When the boys had grown to man’s estate, they decided that it was necessary for them to increase the size of their island, so they [[462]]agreed to start out together, afterward separating to create forests and lakes and other things. They parted as agreed, Othagwenda going westward and Djuskaha eastward. In the course of time, on returning, they met in their shelter or lodge at night, then agreeing to go the next day to see what each had made. First they went west to see what Othagwenda had made. It was found that he had made the country all rocks and full of ledges, and also a mosquito which was very large. Djuskaha asked the mosquito to run, in order that he might see whether the insect could fight. The mosquito ran, and sticking his bill through a sapling, thereby made it fall, at which Djuskaha said, “That will not be right, for you would kill the people who are about to come.” So, seizing him, he rubbed him down in his hands, causing him to become very small; then he blew on the mosquito, whereupon he flew away. He also modified some of the other animals which his brother had made. After returning to their lodge, they agreed to go the next day to see what Djuskaha had fashioned. On visiting the east the next day, they found that Djuskaha had made a large number of animals which were so fat that they could hardly move; that he had made the sugar-maple trees to drop syrup; that he had made the sycamore tree to bear fine fruit; that the rivers were so formed that half the water flowed upstream and the other half downstream. Then the reddish-colored brother, Othagwenda, was greatly displeased with what his brother had made, saying that the people who were about to come would live too easily and be too happy. So he shook violently the various animals—the bears, deer, and turkeys—causing them to become small at once, a characteristic which attached itself to their descendants. He also caused the sugar maple to drop sweetened water only, and the fruit of the sycamore to become small and useless; and lastly he caused the water of the rivers to flow in only one direction, because the original plan would make it too easy for the human beings who were about to come to navigate the streams.
The inspection of each other’s work resulted in a deadly disagreement between the brothers, who finally came to grips and blows, and Othagwenda was killed in the fierce struggle.
99. Sʻhagodiyoweqgowa and Hotʻhoh[378]
There were a mother and two daughters living in a clearing. When the daughters became women the mother said: “You must now get married. Make twenty loaves of green-corn bread, tied up in husks in the usual manner.” The girls made the bread, and the next morning the mother said to the elder daughter: “Fill a basket with the bread and go to the lodge of a man who lives not far from here. It is a double lodge. Go in at the first door and [[463]]say to the man who is there: ‘I have brought you bread. I am going to marry you.’ ” To the younger daughter she said: “Go in at the back door and say to the man who is there, ‘Here is marriage bread. I have come to marry you.’ The two brothers will take your bread and will tell you to stay. The path branches to one side before you reach the place, but keep on the straight path, which leads from here.”
The girls started, and when they came to the fork they kept on the straight path, and after a long time they came to a lodge. Looking through the cracks, they saw a number of False Faces dancing, whereupon, becoming frightened, they ran away. The Sʻhagodiyoweqgowa followed them, and when they were getting near one of the girls, she threw down her basket of bread. The Sʻhagodiyoweqgowa ate the bread and then he ran on. The second sister threw down her basket, and then piece by piece they cast off their clothes. The Sʻhagodiyoweqgowa in pursuit would stop and examine every piece. By this delay the girls kept a little ahead and finally reached their mothers lodge, but they were naked. The mother said: “You did not do as I told you. You must try again.” Having made bread again, the next morning they started the second time. This time they reached the right lodge. The elder sister, setting the basket of bread before the man, said: “I have come to marry you.” After eating the bread, he thanked her. The younger sister went in at the other door, and placing the basket of bread before the man, said: “Eat; I have come to marry you.” He thanked her and ate the bread, and so they were married.
There was a partition in the lodge, and in the morning when the brothers got up the elder brother always cried out, “I am up.” The younger brother would answer, “So am I.” “We are eating breakfast,” would be the elder brother’s response. “So are we,” was the younger brother’s answer. “I am going hunting,” would be the next sally. “So am I,” would be the reply.
Before starting off to hunt each brother said to his wife, “You must stay in the lodge for ten days. If you do not, our brother Sʻhagodiyoweqgowa may carry you away.” For nine days the sisters remained indoors; then the younger said: “It is bright and pleasant. Let us sit outside a few minutes.” The elder consenting, they sat down outdoors near the lodge. They had not been there long when Sʻhagodiyoweqgowa came. The sisters did not see him in his real character, and when he asked them to go and eat with him, they readily went. When the two brothers returned they missed their wives, and they knew that their brother had captured them. The elder of the two, going to Sʻhagodiyoweqgowa, said, “I have come to ask you to give back our wives. You can keep watch over them, but let them live with us.” At last Sʻhagodiyoweqgowa gave them up. [[464]]
Now Hotʻhoh (Cold Weather) was a brother of these men who lived not far away. He always went naked. His only weapon was a tomahawk, which he carried in a hole or slit in the skin of his hip. It is he who makes the trees crack with such loud noises in winter, for he is striking them with his mallet or tomahawk. The two men now went to Hotʻhoh, whom they asked to protect their wives from Sʻhagodiyoweqgowa. Some time after this they went hunting again. On this occasion Sʻhagodiyoweqgowa, coming to the lodge, said to the sisters, “Come and eat with me. I live near here. You can eat and return in a little while.” Not recognizing him, they went. He took them to his lodge in the woods, where he shut them up. The youngest sister escaped and had gone some distance before Sʻhagodiyoweqgowa found it out. Then he followed, screaming as he ran. She was terribly frightened and ran directly to Hotʻhoh. He told her to go home, and that he would meet Sʻhagodiyoweqgowa. They met, and then began a terrific battle. Sʻhagodiyoweqgowa fought with his rattle and Hotʻhoh with his mallet. They uprooted the trees for miles as they went toward the east. At last Sʻhagodiyoweqgowa was conquered and promised never to trouble his brothers’ wives again.