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Atahokan

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(the great rabbit), in the mythology of the North American Indians, is a curious surname of the creator of the earth among the Iroquois. He is generally called Michabu. The aborigines of the banks of the St. Lawrence River believe he created the great lakes Ontario, Huron, Erie, and Superior for catching beavers; therefore after a successful fishing expedition thank- offerings are brought to Atahokan. The great lake Ontario is a sacred body of water with them, and the large pieces of copper which are found on its banks are held and preserved as presents of this god, yet without using them. According to some, Atahokan brooded on the face of the waters and thus produced animals of various kinds; next he went down into the deep and: brought forth a grain of sand, and out of this he created the. earth, and then placed his animals on this planet and populated it with human beings.