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YASHPEH
International Folktales Collection

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Story No. 2748


Hótho (Cold)

Book Name:

Seneca Indian Myths

Tradition: Seneca, American Indian

One day a man who was out hunting met HÓTHO and said to him, "You cannot freeze me, no matter bow cold you are."

"I can," said HÓTHO.

They had a long discussion and at last agreed that when night came they would have a trial of strength.

The man went home, carried in wood enough to bum till morning, built a huge fire and made a kettleful of hemlock tea. He stood in front of the fire all night, turning first one side then the other toward the heat, often drinking a cup of hot tea. It was terribly cold and grew colder and colder till near morning.

Just at daybreak, HÓTHO, naked, his hatchet in his hip, came into the house and sat down on a pile of bark by the fire.

"You have beaten me," said he, and that minute it began to grow warm and thaw.

This shows that man can conquer HÓTHO.

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