cadence, he howled like a wolf. The elder brother was still more
astonished, when, getting nearer shore, he perceived his poor brother
partly transformed into that animal. He immediately leaped on shore,
and strove to catch him in his arms, soothingly saying, "My brother, my
brother, come to me." But the boy eluded his grasp, crying as he fled,
"Neesia, neesia," &c., and howling in the intervals.
The elder brother, conscience stricken, and feeling his brotherly
affection strongly return, with redoubled force exclaimed, in great
anguish, "My brother! my brother! my brother!"
But, the nearer he approached, the more rapidly the transformation went
on; the boy alternately singing and howling, and calling out the name,
first of his brother, and then of his sister, till the change was
completely accomplished, when he exclaimed, "I am a wolf!" and bounded
out of sight.
[61] Wesugaindum, meaning pain or bitterness of mind, is a single
expression in the original. It is a trinary compound.
[62] Notes of the Pibbigwun.
MISHEMOKWA,
OR
THE WAR WITH THE GIGANTIC BEAR WEARING THE PRECIOUS PRIZE OF THE
NECKLACE OF WAMPUM,
OR
THE ORIGIN OF THE SMALL BLACK BEAR.
AN OTTOWA LEGEND.
In a remote part of the north lived a great magician called Iamo, and
his only sister, who had never seen a human being. Seldom, if ever, had
the man any cause to go from home; for, as his wants demanded food, he
had only to go a little distance from the lodge, and there, in some
particular spot, place his arrows, with their barbs in the ground.
Telling his sister where they had been placed, every morning she would
go in search, and never fail of finding each struck through the heart of
a deer. She had then only to drag them into the lodge and prepare their
food. Thus she lived till she attained womanhood, when one day her
brother said to her, "Sister, the time is near at hand when you will be
ill. Listen to my advice. If you do not, it will probably be the cause
of my death. Take the implements with which we kindle our fires. Go some
distance from our lodge, and build a separate fire. When you are in want
of food, I will tell you where to find it. You must cook for yourself,
and I will for myself. When you are ill, do not attempt to come near the
lodge, or bring any of the utensils you use. Be sure always to fasten to
your belt the implements you need, for you do not know when the time
will come. As for myself, I must do the best I can." His sister promised
to obey him in all he had said.
Shortly after, her brother had cause to go from home. She was alone in
her lodge, combing her hair. She had just untied the belt to which the
implements were fastened, when suddenly the event, to which her brother
had alluded, occurred. She ran out of the lodge, but in her haste
forgot the belt. Afraid to return, she stood for some time thinking.
Finally she decided to enter the lodge and get it. For, thought she, my
brother is not at home, and I will stay but a moment to catch hold of
it. She went back. Running in suddenly, she caught hold of it, and was
coming out when her brother came in sight. He knew what was the matter.
"Oh," he said, "did I not tell you to take care? But now you have
killed me." She was going on her way, but her brother said to her,
"What can you do there now? the accident has happened. Go in, and stay
where you have always stayed. And what will become of you? You have
killed me."
He then laid aside his hunting dress and accoutrements, and soon after
both his feet began to inflame and turn black, so that he could not
move. Still he directed his sister where to place the arrows, that she
might always have food. The inflammation continued to increase, and had
now reached his first rib; and he said, "Sister, my end is near. You
must do as I tell you. You see my medicine-sack, and my war-club tied
to it. It contains all my medicines, and my war-plumes, and my paints
of all colors. As soon as the inflammation reaches my breast, you will
take my war-club. It has a sharp point, and you will cut off my head.
When it is free from my body, take it, place its neck in the sack,
which you must open at one end. Then hang it up in its former place. Do
not forget my bow and arrows. One of the last you will take to procure
food. The remainder tie to my sack, and then hang it up, so that I can
look towards the door. Now and then I will speak to you, but not
often." His sister again promised to obey.
In a little time his breast was affected. "Now," said he, "take the
club and strike off my head." She was afraid, but he told her to muster
courage. "_Strike_," said he, and a smile was on his face. Mustering
all her courage, she gave the blow and cut off the head. "Now," said
the head, "place me where I told you." And fearfully she obeyed it in
all its commands. Retaining its animation, it looked around the lodge
as usual, and it would command its sister to go to such places as it
thought would procure for her the flesh of different animals she
needed. One day the head said, "The time is not distant when I shall be
freed from this situation, but I shall have to undergo many sore evils.
