The Rabbit Dance

Reprinted from Legends of the

Iroquois

By Tehanetorens

In a wild section of the Adirondack Mountains, there camped a hunting party of Mohawk Indians. During the Leaf-Falling Moon (October), many of the Mohawks left their main villages along the Mohawk River and traveled north to the mountains where the hunting was good. There, in the heavily forested mountain valleys, the hunters would store up deer meat and deerskins for winter use. When a goodly supply had been gathered the people followed the hunting trails south to the main Mohawk settlements. Some of the hunters usually remained in the mountains during the winter months because of the good trapping of fur-beating animals in that region. Beaver skins were valuable for trade even before the white man came with his guns and fire-water to exchange for them.

In this particular hunting camp lived two little Indian boys. One was called Hot-no-wah, the Turtle, and the other was nicknamed Oweya, the Wing.

Early one morning while the hunters were making preparations for a deer drive, the Turtle and Wing set out on a little exploring trip of their own. In their hands they carried their little bows. A quiver of arrows was strapped across each of their backs. The little boys walked on and on through the forest. They walked silently and were very careful not to make any noise, for their eyes were on the lookout for game. Perhaps they could surprise a chipmunk or a squirrel. After walking quite a distance from camp, they came to a little clearing in the pines. As they approached this clearing, they noticed little trails or paths running into it. These, they knew, were rabbit runways, so they tightened their grip on their bows and were more on the alert for game. The boys walked to the center of the clearing and looked around for rabbits.

Suddenly, there was a loud thumping sound. It seemed to come from the ground. Looking ahead. the boys, to their amazement, saw a huge brown rabbit. The huge creature was as large as the boys. It stood for a few moments looking at the little Mohawks. Turtle and Wing forgot all about hunting rabbits. Never before had they seen such a huge rabbit. At first they were frightened, but, as the rabbit made no move to harm them, their fears left them.

After looking the boys over, the rabbit again thumped the ground with his hind legs. Immediately a long line of rabbits appeared, running rapidly down one of the runways. Quickly they approached the clearing where, to the surprise of the two boys, they performed all sorts of queer antics.

There seemed to be hundreds of rabbits. There was an endless line of rabbits, running, hopping, skipping and chasing each other down the narrow rabbit path and into the clearing. They seemed to be everywhere and all were very frolicsome as they hopped and skipped about. Sometimes they seemed to be playing the game, “Follow the Leader”.

They ran here and there, several in a line, all following one rabbit.

Occasionally they ran in circles, hopping and kicking as they went. Meanwhile, the large chief rabbit remained near the boys. He watched his lively tribe, but in no way did he take part in the rabbit games except to stand guard.

As the boys watched the rabbits skip and hop around them, they forgot their fear of the big chief rabbit. Boy-like they wanted to play tag with the rabbits. Turtle made a grab for one of the rabbits, and when he missed him, set out in pursuit. Wing forgot the big chief rabbit and joined the chase.

Without warning a loud Thump! Thump! Thump! was heard. The big chief rabbit was warning his tribe. Immediately, every rabbit stopped still in his tracks! They seemed to be frozen to the ground, so motionless did they become. The now startled boys ceased their running and gazed in fright at the big rabbit. The chief rabbit gave two more thumps. Immediately, the other rabbits jumped into action!

TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK