Native American Legends
How the four winds were named
An Iroquois Legend
When the world was first made, says the old Iroquois Grandmother,
Gaoh, the mighty Master of the Winds dwelt in his lodge in the Western
Sky. So fierce was he and so strong that had he wandered freely
through the heavens, he would have torn the world in pieces. So
he stayed in the Western Sky, and, blowing a loud blast, summoned
the creatures of Earth to ask them for help.
And when his call had ceased, and its thundering echoes had died
away, Gaoh opened the north door of his lodge wide across the Sky.
Immediately the thick snow fell, and a fierce wind tore around the
lodge. And lo! there came lumbering up the Sky, Yaogah, the bulky
Bear. Battling with the storm and growling loudly, the Bear took
his place at Gaoh's north door.
"O Bear, you are strong," said Gaoh. "You can freeze
the waters with your cold breath. In your broad arms you can carry
the mad tempest, and clasp the whole Earth when I bid you destroy.
Therefore you shall live in the North, and watch my herd of Winter
Winds when I let them loose upon the Earth. You shall be the North
Wind. Enter your house."
And straightway the Bear bent his head, and Gaoh bound him with
a leash, and placed him in the Northern Sky.
Then Gaoh trumpeted a shrill blast, and threw open the west door
of his lodge, summoning the creatures. Clouds began to cover the
Sky. An ugly darkness filled the world. Strange voices shrieked
and snarled around the lodge. And with a noise like great claws
tearing the heavens, Dajoji, the Panther, sprang to Gaoh's west
door.
"O Panther, you are ugly and fierce," said Gaoh. "You
can tear down the forests. You can carry the whirlwind on your strong
back. You can toss the waves of the sea high into the air, and snarl
at the tempests if they stray from my door. You shall be the West
Wind. Enter your house."
And straightway the Panther bent his head, and Gaoh bound him with
a leash, and placed him in the Western Sky.
Then Gaoh sent forth a sighing call, and threw open the east door
of his lodge, summoning the creatures. There arose a sobbing and
a moaning. The Sky shivered in the cold rain. The Earth lay in gray
mist. There came a crackling sound like the noise of great horns
crashing through forest trees, and Oyandone, the mighty Moose, stood
stamping his hoofs at Gaoh's east door.
"O Moose," said Gaoh, "your breath blows the gray
mist and sends down the cold rain upon the Earth. Your horns spread
wide and can push back the trees of the forests to widen the paths
for my storms. With your swift hoofs you can race with the winds.
You shall be the East Wind. Enter your house."
And straightway the Moose bent his head, and Gaoh bound him with
a leash, and placed him in the Eastern Sky.
Yet Gaoh was not content, for there remained still one door to
open. He threw it wide to the south, and in gentle tones like sweetest
music summoned the creatures. A caressing breeze stole through the
lodge, and with it came the fragrance of a thousand sweet flowers,
the soft call of babbling brooks, and the voices of birds telling
the secrets of Summer. And daintily lifting her feet, ran Neoga,
the brown-eyed Fawn, and stood timidly waiting at Gaoh's south door.
"O gentle Fawn," said Gaoh, "you walk with the Summer
Sun, and know its most beautiful paths. You are kind like the Sunbeam,
and feed on dew and fragrance. You will rule my flock of Summer
breezes in peace and joy. You shall be the South Wind. Enter your
house."
And straightway the Fawn bent her head, and Gaoh bound her with
a leash, and placed her in the Southern Sky.
And now, when the North Wind blows strong, the old Iroquois Grandmother
says, "The Bear is prowling in the Sky." And if the West
Wind snarls around the tent door, she says, "The Panther is
whining." When the East Wind chills the tent with mist and
rain, she says, "The Moose is spreading his breath." But
when the South Wind caresses her cheek, and wafts soft voices and
sweet odors through the tent, she smilingly says, "The Fawn
is going home to her mother, the Doe."
Native American Legends
Back to Top
Other Native American Legends
|
Native American Legends A-B