Page:Journal of American Folklore vol. 12.djvu/128

 1 1 6 journal of American Folk-Lore.

NOTES ON THE FOLK-LORE OF THE WYANDOTS.

��I. RELIGION.

��The gods of the Wyandots were those of the Iroquois and the Hurons, but they were stamped with a strong Wyandot individual- ity, and in many respects differed in attributes from those of the nations named. The Wyandot was more Iroquois than he was Huron-Iroquois, and he was but little different from the Seneca. It need surprise no one if it is finally determined that the Wyandots were the oldest of the Iroquoian family. Their mythology makes clear some things left in uncertainty and obscurity by that of other tribes of the family. There are some things in it that are not found in the myths of any of the other tribes. Their myths, too, are clearer cut, more definite, and, I believe, more beautiful in form, than those of other tribes. The Iroquoian family has been supposed to possess little imagination, and a mythology deficient in beautiful conceptions. This opinion is the result, I believe, of an imperfect acquaintance with the folk-lore of this strong and bold people. The myths of the woman who fell from heaven, the creation of the great island, the birth of the twins, the enlargement of the great island and the peopling of it with man and animals, the destruction of these and their re-creation, the creation of the sun, moon, and stars, and many others, are but little inferior in their bold originality and beauty of conception to the Greek myths.

The words used by the Wyandots to express their conception of the God of the white man are as follows : —

i. Hah'-mehn-deh'-zhooh. This word I have heard used by the Wyandots more frequently than any other, when they were speaking of God.

2. Hoh'-mehn-dlh'-zhooh. This is the proper pronunciation of the word as it is written by Finley, in his "History of the Wyandot Mission."

3. Tah'-mehn-deh'-zh6"oh. This is the proper pronunciation of the word as it is written by John Johnston, in his vocabulary of the Wyandot language published in Howe's " Historical Collections of Ohio."

4. Shfih'-mehn-deh'-zhooh. The word is sometimes so pronounced by the Wyandots.

These are only the variations of the same word, and they all mean precisely the same thing. The best translations are " You are God," or "Thou art God," or " Thou art the Great Spirit."

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