--- title: XXXIV. the Echo God and the Northern Lights — Wigwam stories told by North American Indians · full text with trees description: XXXIV. the Echo God and the Northern Lights, «Wigwam stories told by North American Indians» by Mary Catherine Judd: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: (Iroquois) --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg73136/59/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Wigwam stories told by North American…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg73136/) / XXXIV. the Echo God and the Northern L… # XXXIV. the Echo God and the Northern Lights XXXIV. the Echo God and the Northern Lights of «Wigwam stories told by North American Indians» by Mary Catherine Judd: the whole text, 22 sentences and 407 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. (Iroquois)[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") The Iroquois seem to have been the only nation to worship with feast and dance the echo god of the hills.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") When at war with other Indian nations or tribes, the chiefs and warriors of the Iroquois would go out and call: “Gohweh\![3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") Gohweh!” meaning, “I am telling you!” as many times as there were enemies slain.[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") They did this very boldly, for they never believed that strange nations could hear or understand them or the echo’s answer.[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") If any of their own people were slain, the cry was, “Ohweh!” which meant, “Our own!”[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") When they were on the warpath and night overtook them, the scattered ones were gathered in by using the call to the echo god.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") While planning an attack upon some other band runners were sent out ahead to call to the echo god and find out if it was his wish for them to fight.[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") If no answer came to repeated calls, the attack would be given up for a time.[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") Some form of worship, either feast or dance, would then be held, and runners would after this be sent out again to ask what the echo god meant by not answering.[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") If by any means an answer came to their wails and calls, then the attack would be made.[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") If no answer came, the band found some other tribe to destroy.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") A dance was always given to the echo god after a victory, and with this was given a great feast, but never until they had mourned for their dead and decided what to do with their captives.[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") The Iroquois go on the warpath no more.[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") They have no longer any need to call upon their echo god for help.[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") They no longer offer him the worship of the feast and dance.[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") The Northern Lights were closely watched by the Iroquois.[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") The color of the lights meant a great deal to the Indian watchers.[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") If the Northern Lights were white, it was believed that the frost would shortly follow; if yellow, sickness and much trouble to the nation was feared; while if the lights were red, very red, war and bloodshed were on their way to harm the innocent.[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") If the sky was mottled and it was springtime, that was the best sign possible.[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") There was dancing and singing, for a good corn season was expected in return for the worship shown in the dance.[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") Adapted from Powell’s Report.[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") - ← previous: [XXXIII. the Chipmunk’s Black Stripes](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg73136/58/) - next →: [XXXV. Legend of Mackinaw Island](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg73136/60/) - ↑ back to [Wigwam stories told by North American Indians](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg73136/)