The Ong is a mythical creature from Washoe (Wašiw) folklore, described as a giant bird with an eagle-like body, a warrior's face, and wings longer than the tallest pine trees.
The Ong was believed to inhabit the waters of Lake Tahoe (Wašiw: Da ow aga), preying on those who wandered too close.
[1][2] In some traditions, the Ong was said to be a massive reptilian bird; in others, it had the body of an eagle, the face of a warrior, and wings longer than the tallest pine trees.
[3] The bird's webbed feet and nest at the center of the lake allowed it to trap animals, trout, and people swept into the currents.
[2] As told by the Washoe Tribe, Ong was a giant man-eating bird that nested in the middle of Lake Tahoe on a spire that rose from the water.
In this account, a young Washoe warrior named Tahoe seeks to prove his bravery to win the hand of Nona, the chief's daughter.
The captive observed that the Ong closed its eyes while chewing, allowing him to secretly throw paçaga (obsidian arrowheads) into its mouth.