caused him plainly to be seen. "There," said the leader, "it is he to
whom I am leading you; here our troubles only will commence, for he is a
MISHEMOKWA[20] and a Manito. It is he who has that we prize so dearly
(i. e., _wampum_), to obtain which, the warriors whose bones we saw
sacrificed their lives. You must not be fearful. Be manly. We shall
find him asleep." They advanced boldly till they came near, when they
stopped to view him more closely. He was asleep. Then the leader went
forward and touched the belt around the animal's neck. "This," he said,
"is what we must get. It contains the wampum." They then requested the
eldest to try and slip the belt over the bear's head, who appeared to be
fast asleep, as he was not in the least disturbed by the attempt to
obtain the belt. All their efforts were in vain, till it came to the one
next the youngest. He tried, and the belt moved nearly over the
monster's head, but he could get it no farther. Then the youngest one
and leader made his attempt, and succeeded. Placing it on the back of
the oldest, he said, "Now we must run," and off they started. When one
became fatigued with its weight, another would relieve him. Thus they
ran till they had passed the bones of all former warriors, and were some
distance beyond, when, looking back, they saw the monster slowly rising.
He stood some time before he missed his wampum. Soon they heard his
tremendous howl, like distant thunder, slowly filling all the sky; and
then they heard him speak and say, "Who can it be that has dared to
steal my wampum? Earth is not so large but that I can find them." And
he descended from the hill in pursuit. As if convulsed, the earth shook
with every jump he made. Very soon he approached the party. They however
kept the belt, exchanging it from one to another, and encouraging each
other. But he gained on them fast. "Brothers," said the leader, "has
never any one of you, when fasting, dreamed of some friendly spirit who
would aid you as a guardian?" A dead silence followed. "Well," said he,
"fasting, I dreamed of being in danger of instant death, when I saw a
small lodge, with smoke curling from its top. An old man lived in it,
and I dreamed he helped me. And may it be verified soon," he said,
running forward and giving the peculiar yell, and a howl as if the
sounds came from the depths of his stomach, and which is called
_Checaudum_. Getting upon a piece of rising ground, behold! a lodge,
with smoke curling from its top, appeared. This gave them all new
strength, and they ran forward and entered it. The leader spoke to the
old man who sat in the lodge, saying, "_Nemesho_,[21] help us. We claim
your protection, for the great bear will kill us." "Sit down and eat, my
grandchildren," said the old man. "Who is a great Manito?" said he,
"there is none but me; but let me look," and he opened the door of the
lodge, when lo! at a little distance he saw the enraged animal coming
on, with slow but powerful leaps. He closed the door. "Yes," said he,
"_he_ is indeed a great Manito. My grandchildren, you will be the cause
of my losing my life. You asked my protection, and I granted it; so now,
come what may, I will protect you. When the bear arrives at the door,
you must run out of the other end of the lodge." Then putting his hand
to the side of the lodge where he sat, he brought out a bag, which he
opened. Taking out two small black dogs, he placed them before him.
"These are the ones I use when I fight," said he; and he commenced
patting, with both hands, the sides of one of them, and he began to
swell out, so that he soon filled the lodge by his bulk. And he had
great strong teeth. When he attained his full size he growled, and from
that moment, as from instinct, he jumped out at the door and met the
bear, who in another leap would have reached the lodge. A terrible
combat ensued. The skies rang with the howls of the fierce monsters. The
remaining dog soon took the field. The brothers, at the onset, took the
advice of the old man, and escaped through the opposite side of the
lodge. They had not proceeded far before they heard the dying cry of one
of the dogs, and soon after of the other. "Well," said the leader, "the
old man will share their fate; so run, run, he will soon be after us."
