“He dug iron from the ground and made tomahawks. He made spears. The Indians know Wahkeontonka is wise.”
The Dakotas believe that their god of storm lives on Thunder Cap, a high promontory in Minnesota overlooking Lake Superior; from here he sends the rain, hail, or snow.
Thunder Bay lies at his feet; on its shore lies the great giant turned to stone, who, ages ago, dared to defy Big Thunder. Wahkeontonka is the Dakotas’ Jupiter. [[244]]
VIII. HIAWATHA THE WISE
How he united the Five Nations
any, many moons ago three Indians sat on the bank of the great river with many islands. These three Indians had come on a long trail from their country, and it was a new trail, for they had made it themselves. Nobody had been on it before they cut their way through the thick forest.
The fathers of these Indians had been told of this river in the north which was filled with islands. The three Indians had said to their fathers that they would seek it; now they sat on a little hill, and it was before them.
The night sun had changed into a shape like a canoe three times since they had started on the long trail. Their moccasins were torn, and their feet were very tired; but the river was very beautiful, and it made their eyes glad to see it.