IROQUOIS MYTHS AND LEGENDS 



189 



apologized for his stupid neglect and at once sent a deputation 

 westward in search of the home of Hy-ent-wat-ha and his people. 



For a while things went smoothly with Hy-ent-wat-ha. The 

 compact announced by the brother was strictly and faithfully 

 kept, but after a time and while the delegation was yet absent, 

 a party of some special friends came to visit the brother. Sitting 

 room to accommodate all the party was scarce, but some room 

 could be made if Hy-ent-wat-ha would give up his place. Accord- 

 ingly the brother asked him to vacate his place in front and take 

 a place behind him. This of course was a breach of the compact 

 though unwittingly committed. Hence, as soon as Hy-ent-wat-ha 

 could gather his personal effects, he left the lodge and reoccupied 

 his abandoned camp, on the outskirts of the village. The brother 

 sent to know the cause of this abandonment and on being told, 

 made the most ample apologies and Hy-ent-wat-ha returned to 

 the lodge. The compact was never again broken and they remained 

 brothers indeed. 



The prospecting deputation now returned and reported that on 

 journeying westward they had perceived a column of smoke rising 

 from the earth till its head seemed to pierce the heavens. They 

 had proceeded to its base and there found a large concourse of 

 people, who announced that they had been called together by a 

 great and wise man who had mysteriously disappeared and they 

 were waiting for his return to tell them what they should do. 

 That they were ruled by a wicked monster in the form of a man, 

 whose name was To-do-do-ha, whose hair was a tangled mass of 

 hissing serpents. Whenever this human monster turned his gaze 

 upon others, they were invariably turned into stone. All of the 

 people, including the snaky monster, were anxious for the return 

 of the man who was last seen making his way eastward. 



Hy-ent-wat-ha then explained that it was he who had called the 

 people together for the purpose of organizing the Indians into one 

 great family and establishing a perpetual peace among them; 

 that the snaky headed chief had objected because he would be 

 shorn of his great influence and demoniac powers. But that as 

 the council fire which he had kindled from the red willow was still 

 burning, it was plainly his duty to return and complete his task. 

 But he could not do it alone. He must have help and his brother 

 must be the helper. He therefore named him Da-ga-ee-oga meaning 

 the word between, implying a speaker. That is, Hy-ent-wat-ha 

 was to do the work and his brother the necessary speaking and 