They started with fresh vigour, for they had received food from the old
man; but very soon the bear came in sight, and again was fast gaining
upon them. Again the leader asked the brothers if they could do nothing
for their safety. All were silent. The leader, running forward, did as
before. "I dreamed," he cried, "that, being in great trouble, an old man
helped me who was a Manito. We shall soon see his lodge." Taking
courage, they still went on. After going a short distance they saw the
lodge of the old Manito. They entered immediately and claimed his
protection, telling him a Manito was after them. The old man, setting
meat before them, said, "Eat. Who is a Manito? there is no Manito but
me. There is none whom I fear." And the earth trembled as the monster
advanced. The old man opened the door and saw him coming. He shut it
slowly, and said, "Yes, my grandchildren, you have brought trouble upon
me." Procuring his medicine sack, he took out his small war-clubs of
black stone, and told the young men to run through the other side of the
lodge. As he handled the clubs they became very large, and the old man
stepped out just as the bear reached the door. Then striking him with
one of the clubs, it broke in pieces. The bear stumbled. Renewing the
attempt with the other war-club, that also was broken, but the bear
fell senseless. Each blow the old man gave him sounded like a clap of
thunder, and the howls of the bear ran along till they filled the
heavens.
The young men had now ran some distance, when they looked back. They
could see that the bear was recovering from the blows. First he moved
his paws, and soon they saw him rise on his feet. The old man shared the
fate of the first, for they now heard his cries as he was torn in
pieces. Again the monster was in pursuit, and fast overtaking them. Not
yet discouraged, the young men kept on their way; but the bear was now
so close, that the leader once more applied to his brothers, but they
could do nothing. "Well," said he, "my dreams will soon be exhausted.
After this I have but one more." He advanced, invoking his guardian
spirit to aid him. "Once," said he, "I dreamed that, being sorely
pressed, I came to a large lake, on the shore of which was a canoe,
partly out of water, having ten paddles all in readiness. Do not fear,"
he cried, "we shall soon get to it." And so it was, even as he had said.
Coming to the lake, they saw the canoe with the ten paddles, and
immediately they embarked. Scarcely had they reached the centre of the
lake, when they saw the bear arrive at its borders. Lifting himself on
his hind legs, he looked all around. Then he waded into the water; then
losing his footing, he turned back, and commenced making the circuit of
the lake. Meanwhile, the party remained stationary in the centre to
watch his movements. He travelled around, till at last he came to the
place from whence he started. Then he commenced drinking up the water,
and they saw the current fast setting in towards his open mouth. The
leader encouraged them to paddle hard for the opposite shore. When only
a short distance from land, the current had increased so much, that they
were drawn back by it, and all their efforts to reach it were vain.
Then the leader again spoke, telling them to meet their fates manfully.
"Now is the time, Mudjikewis," said he, "to show your prowess. Take
courage, and sit in the bow of the canoe; and when it approaches his
mouth, try what effect your club will have on his head." He obeyed, and
stood ready to give the blow; while the leader, who steered, directed
the canoe for the open mouth of the monster.
Rapidly advancing, they were just about to enter his mouth, when
Mudjikewis struck him a tremendous blow on the head, and gave the
saw-saw-quan. The bear's limbs doubled under him, and he fell stunned by
the blow. But before Mudjikewis could renew it, the monster disgorged
all the water he had drank, with a force which sent the canoe with great
velocity to the opposite shore. Instantly leaving the canoe, again they
fled, and on they went till they were completely exhausted. The earth
again shook, and soon they saw the monster hard after them. Their
spirits drooped, and they felt discouraged. The leader exerted himself,
by actions and words, to cheer them up; and once more he asked them if
they thought of nothing, or could do nothing for their rescue; and, as
before, all were silent. "Then," he said, "this is the last time I can
apply to my guardian spirit. Now if we do not succeed, our fates are
decided." He ran forward, invoking his spirit with great earnestness,
and gave the yell. "We shall soon arrive," said he to his brothers, "to
the place where my last guardian spirit dwells. In him I place great
confidence. Do not, do not be afraid, or your limbs will be fear-bound.
We shall soon reach his lodge. Run, run," he cried.
