Myths and legends of the New York state Iroquois . e fisher-man and the hunter know it, the grandmothers tell it to theirchildrens children and the children tell it to their dolls, the medi-cine men chant its songs and in their incantations for the harvests,they dance for the little folk, and the dancers in darkness chantthe story in song.^ 1 It is interesting to note the important part which orphans play in Iroquois mythology.Most of the mystic societies were founded by orphans who had been driven from home toperish and other legends set forth the great heroism and eventual success of orphans

Myths and legends of the New York state Iroquois . e fisher-man and the hunter know it, the grandmothers tell it to theirchildrens children and the children tell it to their dolls, the medi-cine men chant its songs and in their incantations for the harvests,they dance for the little folk, and the dancers in darkness chantthe story in song.^ 1 It is interesting to note the important part which orphans play in Iroquois mythology.Most of the mystic societies were founded by orphans who had been driven from home toperish and other legends set forth the great heroism and eventual success of orphans

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Myths and legends of the New York state Iroquois . e fisher-man and the hunter know it, the grandmothers tell it to theirchildrens children and the children tell it to their dolls, the medi-cine men chant its songs and in their incantations for the harvests,they dance for the little folk, and the dancers in darkness chantthe story in song.^ 1 It is interesting to note the important part which orphans play in Iroquois mythology.Most of the mystic societies were founded by orphans who had been driven from home toperish and other legends set forth the great heroism and eventual success of orphans whoare cared for (or ill cared for) by their uncles and grandparents. The neglected nephew stories form a large portion of Iroquoian legendary lore. 2 The youth who founded the Pygmy Society, sometimes called the Dark Dancers, borethe name of Covered-with-excrement, in allusion to the filthy condition in which his unclekept him. The ceremonies of the Pygmy Society are called at certain times to propitiate the elves IROQUOIS MYTHS AND LEGENDS 103.