While we know our northern friends may not feel it, in the South, Spring is
here. So we thought we'd share a few of our gardening sites appropriate
for this time of the year. Along with gardening, there's grilling, and getting
ready to diet so that you can fit back into that bathing suit this summer!
Tarenyawagon united in one person the power of a God and a man,
and gave him the expressive name of the Holder of the Heavens,
and was capable of assuming any form or shape that he chose, but
appeared to them only in the form of a man, and taught them
hunting, gardening, and the knowledge of the arts of war. He
imparted to them the knowledge of the laws and government of the
Great Spirit, and gave them directions and encouragement how to
fulfill their duties and obligations. He gave them corn, beans,
and fruits of various kinds, with the knowledge of planting
those fruits. He taught them how to kill and to cook the game.
He made the forest free to all the tribes to hunt, and removed
obstructions from the streams. He took his position, sometimes,
on the top of high cliffs, springing, if needs be, over
frightful chasms; and he flew, as it were, over great lakes in a
wonderful canoe of immaculate whiteness and of magic power.
Having finished his commission with the Tuscaroras at
Cautanoh, in North Carolina, and the other five families, which
were left at the north, he came down to closer terms and
intimacy with the Onondagas. He resolved to lay aside his divine
character and live among them, that he might exemplify the
maxims which he had taught. And for this purpose he selected a
handsome spot of ground on the southern banks of Cross Lake, New
York. Here he built his cabin, and from the shores of this lake
he went into the forest, like the rest of his companions, in
quest of game and fish. He took a wife of the Onondagas, by whom
he had an only daughter, whom he tenderly loved, and most kindly
and carefully treated and instructed, so that she was known far
and near as his favorite child, and was regarded almost as a
goddess. The excellence of his character, and his great sagacity
and good counsels, led the people to regard him with veneration,
and they gave him, in his sublunary character, the name of Hi-a-wat-ha
(a wise man). People came to him from all quarters, and his
abode was thronged by all ages and conditions who came for
advice.
He became the first chief of all the land, and whomsoever he
made his companions and friends were likewise clothed with the
authority of
chiefs in the tribe. In this manner all power came naturally
into his hands, and the tribe rejoiced that they had so wise and
good a man as their ruler. For in those days each tribe was
independent of all others; they had not yet formed a league, but
fought and made war with each other.
Nothing that belonged to Hiawatha, in his character of
Tarenyawagon, was more remarkable than his light and magic
canoe, which shone with a supernatural luster, and in which he
had performed so many of his extraordinary feats. This canoe was
laid aside when he came to fix his residence at Cross Lake, and
never used it but for great and extraordinary purposes. When
great councils were called, and he assembled the wise men to
deliberate together, the sacred canoe was carefully lifted from
the grand lodge; and after these occasions were ended, it was
carefully returned to the same receptacle, on the shoulders of
men, who felt honored in being the bearers of such a precious
burden.
Thus passed away many years, and every year saw the
people increasing in numbers, skill, arts and bravery. It was
among the Onondagas that Tarenyawagon had located himself,
although he regarded the other tribes as friends and brothers;
he had become identified as an adopted member of this particular
tribe. Under his teaching and influence they became the first
among all the original tribes, and rose to the highest
distinction in every art which was known to or prized by the
Akonoshuni (Iroquois). They were the wisest counselors, the best
orators, the most expert hunters, and the bravest warriors. They
also afforded the highest examples of obedience to the laws of
the Great Spirit. If offences took place, Hiawatha redressed
them, and his wisdom and moderation preserved the tribe from
feuds. Hence, the Onondagas were early noted among all the
tribes for their pre-eminence. He appeared to devote his chief
attention to them, that he might afterwards make them examples
to the others, in arts and wisdom. They were foremost in the
overthrow of the Stonish Giants and the killing of the great
Serpent. To be an Onondaga was the highest honor.
While Hiawatha was thus living in domestic life quietly
among the people of the hills, and administering their simple
government with wisdom, they became alarmed by the sudden news
of the approach of a furious and powerful enemy from north of
the great lakes. As the enemy advanced, they made an
indiscriminate slaughter of men, women and children. The people
fled from their villages a short time before them, and there was
no heart in the people to make a stand against such powerful and
ruthless invaders. In this emergency, they fled to Hiawatha for
his advice. He counseled them to call a general council of all
the tribes from the east and west. "For," said he, "our strength
is not in the war club and arrows alone, but in wise counsels."