Returning now to Iamo, he had passed all the time in the same condition
we left him, the head directing its sister, in order to procure food,
where to place the magic arrows, and speaking at long intervals. One day
the sister saw the eyes of the head brighten, as if through pleasure. At
last it spoke. "Oh, sister," it said, "in what a pitiful situation you
have been the cause of placing me. Soon, very soon, a party of young
men will arrive and apply to me for aid; but, alas! how can I give what
I _would_ have done with so much pleasure. Nevertheless, take two
arrows, and place them where you have been in the habit of placing the
others, and have meat prepared and cooked before they arrive. When you
hear them coming and calling on my name, go out and say, 'Alas! it is
long ago that an accident befell him. I was the cause of it.' If they
still come near, ask them in and set meat before them. And now you must
follow my directions strictly. When the bear is near, go out and meet
him. You will take my medicine sack, bows and arrows, and my head. You
must then untie the sack, and spread out before you my paints of all
colours, my war eagle feathers, my tufts of dried hair, and whatever
else it contains. As the bear approaches, you will take all these
articles, one by one, and say to him, 'This is my deceased brother's
paint,' and so on with all the other articles, throwing each of them as
far from you as you can. The virtues contained in them will cause him to
totter; and, to complete his destruction, you will take my head, and
that too you will cast as far off as you can, crying aloud, 'See, this
is my deceased brother's head.' He will then fall senseless. By this
time the young men will have eaten, and you will call them to your
assistance. You must then cut the carcass into pieces, yes, into _small_
pieces, and scatter them to the four winds; for, unless you do this, he
will again revive." She promised that all should be done as she said.
She had only time to prepare the meat, when the voice of the leader was
heard calling upon Iamo for aid. The woman went out and said as her
brother had directed. But the war party, being closely pursued, came up
to the lodge. She invited them in, and placed the meat before them.
While they were eating they heard the bear approaching. Untying the
medicine sack and taking the head, she had all in readiness for his
approach. When he came up she did as she had been told; and, before she
had expended the paints and feathers, the bear began to totter, but,
still advancing, came close to the woman. Saying as she was commanded,
she then took the head, and cast it as far from her as she could. As it
rolled along the ground, the blood, excited by the feelings of the head
in this terrible scene, gushed from the nose and mouth. The bear,
tottering, soon fell with a tremendous noise. Then she cried for help,
and the young men came rushing out, having partially regained their
strength and spirits.
Mudjikewis, stepping up, gave a yell and struck him a blow upon the
head. This he repeated till it seemed like a mass of brains; while the
others, as quick as possible, cut him into very small pieces, which they
then scattered in every direction. While thus employed, happening to
look around where they had thrown the meat, wonderful to behold! they
saw starting up and running off in every direction small black bears,
such as are seen at the present day. The country was soon overspread
with these black animals. And it was from this monster that the present
race of bears derived their origin.
Having thus overcome their pursuer, they returned to the lodge. In the
mean time, the woman, gathering the implements she had used and the
head, placed them again in the sack. But the head did not speak again,
probably from the effects of its great exertion to overcome the monster.
Having spent so much time and traversed so vast a country in their
flight, the young men gave up the idea of ever returning to their own
country, and game being plenty, they determined to remain where they now
were. One day they moved off some distance from the lodge for the
purpose of hunting, having left the wampum with the woman. They were
very successful, and amused themselves, as all young men do when alone,
by talking and jesting with each other. One of them spoke and said, "We
have all this sport to ourselves; let us go and ask our sister if she
will not let us bring the head to this place, as it is still alive. It
may be pleased to hear us talk and be in our company. In the mean time,
take food to our sister." They went, and requested the head. She told
them to take it, and they took it to their hunting-grounds and tried to
amuse it, but only at times did they see its eyes beam with pleasure.
One day, while busy in their encampment, they were unexpectedly attacked
by unknown Indians. The skirmish was long contested and bloody. Many of
their foes were slain, but still they were thirty to one. The young men
fought desperately till they were all killed. The attacking party then
retreated to a heighth of ground, to muster their men, and to count the
number of missing and slain. One of their young men had strayed away,
and, in endeavouring to overtake them, came to the place where the head
was hung up. Seeing that alone retain animation, he eyed it for some
time with fear and surprise. However, he took it down and opened the
sack, and was much pleased to see the beautiful feathers, one of which
he placed on his head.
