Strong Wind

    Once there was a great warrior named Strong Wind. He lived with his sister in a tent by the sea. Strong Wind was able to make himself invisble. His sister could see him, but no one else could. He had said he would marry the first woman who could see him as he came at the end of the day.

    Many women came up to his tent to watch for him. When his sister saw him coming, she would ask, “Do you see him?”

    Each girl would answer, “Oh, yes! I see him!

    Then Strong Wind's sister would ask, “What is pulling his sled with?”

    And then the girls would answer, “with a rope" or “with a wooden pole”

    Then Strong Wind's sister would know that they were lying, because their guesses were wrong.

     A chief lived in a village. His wife had died, and he had three daughters. One was much younger than the other two. She was gentle, kind, and beautiful, but her sisters were jealous of her and treated her badly. They cut off her long black hair and they made her wear rags. They also burned her face with coals so that she would be ugly. They lied to their father that she did these things to herself. But she remained calm and gentle.

    The two older sisters also went to try and. see Strong Wind. When he was coming, Strong Wind's sister asked them, “Do you see him?”

    “Oh, yes! I see him!” Each of them answered.

    “What is his bow made out of?” asked Strong Wind's sister.

    “Out of iron,” answered one. “Out of wood,” answered the other.

    “You have not see him," said Strong Wind's sister.

    Strong Wind himself heard them and knew that they had lied. They went into the tent, but still they could not see him. They went home very sad.

    One day the youngest daughter went to try and see Strong Wind. She was wearing rags, and burn covered her face. People laughed at her, but she kept going. When she got to Strong Wind's tent she waited.

    When Strong Wind was coming, his sister asked the girl, “Do you see him?”

    “No? the girl answered. “I don't see him."

    Strong Wind’s sister was surprised because the girl had told the truth. “Now do you see him?” asked Strong Wind's sister.

    “Yes” answered the girl. “Now, I do see him, He is very wonderful.”

    “What is his bow made of?” asked Strong Wind's sister.

    “The rainbow," answered the girl.

     “And what is the bowstring made of?” asked Strong Wind’s sister.

    “Of Stars? answered the girl.

    Then Strong Wind’s sister knew that the girl could really see him. He had let her see him because she had told the truth.

    “You really have seen him,” said Strong Wind’s sister. Then the sister washed the girl, and all the burns went away. Her hair grew long and black again. The sister dressed the girl in fine clothes. Strong Wind came and the girl became his wife.

    The girl's two older sisters were very angry, but Strong Wind turned them into aspen trees. Ever since that day, the leaves of the aspen tree always tremble with fear wherever he comes near because
they know he remembers their lying and meanness.

(Taken from: ‘Using Folktales by Eric K. Tay)

Who is Strong Wind?