The Rainbow-Serpent

The rainbow is understood as a great serpent associated with water and rain. Its appearance, or contact with it, is held to bring sickness and danger, and it belongs to the class of water-dwelling powers the Nivaclé approach with caution.

Domains

• rainbow
• water and illness

Powers

• brings sickness and danger

Sources

• Métraux, Alfred, 'Ethnography of the Chaco,' Handbook of South American Indians, vol. 1 (1946).
• Wilbert & Simoneau, Folk Literature of the Nivaklé Indians (1987).