Starting off, it waved gracefully over him till he reached his party,
when he threw down the head and sack, and told them how he had found
it, and that the sack was full of paints and feathers. They all looked
at the head and made sport of it. Numbers of the young men took the
paint and painted themselves, and one of the party took the head by the
hair and said, "Look, you ugly thing, and see your paints on the faces
of warriors." But the feathers were so beautiful, that numbers of them
also placed _them_ on their heads. Then again they used all kinds of
indignity to the head, for which they were in turn repaid by the death
of those who had used the feathers. Then the chief commanded them to
throw all away except the head. "We will see," said he, "when we get
home, what we can do to it. We will try to make it shut its eyes."
When they reached their homes they took it to the council lodge, and
hung it up before the fire, fastening it with raw hide soaked, which
would shrink and become tightened by the action of the fire. "We will
then see," they said, "if we cannot make it shut its eyes."
Meanwhile, for several days the sister had been waiting for the young
men to bring back the head; till at last, getting impatient, she went in
search of it. The young men she found lying within short distances of
each other, dead, and covered with wounds. Various other bodies lay
scattered in different directions around them. She searched for the
head and sack, but they were nowhere to be found. She raised her voice
and wept, and blackened her face. Then she walked in different
directions, till she came to the place from whence the head had been
taken. There she found the magic bow and arrows, where the young men,
ignorant of their qualities had left them. She thought to herself that
she would find her brother's head, and came to a piece of rising ground,
and there saw some of his paints and feathers. These she carefully put
up, and hung upon the branch of a tree till her return.
At dusk she arrived at the first lodge of a very extensive village. Here
she used a charm, common among Indians when they wish to meet with a
kind reception. On applying to the old man and woman of the lodge, she
was kindly received. She made known her errand. The old man promised to
aid her, and told her that the head was hung up before the council fire,
and that the chiefs of the village, with their young men, kept watch
over it continually. The former are considered as Manitoes. She said she
only wished to see it, and would be satisfied if she could only get to
the door of the lodge. She knew she had not sufficient power to take it
by force. "Come with me," said the Indian, "I will take you there."
They went, and they took their seats near the door. The council lodge
was filled with warriors, amusing themselves with games, and constantly
keeping up a fire to smoke the head, as they said, to make dry meat.
They saw the head move, and not knowing what to make of it, one spoke
and said, "Ha! ha! it is beginning to feel the effects of the smoke."
The sister looked up from the door, and her eyes met those of her
brother, and tears rolled down the cheeks of the head. "Well," said the
chief, "I thought we would make you do something at last. Look! look at
it--shedding tears," said he to those around him; and they all laughed
and passed their jokes upon it. The chief, looking around and observing
the woman, after some time said to the man who came with her, "Who have
you got there? I have never seen that woman before in our village."
"Yes," replied the man, "you have seen her; she is a relation of mine,
and seldom goes out. She stays in my lodge, and asked me to allow her to
come with me to this place." In the centre of the lodge sat one of those
young men who are always forward, and fond of boasting and displaying
themselves before others. "Why," said he, "I have seen her often, and it
is to his lodge I go almost every night to court her." All the others
laughed and continued their games. The young man did not know he was
telling a lie to the woman's advantage, who by that means escaped.
She returned to the man's lodge, and immediately set out for her own
country. Coming to the spot where the bodies of her adopted brothers
lay, she placed them together, their feet towards _the east_. Then
taking an axe which she had, she cast it up into the air, crying out,
"Brothers, get up from under it, or it will fall on you." This she
repeated three times, and the third time the brothers all arose and
stood on their feet.
Mudjikewis commenced rubbing his eyes and stretching himself. "Why,"
said he, "I have overslept myself." "No, indeed," said one of the
others, "do you not know we were all killed, and that it is our sister
who has brought us to life?" The young men took the bodies of their
enemies and _burned_ them. Soon after, the woman went to procure wives
for them, in a distant country, they knew not where; but she returned
with ten young females, which she gave to the young men, beginning with
the eldest. Mudjikewis stepped to and fro, uneasy lest he should not get
the one he liked. But he was not disappointed, for she fell to his lot.
