Myths and legends of the New York state Iroquois . now his manhood was approaching. Ten suns to pass abovehim; ten nights for his clan spirit to choose his totem. If thedeer, he would wind its soft skin about him to warn away the coldwinds. If the bear, he would string its strong claws to wear aroundhis neck. If the wolf, his white teeth would guard him from the beaver, he would wed the water. If the turtle, his shellwould be his breastplate. If a bird, his wings would adorn thought but hope and faith in his dreaming. 1 It is possible for a youth to become a chief but unless h
Myths and legends of the New York state Iroquois . now his manhood was approaching. Ten suns to pass abovehim; ten nights for his clan spirit to choose his totem. If thedeer, he would wind its soft skin about him to warn away the coldwinds. If the bear, he would string its strong claws to wear aroundhis neck. If the wolf, his white teeth would guard him from the beaver, he would wed the water. If the turtle, his shellwould be his breastplate. If a bird, his wings would adorn thought but hope and faith in his dreaming. 1 It is possible for a youth to become a chief but unless he inherited the right to candidacyfrom his maternal side to become one of the several considered for nomination and thenreceived the nomination by the women and the confirmation and election by the warriors,he could not hope to become one of the council of fifty sachems who formed the governingbody of the league. The difference between chiefs and sachems is the same difiEerencewhich now obtains between army officers and federal senators. Plate 6. The dawn drink of the dream faster IROQUOIS MYTHS AND LEGENDS I09 Three times must the clan spirit bring the totem. Nine sunshad lighted the forest, nine nights had darkened the lodge. Thetenth day dawned frowning and gloomy, and the chiefs came. They shook the lodge poles and bade him appear. Not yettoday, he replied, I have fasted and dreamed, yet the clanspirit came^but once. Return tomorrow. Again on the morrowthey came. \ One day more, pleaded 0-go-ne-sas, but his voicewas low and weak. Again on the morrow came the chiefs, an-nouncing that his time had passed, and again he implored for oneday more. If the spirit does not attend me I will go — tomor-row I will depart with you. His voice had grown faint and thechiefs were anxious. Cautiously parting the hemlock branches,they saw 0-go-ne-sas paintirtg his body, as only the dying dobefore departing, and they pondered. His life had been pure andfree from evil. Had his clan spirit ref
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectiroquoi, bookyear1908
