TORNADO
Besides the gods hitherto named there were many other deities of lesser importance. The tornado, for instance, was one of these beings classed as manĭʹtowŭk. He is mentioned as a giant in size, walking on his hands when in action, his long hair entangling and sweeping away forests and villages; and sometimes as a winged being. When a “cyclone” was seen approaching, some would burn tobacco, and addressing the roaring monster, as “Grandfather,” would pray that he turn aside and leave the village in peace. Others, scorning such measures of conciliation, would burn old moccasins and rubbish, advising the destroyer to turn aside if he wished to escape the stinging smoke; while still others, even less conciliatory, threatened him with the edge of an axe, vowing they would “break a wing for him” if he came their way. It was commonly said in the tribe that on account of these practices the Lenape suffered little from this evil manĭʹto.
SNOW BOY
Another minor manĭʹto is Snow Boy, a being who is supposed to control snow and ice, but who is different from “Our Grandfather at the North,” who merely supplies the north wind. Offerings were made to Snow Boy to insure a proper amount of snow for tracking in the winter hunt. Further information concerning these last two manĭʹtowŭk will be found in the paper on Lenape Mythology, now in preparation.
COMET
There is a third manĭʹto called Elauʹnato, which some Lenape say means “Comet,” others “Shooting Star.” When a war is impending, says the legend, this being may be seen flying through the air, carrying a bunch of human heads. After Elauʹnato has passed, if one listens he will hear a distant rumbling sound, for this manĭʹto knows beforehand where the fighting will take place, and drops the heads on the spot, and the noise of their fall is a roar like thunder.
EVIL MANĬʹTOWŬK
Both the Great Horned Serpents, monsters living in the rivers and lakes, and the Giant Bear were considered evil manĭʹtowŭk, the only good derived from them being, in the first case, charms made of the scales, bone, or horn of the monsters, supposed to bring rain; and, in the second case, a medicine made from the tooth said to have the power of healing wounds. Children were accustomed to hunt in the sand for tracks of the Little People, comparable with fairies or elves among the whites.
ANIMAL SPIRITS
The concepts regarding the numerous animal spirits who were believed to offer themselves as guardians for mankind, are rather hard to define. Most Indians seem to regard their mysterious animal helper not as the spirit or soul of any particular animal taken as an individual, but as a spirit representing the entire species as a whole and partaking of the nature of the species, at the same time having human and manĭʹto attributes.