And they were well matched, for she was a female magician. They then
all moved into a very large lodge, and their sister told them that the
women must now take turns in going to her brother's head every night,
trying to untie it. They all said they would do so with pleasure. The
eldest made the first attempt, and with a rushing noise she fled through
the air.
Towards daylight she returned. She had been unsuccessful, as she
succeeded in untying only one of the knots. All took their turns
regularly, and each one succeeded in untying only one knot each time.
But when the youngest went, she commenced the work as soon as she
reached the lodge; although it had always been occupied, still the
Indians never could see any one. For ten nights now, the smoke had not
ascended, but filled the lodge and drove them out. This last night they
were all driven out, and the young woman carried off the head.
The young people and the sister heard the young woman coming high
through the air, and they heard her saying, "Prepare the body of our
brother." And as soon as they heard it, they went to a small lodge where
the black body of Iamo lay. His sister commenced cutting the neck part,
from which the head had been severed. She cut so deep as to cause it to
bleed; and the others who were present, by rubbing the body and applying
medicines, expelled the blackness. In the mean time the one who brought
it, by cutting the neck of the head, caused that also to bleed.
As soon as she arrived, they placed that close to the body, and by the
aid of medicines and various other means, succeeded in restoring Iamo to
all his former beauty and manliness. All rejoiced in the happy
termination of their troubles, and they had spent some time joyfully
together, when Iamo said, "Now I will divide the wampum;" and getting
the belt which contained it, he commenced with the eldest, giving it in
equal proportions. But the youngest got the most splendid and beautiful,
as the bottom of the belt held the richest and rarest.
They were told that, since they had all once died, and were restored to
life, they were no longer mortals, but _spirits_, and they were assigned
different stations in the invisible world. Only Mudjikewis's place was,
however, named. He was to direct the _west wind_, hence generally called
Kabeyun, there to remain for ever. They were commanded, as they had it
in their power, to do good to the inhabitants of the earth; and
forgetting their sufferings in procuring the wampum, to give all things
with a liberal hand. And they were also commanded that it should also be
held by them _sacred_; those grains or shells of the pale hue to be
emblematic of peace, while those of the darker hue would lead to evil
and to war.
The spirits then, amid songs and shouts, took their flight to their
respective abodes on high; while Iamo, with his sister Iamoqua,
descended into the depths below.
* * * * *
Some of the incidents of this tale furnish references to both Occidental
as well as Oriental customs, which are appropriate subjects of comment.
This is not the place to enter into their discussion. It may be
sufficient to mention, that the burning of the dead is an Eastern, and
not an Algic custom. Burying with the feet towards the east is common to
the present and to many Eastern tribes; but there are tumuli or barrows
in the Northwest, in which the bones lie north and south, indicating its
occupancy by tribes of a prior race. The idea of the immortality of man
is clearly indicated; but an idea more clearly shadowed forth here, than
perhaps in any other of these fictions, is the necessity of a great boon
or Saviour to render men happy. This is placed symbolically in this tale
in wampum, the most sacred of all objects known to these tribes, and its
acquirement is the work of the Indian Mudjikewis or heir. It is not
presumable that they possess, or ever possessed, the true idea of the
Saviour of mankind, as revealed by Holy Writ. The allusions are thought
rather to show the original tendency of the human mind, unenlightened
and uninstructed, to seek for some moral or physical panacea which is
to introduce happiness to the race. Such an idea appears compatible with
the condition of the erratic nations immediately at, and posterior to,
the great biblical era of the introduction of new languages, and the
consequent dispersion of men over the world. For it is rather to this
era, than to the comparatively newer one of the fall of the Israelitish
kingdom, that we are to look as the _first_ point of historical and
philological comparison. It is hence that the Hebrew, the initial
language, becomes so important in the investigation. We may, indeed,
regard it as furnishing a key to the principles of grammatical utterance
in the East.
It has been observed, that the custom of female separation, upon the
violation of which the present tale is founded, is a Hebrew custom,
identified with the written institutions of the Pentateuch. A lodge of
separation is established at these periods by all the Algic tribes.
