend follows: 



Origin of the Little Water Medicine Society 



AS RELATED BY CHIEF E. CORNPLANTER 1 



There was in old times a young chief who was a hunter of great 

 cunning, but though he killed many animals he never took ad- 

 vantage of their positions. He never shot a swimming deer nor 

 a doe with a fawn ; he never killed an animal fatigued by a long run 

 nor took one unawares. Before the hunt he always threw tobacco 

 and made a ceremony to ask permission to kill game. Nor was 

 he ever ungrateful to the animals of the woods who had been his 

 friends for so many years. The flesh that was useless he left for 

 the wolves and birds, calling to them as he left it, " Come, my 

 friends, I have made a feast for you." Likewise when he took 

 honey from a tree he left a portion for the bears and when he had 

 his corn harvested he left open ears in the field for the crows, that 

 they might not steal the corn sprouts at the next planting. He 

 fed the fish and water animals with entrails and offal. No ruthless 

 hunter was he, but thoughtful. He threw tobacco for the animals 

 in the woods and water and made incense for them with the o-yank- 

 wa-o-weh, the sacred tobacco and burnt it even for the trees. He 

 was a well loved chief for he remembered his friends and gave them 

 meat. All the animals were his friends and all his people were 

 loyal to him. All this was because he was good and he was known 

 as the " protector of the birds and beasts." So he was called. 



The southwest country is a land of mysteries. There are many 

 unknown things in the mountains there and also in the waters. 

 The wildest people have always lived there and some were very 

 wise and made different things. When, many years ago, the 



1 The active membership in the order is limited to actual holders of the mystery packet. 

 In order that the writer might become a full member, Cornplanter resigned and surrend- 

 ered his packet to him. 



