FIRE was believed to be a giant that was fed on pygmies or small spirits
existing only in the wind. The process of fanning the embers into flame
with one's breath was only attempted at the greatest hazard, as it was
"very bad medicine."
Whoever might be engaged in the practice of any mystery should never
be disturbed or interfered with except under penalty of the direst
misfortunes and the suspicion of all his tribe. They might wonder in
their own hearts, but they must never betray the least curiosity to
find out what one of their number might be trying to bring about by his
experiments, incantations or mysterious performances. The arrows of a
curious hunter never hit the mark, and the corn planted and tilled by a
curious woman bore only crooked and withered ears.
The sun was commonly known as "the smiling face of the Great Spirit," and
when it disappeared at night it was supposed to have entered the door
of a great wigwam which was built in the form of a semi-circle. In the
morning it reappeared at the other door of the wigwam. Their ideas about
astronomy were extremely vague and were constantly changing. The moon was
believed to be a sister of the sun, and in time would be able to give as
much light as her brother. The stars were bright and glowing brands of
fire tied with thongs and held by spirits created for that purpose by
the Great Spirit. One star alone, the North Star, was held by the Great
Spirit himself because it was always in the same place. It was called the
guide. Other stars and planets were named, but the names have not been
preserved.
The springs and the streams they formed were first made for the
convenience of the Great Spirit. He desired to leave the Happy
Hunting-Grounds and make a journey over the earth and so he sent a
large white bird to carry water from the original spring near the Great
Spirit's wigwam and plant it in the earth at convenient distances.
Sections of country that were without springs had not been visited by the
Great Spirit.
Language was looked upon as a sacred gift, and was as much a part of the
body as the head or limbs. For this reason an Indian never spoke the
language of another nation except in the capacity of interpreter. When
a council was held between tribes the orators conducted the debate in
their own language, and the words were translated, when necessary, as
they fell from the lips of the speakers by those who had been trained
for that purpose. It was considered the greatest possible affront to
their ancestors and to the Great Spirit for the Iroquois to speak any
language other than their own. Deaf mutes among them were pointed out as
people who were not satisfied with the language of their fathers and in
consequence had lost the power to speak or hear.
Difficulties and contentions were spirits of evil that flew about
inciting trouble. When disputes and differences were arranged or settled
they would arise again unless buried. When terms of a settlement had been
agreed upon it was customary to dig a hole in the ground, around which
the disputants would gather, and each party to the dispute would talk
his grievances into the excavation, absolutely unburdening himself of
all he had to say. When the ceremony was concluded, the excavated earth
was returned and firmly stamped and pounded down. In this way, it was
believed, the quarrel could be forever buried unless one of the parties
to the ceremony deliberately removed the earth and again opened the
prison of the bad spirits. From this belief grew the custom of "burying
the hatchet" when peace was secured, and of digging it up when war was
determined upon.
The Aurora Borealis was believed to be the reflection of the light of the
camp-fires in the Happy Hunting-Grounds. When its lights were seen it was
supposed that the brothers who had passed into the future were rejoicing
over the successful termination of some great hunt or participating in
a feast. The size of a fire that could cast such wonderful lights was
beyond their comprehension, and often the death-song of the warriors and
chiefs would refer to their hope of soon standing beside the fire that
was greater than the mountains. It was customary for them to stand in
the open air and make long speeches to the spirits during the time the
Aurora was to be seen. They would chide the spirits for wastefulness in
building so large a fire and call upon them not to burn all the forests
of the Great Spirit before their friends on the earth were admitted to
the charmed circle and permitted to enjoy the pleasures of a camp-fire
of such gigantic proportions.
It was wrong to complain of pain of any kind or to show by any act that
pain was experienced. Both pain and suffering were caused by bad spirits,
and surely one would not give their enemies the pleasure of knowing that
their attempts had in any manner caused discomfort. The Great Spirit
was trying with all his power to relieve those who suffered pain, and
to complain when your friend was doing his best to aid you would make
him think that his efforts were not appreciated. Besides this, after the
first shock of a wound, none of the animals betray by their cries the
presence of pain. The dog will carry a broken leg for days, wistfully but
uncomplainingly. The cat, stricken with club or stone, or caught in some
trap from which it gnaws its way to freedom, crawls to some secret place
and bears its agony in silence. The wolf or bear, caught in the pitfalls
and pierced with scores of stinging arrows, indicate by no outward sign
that they suffer. The wounded deer speeds to some thick brake and in
pitiful submission waits for death. The eagle, struck by the arrow in
mid-air, fights to the last against the fatal summons. There is no moan
or sound of pain, and the defiant look never fades from its eyes until
the lids close over them never to uncover again. The Indians learned many
of their lessons from the animals and were taught to be as brave and
uncomplaining as their brothers of the forests.
_The Happy Hunting-Grounds_