Nothing is better attested, by those who have given attention to this
subject, than that everything touched by the female during this period
is polluted and rendered unclean. To cross her pathway even, is to fall
under the bane of impurity; and a hunter or a warrior who should thus
trespass, would feel his hopes blighted and his prospect of success
destroyed.
FOOTNOTES:
[19] War-cry.
[20] A she-bear--also a male having the ferocity of a she-bear.
[21] My grandfather.
MON-DAW-MIN;
OR,
THE ORIGIN OF INDIAN CORN.
AN ODJIBWA TALE.
In times past, a poor Indian was living with his wife and children in a
beautiful part of the country. He was not only poor, but inexpert in
procuring food for his family, and his children were all too young to
give him assistance. Although poor, he was a man of a kind and contented
disposition. He was always thankful to the Great Spirit for everything
he received. The same disposition was inherited by his eldest son, who
had now arrived at the proper age to undertake the ceremony of the
Ke-ig-uish-im-o-win, or fast, to see what kind of a spirit would be his
guide and guardian through life. Wunzh, for this was his name, had been
an obedient boy from his infancy, and was of a pensive, thoughtful, and
mild disposition, so that he was beloved by the whole family. As soon as
the first indications of spring appeared, they built him the customary
little lodge, at a retired spot some distance from their own, where he
would not be disturbed during this solemn rite. In the mean time he
prepared himself, and immediately went into it and commenced his fast.
The first few days he amused himself in the mornings by walking in the
woods and over the mountains, examining the early plants and flowers,
and in this way prepared himself to enjoy his sleep, and, at the same
time, stored his mind with pleasant ideas for his dreams. While he
rambled through the woods, he felt a strong desire to know how the
plants, herbs, and berries grew, without any aid from man, and why it
was that some species were good to eat, and others possessed medicinal
or poisonous juices. He recalled these thoughts to mind after he became
too languid to walk about, and had confined himself strictly to the
lodge; he wished he could dream of something that would prove a benefit
to his father and family, and to all others. "True!" he thought, "the
Great Spirit made all things, and it is to him that we owe our lives.
But could he not make it easier for us to get our food, than by hunting
animals and taking fish? I must try to find out this in my visions."
On the third day he became weak and faint, and kept his bed. He fancied,
while thus lying, that he saw a handsome young man coming down from the
sky and advancing towards him. He was richly and gayly dressed, having
on a great many garments of green and yellow colours, but differing in
their deeper or lighter shades. He had a plume of waving feathers on his
head, and all his motions were graceful.
"I am sent to you, my friend," said the celestial visiter, "by that
Great Spirit who made all things in the sky and on the earth. He has
seen and knows your motives in fasting. He sees that it is from a kind
and benevolent wish to do good to your people, and to procure a benefit
for them, and that you do not seek for strength in war or the praise of
warriors. I am sent to instruct you, and show you how you can do your
kindred good." He then told the young man to arise, and prepare to
wrestle with him, as it was only by this means that he could hope to
succeed in his wishes. Wunzh knew he was weak from fasting, but he felt
his courage rising in his heart, and immediately got up, determined to
die rather than fail. He commenced the trial, and, after a protracted
effort, was almost exhausted, when the beautiful stranger said, "My
friend, it is enough for once; I will come again to try you;" and,
smiling on him, he ascended in the air in the same direction from which
he came. The next day the celestial visiter reappeared at the same hour
and renewed the trial. Wunzh felt that his strength was even less than
the day before, but the courage of his mind seemed to increase in
proportion as his body became weaker. Seeing this, the stranger again
spoke to him in the same words he used before, adding, "To-morrow will
be your last trial. Be strong, my friend, for this is the only way you
can overcome me, and obtain the boon you seek." On the third day he
again appeared at the same time and renewed the struggle. The poor youth
was very faint in body, but grew stronger in mind at every contest, and
was determined to prevail or perish in the attempt. He exerted his
utmost powers, and after the contest had been continued the usual time,
the stranger ceased his efforts and declared himself conquered. For the
first time he entered the lodge, and sitting down beside the youth, he
began to deliver his instructions to him, telling him in what manner he
should proceed to take advantage of his victory.