The Coolidge examiner., 1934-07-13
Hiawa,ha was a real man.

Although Loucfellow mixed him up
with various purely NEUROLOGICAL
characters, intensive study OF the tra-
dltlons Of the TroquoIs Indians re-
yeals him as an actual historic figure
who lived some time before the years
1850 and 1900 In northern New York
state. according 10 J. y. Il. Hewitt.
Smithsonian institution ethnolngist.
who has made n lifetime study of the
institutions and history OF the Six
Nations.
Iiawatha appears from the tradi
tlon, Mr.. Hewitt says, TO have been a
man whose character was effected by
various personal misfortunes TO the
point where his mind was ready to
receive the new religion Of human
brotherhood preached by the great
lroquoIs redeemer. Dekauawlda. He
became Dekanawidas FIRST disciple
and most active associate IN estab-
lishjng the League of the Iroquois
This was the tangible embodiment of
the great lawg!ver's advanced phllos-
ophy ~ human relations, and was
one Of the precedents for the feder-
alton OF states adopted as the Amerl-
can form OF government
Cleared OF legendry as much as
possible, the story OF Ilawatha as
gathered by Mr.. Hewitt Is about as
follows:
lie was a brother OF Dehadohaho
one Of the chiefs OF the Onondega
tribe. and apparently a rather vicious
character who hated him and finally
murdered his wife and children. The
heart-broken Uiawatha-stil a canni-
bal according to the tribal custom
went forth from hjs ruined home into
the forests. an exile. lie sought sym
pathy from various other Iroquois
tribes and finally found a refuge
among the Mohawks, where he again
married and became the father OF a
second Family.
Apparently he prospered. according
20 TIE standards OF his time and peo-
pie. Rut the sorrow caused by his
mlsformnes remained heavy upon him
and se brooded upon the great mys-
terles OF life and death without find
irg any satisfactory answer. But
while the moody Hiawatha-still a
feeder upon human tlesh-asked un-
answered questions Of the stars and
rocks. there was another wanderer In
the wilderness who, to his own salts
faction. had answered them.
His answers were arrived AT with
out aid. In the depths Of the New
York and Ontario forest, he never
knew OF the white men, who already
were penetrating the continent far to
the southwark. This man was Deka-
nawlda. perhaps one Of the supreme
religious figures In history.
Dekanawida one day saw man
carrying home a human body. He
followed him 10 his lodge and looked
down the smokehole while the canni-
bal prepared pot of boiling water.
Hiawatha saw a human face re
fected In the boiling water he had
prepared TO cook the body Of his vic
tim. II must have been n strange
gentle face with a remarkable fascin-
alton for those who looked upon IL,
judging from the influence Dekana-
vida was able to exert on his lis
teners.
The sight effected the disconsolate
Hiawatha like an apocalypic vision.
He rushed forth into the wilderness
IA soul reborn.
Dekanawida followed him. The two
kindred spirits sat down and talked
together. The two Indians, sitting
on a log, worked out together the
preliminary plans for one of the most
ideallstlc forms of government the
world has know. Dekanawida was
the thinker. supplying most Of the
basic ideas. Hiawatha probably was
more practical man with a better
knowledge of Indian politics.
Hlawathas mind was ripe for the
revelation.
II was extremely radical for the
time and place, departing widely from