The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1909-09-03
A FLORIDA INDIAN CHRONICLE
How the God Of Ice and Snow Was Des-
troyed and Happiness Came, Birds
Sang and All Was Love

N--N~N
Winter, whom they knew as Waziya,
lived in the frozen regions, in a great
tepee of ice and snow; that from his
mouth and nostrils came the cruel
blasts of winter. One of the traditions
of this tribe relates how the demon was
destroyed, and the balmy air, soft
breezes, and delicious fruits succeeded
his reign. The story was related to
me by an old chief. There is no harm
in repeating it here, as the venerable
Indian has since entered the happy
hunting grounds, and his tribe is broken,
scattered and all but annihilated.
A great many moons ago, when my
great, great, great grandfather's grand
father was little boy, there was a
mother whose only son was born with
handkerchief around his neck. The
child, named Flying By, was consid-
cred to be a great prodigy. 1t is said
that at three years of age he could
hunt and fish as we'll as the most ex-
pert Indian of them all.
When Flying By was Is years old
the camp broke up in the fall and
moved down the river to trade and to
lay in their supplies for the coming
hunting season. Flying By's mother
was too ill to travel, and so it happened
that the two were the only persons left
at the old camp. The mother i'm
proved the time to impress upon Fly
ing By all the secrets of woodcraft that
were so necessary to the happy, free,
wild life of the Indian. Especially did
she warn him against danger from
Waziya, the evil spirit of the north.
She cautioned him not to take north
erly direction in his rambles, For, "
said she, the Waziya is ever foe to
our people; and should the terrible
spirit meet thee, death would be thy
reward"
The youth could not believe such
cruel monsters existed, and the words
of his mother only awakened in him a
desire to meet the evil one and to sub
due him. The longer he thought over
it the greater became his desire, and
he would wander for miles toward the
north. When his mother recovered
from her sickness he took his bow and
arrows and started for the north deter
mined not to return until he had seen
the dreadful Waziya. He travelled the
whole day, not thinking of hunger, and
at night he lay down wrapped in his
blanket and was soon fast asleep. In
the morning his first thought was Of
Waziya-his next was Of hunger. There
was no breakfast for Flying By. He
was long days travel from home; no
food in his pack, and no game to be
found. When he realized his con-
dition he threw himself on the ground
and burst into tears. Taking his hand
kerchief-the same that was around his
neck when he was bonnie put it to
his eyes; but breeze waited it from
his hand and carried it some distance.
When he reached the spot where the
handkerchief lay spread out, he found
it covered with nourishing food of all
kinds. Flying By did not stop to
speculate upon this wonder; but salts
fed his hunger, replaced his handker-
chief, and pursued his journey.
The boy soon came to the home Of
Waziya. Looking into the great teepee,
Flying By saw no one. He entered,
and horrible sights met his view.
About the room skulls were fastened to
the wall, and under each skull was
suspended hand severed at the wrist.
His blood ran cold, and he would have
retreated; but he heard noise like
thunder, and the demon came in.
Flying By hid behind post, but the
monster found him out, and, taking
him in his hand, Il will eat you," he
roared. The boy begged for his life.
Hungry; must" said Waziya.
Il will give you plenty to eat, said
Flying By.
You can't do it," said the giant.
The boy spread his handkerchief on
the ground. and it was Immediately
covered with food. No matter how
much the giant ate, there was always as
If Woo;,,a catic6ad him calf