He appointed a place on the banks of Onondaga Lake for the
meeting. It was a clear eminence from which there was a wide
prospect. Runners were dispatched in every direction, and the
chiefs, warriors and headmen forthwith assembled in great
numbers, bringing with them, in the general alarm, their women
and children. Fleets of canoes were seen on the bosom of the
lake, and every interior warpath was kept open by the
foot-prints of the different tribes, hurrying to obey the
summons of Hiawatha. All but the wise man himself had been there
for three days, anxiously awaiting the arrival of Hiawatha, when
a messenger was dispatched after him. They found him gloomy and
depressed. Some great burden appeared to hang on his mind. He
told them that evil lay on his path, and that he had fearful
forebodings of ill-fortune. He felt that he was called to make
some great sacrifice, but he did not know what it was, it seemed
to be hid from him. Least of all did he think it was to be his
daughter: ever careful of her, he bade her kindly to accompany
him. Nothing happened to hinder, or at all interrupt their
voyage. The Talismanic canoe, which held them, gilded silently
down the waters of the Seneca; not a paddle was necessary to
give it impetus, while it pursued the downward course of the
stream till they reached the point of the lake outlet. At this
point Hiawatha took his paddle and gave it impetus against the
current, until they entered on the bright and calm surface of
the Onondaga, cradled, as this blue sheet of water is, among the
lofty and far-swelling hills. When the white canoe of the
venerable chief appeared, a shout of welcome rang among those
hills. The day was calm and serene. No wind ruffled the lake,
and scarcely a cloud floated in the sky above. But while the
wise man was measuring his steps towards the place designated
for the council, and while ascending from the water's edge, a
rumbling and low sound was heard, as if it were caused by the
approach of a violent, rushing wind. Instantly all the eyes were
turned upwards, where a small and compact mass of cloudy
darkness appeared. It gathered in size and velocity as it
approached, and appeared to be directed inevitably to fall in
the midst of the assembly. Every one fled in consternation but
Hiawatha and his daughter. He stood erect, with ornaments waving
in his frontlet, and besought his daughter calmly to await the
issue, "for it is impossible," said he, "to escape the power of
the Great Spirit. If he has determined our destruction we
cannot, by running, fly from him." She modestly assented and
they stood together, while horror was depicted in the faces of
the others. But the force of the descending body was that of a
sudden storm. They had hardly taken the resolution to halt when
an immense bird, with long, extended wings, came down with
swoop. This gigantic agent of the sky came with such force that
the assembly felt the shock. The girl being in a nature, and
embodied in the combination of the Terrestial and Celestial
nature, was beautiful and fascinating in her looks and form, was
borne away by this Celestial Bird to be seen no more upon the
earth. But Hiawatha was inconsolable for his loss. He grieved
sorely, day and night, and wore a desponding and dejected
countenance. But these were only faint indications of the
feelings of his heart. He threw himself upon the ground, and
refused to be comforted. He seemed dumb with melancholy, and the
people were concerned of his life. He spoke nothing; he made no
answers to questions put to him, and laid still as if dead.
After several days
the council appointed a certain merry-hearted Chief to make him
a visit, and to whisper a word of consolation in his ears to
arouse him from his stupor. The result was successful. He
approached with ceremonies and induced him to arise, and named
the time when the council would convene. Yet haggard with grief,
he called for refreshments and ate. He then adjusted his
wardrobe and head-dress and went to the council. He drew his
robe of wolf-skin gracefully around him, and walked to his seat
at the head of the assembled chiefs with a majestic step.
Stillness and the most profound attention reigned in the council
while he presided, and the discussion opened and proceeded. The
subject of the invasion was handled by several of the ablest
counselors and the bravest warriors. Various plans were proposed
to defeat the enemy. Hiawatha listened with silence until all
had finished speaking. His opinion was then asked. After a brief
allusion of the calamity which had befallen him through the
descent of the great bird by the Great Spirit, he spoke to the
following effect:
"I have listened to the words of the wise men and brave
chiefs, but it is not fitting that we should do a thing of so
much importance in haste; it is a subject demanding calm
reflection and mature deliberation. Let us postpone the decision
for one day. During this time we will weigh well the words of
the speakers who have already spoken. If they are good, I will
then approve of them. If they are not, I will then open to you
my plan. It is one which I have reflected on, and feel confident
that it will insure safety."
When another day had expired, the council again met.
Hiawatha entered the assembly with even more than ordinary
attention, and every eye was fixed upon him, when he began to
address the council in the following words:
"Friends and Brothers: You being members of many
tribes, you have come from a great distance; the voice of war
has aroused you up; you are afraid of your homes, your wives and
your children; you tremble for your safety. Believe me, I am
with you. My heart beats with your hearts. We are one. We have
one common object. We come to promote our common interest, and
to determine how this can be best done.
"To oppose those hordes of northern tribes, singly and
alone, would prove certain destruction. We can make no progress
in that way. We must unite ourselves into one common band of
brothers. We must have but one voice. Many voices makes
confusion. We must have one fire, one pipe and one war club.
