The Myths of the North American IndiansSpence, Lewis
History
The Myths of the North American Indians
Spence, Lewis
Indian mythology -- North America; Indians of North America -- Folklore
When he reached his village his companions ran to
greet him. Their faces were sad and hopeless, for the
plague still raged. However, Nekumonta directed
them to the Healing Waters and inspired them with
new hope. Shanewis he found on the verge of the
Shadow-land, and scarcely able to murmur a farewell
to her husband. But Nekumonta did not listen to her
broken adieux. He forced some of the Healing Water
between her parched lips, and bathed her hands and
her brow till she fell into a gentle slumber. When
she awoke the fever had left her, she was serene and
smiling, and Nekumonta's heart was filled with a great
happiness.
The tribe was for ever rid of the dreaded plague,
and the people gave to Nekumonta the title of 'Chief
of the Healing Waters,' so that all might know that it
was he who had brought them the gift of Manitou.
Sayadio in Spirit-land
A legend of the Wyandot tribe of the Iroquois
relates how Sayadio, a young Indian, mourned greatly
for a beautiful sister who had died young. So deeply
did he grieve for her that at length he resolved to seek
her in the Land of Spirits. Long he sought the maiden,
and many adventures did he meet with. Years passed
in the search, which he was about to abandon as wholly
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in vain, when he encountered an old man, who gave
him some good advice. This venerable person also
bestowed upon him a magic calabash in which he
might catch and retain the spirit of his sister should
he succeed in finding her. He afterward discovered
that this old man was the keeper of that part of the
Spirit-land which he sought.
Delighted to have achieved so much, Sayadio
pursued his way, and in due time reached the Land of
Souls. But to his dismay he perceived that the spirits,
instead of advancing to meet him as he had expected,
fled from him in terror. Greatly dejected, he
approached Tarenyawago, the spirit master of ceremonies,
who took compassion upon him and informed him that
the dead had gathered together for a great dance
festival, just such as the Indians themselves celebrate at
certain seasons of the year. Soon the dancing
commenced, and Sayadio saw the spirits floating round in
a mazy measure like wreaths of mist. Among them
he perceived his sister, and sprang forward to embrace
her, but she eluded his grasp and dissolved into air.
[Illustration: "Soon the dancing commenced"]
Much cast down, the youth once more appealed to
the sympathetic master of ceremonies, who gave him a
magic rattle of great power, by the sound of which he
might bring her back. Again the spirit-music sounded
for the dance, and the dead folk thronged into the circle.
Once more Sayadio saw his sister, and observed that she
was so wholly entranced with the music that she took
no heed of his presence. Quick as thought the young
Indian dipped up the ghost with his calabash as one
nets a fish, and secured the cover, in spite of all the
efforts of the captured soul to regain its liberty.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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