Smyrna times., 1856-06-18
SHIT 9f(tstelIanp.
Indian Traditions about Hiawatha,

AAulaA 1laoltlOnS about HiaWatha.
AT this time, when Prof. Longfellow's bean
tilul poem has produced such marked sense
t'Oh IN the world of literature, few facts rel,.
i've TO Hlawatha, which we CLEAN from tI,e
syracuse journal, cannot but be of interest r.
the students of aboriginal history and Indi IN
legends Many hundred moons AGO IIiowotbo
hrSt made his appearance to a couple of hunt
ers' IN his white canoe, on the great lake Onto.
RIO. lie landed at Oswcro. and woe ~ oooo
taken INTO favor by the Indians living near Os.
"ego and along the shores of the Seneca river
lie was everywhere received as a mvstoriors
parsonage OF divine origin, possessed of miroc.
llous powers. lie traversed the countrv fron,
Ohohdaga westward, cleared the streams If ali
instructions, so that canoes could pass freely
everywhere, established good fishing and hunt
ing grounds, taught the people the art of build-
ing cabins, introduced the culture of varions
pants Tor the more comfortable Subsistence of
the red race, destroying terrible monsters vh;cI,
h"d long been the dread of the tribes, and TO
their great astonshment, wrought MANY mira
cles, all for their benefit. These wond.ous
tales are yet related to the credulous and CON.
hiding, at the council fire of the Onondaoos. nv
the gray-haired and wrinkled relics of an an
c'ent race remarkable for its sagacity and
power.
WINE lilawatha and his companions were
ascending the Seneca river, they encountered
Two enormous feathered monsters resembling
eagles which for ages had prevented the free
passage OF the river. One Of these monsters
was stationed upon one bank, ami its compan.
ION on the other opposite. If any canoe was
seen approaching these watchfu guardians sci
Tied down so as to be concealed from view. and
whenever the unwary voyagcrs came that wov
lhcy rose, stretched out their long nccks and
beaks over the strcdm, picked up theis victims
with IMMUNITY and devoured them at Ioisuro
IhHy became terror TO all, and the noviro-
ton OF the river was abandoned except nv an
occasional adventurer, who was sure to pay for
MS temerIty by sacrifice of his life Hiawa- |
tina became aware of the position Of these
scourges of mankind, and at once resolvcd to
destroy them. Having all things in readiness
he approached the spot and as they reared their
irlghtiul heads over him he laid about mos, |
deXterously his war club, and so belabored them
that both'were presently slain. The battle was
severe, but Hiawatha was victorious, not, how.
ever without some damage to his canoe and
several cuts and bruises upon his person.
The wild fowl which had long been held in du-
ress by those monsters were now liberated. and
themselves in all directions for the
benehk and sustenance of the people. The
locality of this adventure was near where tho
Cayuga marshes terminate and form the Seno-
ca river below.
The country about GAINESVILLE was, at time,
infested with reputed witches, who, upon ca.
price or whm, working upon the fears or ere.
lulity OF the Indians, induced them to believe
that certain individuals must be exercised. the
evil spirits cast out of them, or they must he
slain. These demons held their nightly oroies
IN subterranean vault of labyrinthian cav
ern near by, where, unobserved and unknown
10 all but the initiated, they carried ON their
nefarlous schemes, so that it became unsa fe for
any to incur the displeasure Of this nocturpol
Hundreds are reported to have lost
their lives through the Vaccinations of these
creatures. In fact, at one time if
was thought utter determination would ensue.
AT this juno 'ure Hiawatha came to their relief
sought out the hiding places of these deluded
beings, detected the guilty, exposed all the of:
Tending ones and the wickedness of the schemes.
restored harmony, and established a new and
happy order of things.
On his return from his voyage to the West
ern Lakes, Hiawatha came to the neghborhood
of Cross Lake, and there, upon representation
made to him, found that wicked enchantress
lived in the vicinity, named Ocaunee, whose
destruction was deemed desirable to ensure the
happiness and prosperity of the nations. lie
induced one of his companions, with superna-
tural power, TO proceed to the vile charnel-
house of Ocaunee, and after violent and long,
struggle, conquered her, and left her
dead. The tradition continues, that her body
changed TO stone, and is shown to
this day as the remains of the detested sorcer-
ess. Afterwards, when lliawatla had fulfilled
his mission IN regard TO the Improvement Of the