Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1891-01-22
LEGEND OF ASH-KE-MUK.
A Story of Indian Life in Musko-
ka, Canada.

During the summer vacation of 1878,
devoted my leisure time to trout-fish-
ing, and for this purpose pushed away
up into the wild, rocky region OF north
eastern Muskoka, Canada, far beyond
the limit Of any of my former explora-
tions. In the vicinity of Bracebridge
engaged as guide, philosopher and
friend" an old Iroquois Indian, who
knew every inch of the territory over
which, il his own account was to be be-
lieved, he had roamed for nearly
eighty years.
One day as we sat smoking on the
bank of river which my guide said
was the Ash-ke-Muk, the old Indian
pointed to spot about twenty feet up
the face of a precipice, and said:
"You see that cave? Wonderful
thing happen there once; me tell you
about it,"
looked closely at the place indi-
Gated, and saw, through tangled maze
Of wild creepers, what appeared TO be
dark hole, some three feet wide and five
feet high John said this was the en-
trance to large cavern, the existence
of which had been quito unknown to
his tribe, formerly inhabiting the
fertile plain, until revealed to them by
the occurrence of events which he pro-
ceeded to relate. will not attempt to
follow the old mans vernacular, but
give the legend in his own simple
words as nearly as | can.
"A long, long time ago." said he,
when was a very small boy, my
people, large band of the great Iro-
quois tribe. dwelt upon the good land,
where we stopped last night Game
was plentiful in those days, both win
ter and summer. The river, then much
bigger than now, was full of fish. My
people raised much corn, and were con-
tented and happy. Where are they
now? Gone! Conc! All gone but poor
old Johnl The white mans rum and
smallpox, the white mans ways have
swept them from the earth.
"0ur head chief, Matchedash, was q
great warrior and ruled his people
wisely and we'll. He had no sons, and
but one daughter, Minnekoma, beauti-
ful as the morning sun, Aeot of foot as
wild deer, with eyes like stars, and
hair glossy as the ravens wing. All
the young men Of the tribe laid their
gifts at her feet, only to be rejected.
But one brave, Ojetka, would not be re-
pulsed. Far and near he sought for the
choicest spoils OF the chase and brought
them to her wigwam; yet still she
turned coldly away.
"Ojetka was crafty, cunning war
rior, and with rich presents bought the
old chief over to espouse his cause. All
was in vain. Minnekoma's face was
hard toward him and she would not
listen. Matchedash was much angered
but she was his only child and had great
influence in the tribe, and he would moi
give her away against her will. None
could tell why the maiden refused tc
marry, unless it might be that she had
given her heart to Huron lover; fol-
some time before, Thyendaga, noted
warrior of that tribe, with which the
Iroquois were then at peace, had asked
her in marriage and had offered hel
father great wealth in gifts. But the
old chief spurned him away, saying
that his daughter must wed only an Iro
quois; and none of our tribe had seer
the Huron since. Ojetka hid his grie
and put on careless air to throw Min
nekoma off her guard, but all the time
he was on the watch; and one evening
when the sun was low. he saw her leave
the lodge and wander slowly away int
the forest.
even Oietka dared not be seen t.
follow or spy upon Minnckoma's move
ments, so he went off, at first anothe
way, to the woods and then made a wide
sweep to strike her trail. Soon h,
found this and crept along it, sure, SLOW
and silent as panther. In littl,
while he came to clear spot, wher,
had been an old camp, and saw Mime
koma standing there with bowed head
listening. Pretty soon he heard tn,
low call of pigeon, and then Thyen
daga stepped out from the other side
and clasped the young squaw in hi
arms 0jetka's heart burned with rage
and softly he drew an arrow to its head
but dared not shoot while the two stoo,
together. Bime-bye, they turned an,
came straight toward him, and now h
let his arrow fly; but the starry eyes o
Minnekoma had seen him! Quick a
the lightning's fash she bent tn
Huron down, and the arrow passed owe
his head. Then, out from his cove
sprang Ojetka, and, whirling his toms
hawk in the air, sent 1t fiercely at hi
rivals breast.
'But Thyendaga, tall and springy a
cedar, strong as an oak, was no'
ready, and the bright blade whistled b
without hurt, and, with his own toma
, hawk upraised, in three great leaps h
] was upon his foe. His first blow struc
the knife from Ojetka's hand, and th
next buried the axe in his brain. Dow
like a log he fell dead. Thyendag
shouted cry Of victory and stoope
! down to tear of the scalp, but at ths
moment was seized on all sides at ono
, by six Iroquois who were returnin
from a hunt and had come to the plac
of the fight just as Ojetka fell. No
they bound the prisoner between tw
warriors, and taking up the dead bod,
set of to camp, singing the song ,
mourning as they went. Soon the coul
Gil was called, and, although 1t W;
clearly shown that the Huron ha
killed in his own defense, he was col
I demned to die by running the gauntle
That lht he was tied to tree ar