This will give us strength. If our warriors are united they can
defeat the enemy and drive them from our land; if we do this, we
are safe.
"Onondaga, you are the people sitting under the shadow
of the Great Tree , whose branches spread far and wide, and
whose roots sink deep into the earth. You shall be the first
nation, because you are warlike and mighty.
"Oneida, and you, the people who recline your bodies
against the Everlasting Stone , that cannot be moved, shall be
the second nation,
because you always give good counsel.
"Seneca, and you, the people who have your habitation
at the foot of the Great Mountain , and are overshadowed by its
crags, shall be the third nation, because you are all greatly
gifted in speech.
"Cayuga, you, whose dwelling is in the Dark Forest ,
and whose home is everywhere, shall be the fourth nation,
because of your superior cunning in hunting.
"Mohawk, and you, the people who live in the open
country, and possess much wisdom, shall be the fifth nation,
because you understand better the art of raising corn and beans
and making cabins.
"You five great and powerful nations, with your tribes,
must unite and have one common interest, and no foes shall
disturb or subdue you.
"And you of the different nations of the south, and you of the
west, may place yourselves under our protection, and we will
protect you. We earnestly desire the alliance and friendship of
you all.
"And from you, Squaw-ki-haws (being a remote branch of
the Seneca Nation), being the people who are as the Feeble
Bushes , shall be chosen, a Virgin, who shall be the peacemaker
for all the nations of the earth, and more particularly the
favored Ako-no-shu-ne, which name this confederacy shall ever
sustain. If we unite in one band the Great Spirit will smile
upon us, and we shall be free, prosperous and happy; but if we
shall remain as we are we shall incur his displeasure. We shall
be enslaved, and perhaps annihilated forever.
"Brothers, these are the words of Hiawatha. Let them
sink deep into your hearts. I have done."
A deep and impressive silence followed the delivery of
this speech. On the following day the council again assembled to
act on it. High wisdom recommended this deliberation.
The union of the tribes into one confederacy was
discussed and unanimously adopted. To denote the character and
intimacy of the union they employed the figure of a single
council-house, or lodge, whose boundaries be co-extensive with
their territories. Hence the name of
Ako-no-shu-ne, who were called the Iroquois.
The great bird which visited them from heaven brought a
precious gift to the warriors in the white plumes which she shed
at the visit. Every warrior, as he approached the spot where
they fell, picked up a feather of snowy white to adorn his
crown; and the celestial visitant thus became the means of
furnishing the aspirants of military fame with an emblem which
was held in the highest estimation. Succeeding generations
imbibed the custom from this incident to supply themselves with
a plumage approaching it as nearly as possible; they selected
the plume of the white heron.
At the formation of the confederacy Ato-ta-rho, being considered
next in wisdom and all other traits of character which
constitutes the necessary qualifications of an honored Sachem,
was ordained as the head Sachem of the confederacy, which office
has been transmitted down to succeeding generations of the
Onondaga Nation to the present time.
Hiawatha, the guardian and founder of the league,
having now accomplished the will of the Great Spirit, and the
withdrawal of his daughter having been regarded by him as a sign
that his mission was ended, he immediately prepared to make his
final departure. Before the great council, which had adopted his
advice just before dispersing, he arose, with a dignified air,
and addressed them in the following manner:
"Friends and Brothers: I have now fulfilled my mission
here below; I have furnished you seeds and grains for your
gardens; I have removed obstructions from your waters, and made
the forest habitable by teaching you how to expel its monsters;
I have given you fishing places and hunting grounds; I have
instructed you in the making and using of war implements; I have
taught you how to cultivate corn, and many other arts and gifts.
I have been allowed by the Great Spirit to communicate to you.
Last of all, I have aided you to form a league of friendship and
union. If you preserve this, and admit no foreign element of
power by the admission of other nations, you will always be
free, numerous and happy. If other tribes and nations are
admitted to your councils, they will sow the seed of jealousy
and discord, and you will become few, feeble and enslaved.
"Friends and brothers, these are the last words you will hear
from the lips of Hiawatha. The Great Creator of our bodies calls
me to go; I
have patiently awaited his summons; I am ready to go. Farewell."
As the voice of the wise man ceased, sweet strains of
music from the air burst on the ears of the multitude. The whole
sky appeared to be filled with melody; and while all eyes were
directed to catch glimpses of the sights, and enjoy strains of
the celestial music that filled the sky, Hiawatha was seen,
seated in his snow-white canoe, amid the air, rising, rising
with every choral chant that burst out. As he rose the sound of
the music became more soft and faint, until he vanished amid the
summer clouds, and the melody ceased. Thus terminated the labors
and cares of the long-cherished memory of Ta-ren-ya-wa-gon.
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Legends, Traditions, and Laws of the Iroquois, or Six Nations and History of the Tuscarora Indians