So the Superior Manito decrees, and I must bear all patiently." In this
situation we must leave the head.
In a certain part of the country was a village inhabited by a numerous
and warlike band of Indians. In this village was a family of ten young
men--brothers. It was in the spring of the year that the youngest of
these blackened his face and fasted. His dreams were propitious. Having
ended his fast, he sent secretly for his brothers at night, so that
none in the village could overhear or find out the direction they
intended to go. Though their drum was heard, yet that was a common
occurrence. Having ended the usual formalities, he told them how
favorable his dreams were, and that he had called them together to know
if they would accompany him in a war excursion. They all answered they
would. The third brother from the eldest, noted for his oddities,
coming up with his war-club when his brother had ceased speaking,
jumped up, "Yes," said he, "_I_ will go, and this will be the way I
will treat those we are going to fight;" and he struck the post in the
centre of the lodge, and gave a yell. The others spoke to him, saying,
"Slow, slow, Mudjikewis, when you are in other people's lodges." So he
sat down. Then, in turn, they took the drum, and sang their songs, and
closed with a feast. The youngest told them not to whisper their
intention even to their wives, but secretly to prepare for their
journey. They all promised obedience, and Mudjikewis was the first to
say so.
The time for their departure drew near. Word was given to assemble on a
certain night, when they would depart immediately. Mudjikewis was loud
in his demands for his moccasins. Several times his wife asked him the
reason. "Besides," said she, "you have a good pair on." "Quick, quick,"
he said, "since you must know, we are going on a war excursion. So be
quick." He thus revealed the secret. That night they met and started.
The snow was on the ground, and they travelled all night, lest others
should follow them. When it was daylight, the leader took snow and made
a ball of it; then tossing it into the air, he said, "It was in this
way I saw snow fall in my dream, so that I could not be tracked." And
he told them to keep close to each other for fear of losing themselves,
as the snow began to fall in very large flakes. Near as they walked, it
was with difficulty they could see each other. The snow continued
falling all that day and the following night. So it was impossible to
track them.
They had now walked for several days, and Mudjikewis was always in the
rear. One day, running suddenly forward, he gave the _Saw-saw-quan_,[63]
and struck a tree with his war-club, which broke into pieces as if
struck with lightning. "Brothers," said he, "this will be the way I
will serve those whom we are going to fight." The leader answered,
"Slow, slow, Mudjikewis. The one I lead you to is not to be thought of
so lightly." Again he fell back and thought to himself, "What, what:
Who can this be he is leading us to?" He felt fearful, and was silent.
Day after day they travelled on, till they came to an extensive plain,
on the borders of which human bones were bleaching in the sun. The
leader spoke. "They are the bones of those who have gone before us.
None has ever yet returned to tell the sad tale of their fate." Again
Mudjikewis became restless, and, running forward, gave the accustomed
yell. Advancing to a large rock which stood above the ground, he struck
it, and it fell to pieces. "See, brothers," said he, "thus will I treat
those whom we are going to fight." "Still, still," once more said the
leader; "he to whom I am leading you is not to be compared to that
rock."
Mudjikewis fell back quite thoughtful, saying to himself, "I wonder who
this can be that he is going to attack." And he was afraid. Still they
continued to see the remains of former warriors, who had been to the
place where _they_ were now going, some of whom had retreated as far
back as the place where they first saw the bones, beyond which no one
had ever escaped. At last they came to a piece of rising ground, from
which they plainly distinguished, sleeping on a distant mountain, a
mammoth bear.
The distance between them was great, but the size of the animal 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[64] 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 it. 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 further. 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 _Checau-dum_. 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_,[65] 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 they 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 vigor, 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 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.
They were now in sight of the lodge of Iamo, the magician of the
undying head--of that great magician whose life had been the forfeit of
the kind of necromantic leprosy caused by the careless steps of the
fatal curse of uncleanliness in his sister. This lodge was the sacred
spot of expected relief to which they had been fleeing, from the
furious rage of the giant Bear, who had been robbed of her precious
boon, the _magis-sauniqua_. For it had been the design of many previous
war parties to obtain this boon.
In the mean time, the undying head of Iamo had remained in the medicine
sack, suspended on the sides of his wigwam, where his sister had placed
it, with its mystic charms, and feathers, and arrows. This head
retained all life and vitality, keeping its eyes open, and 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 colors, 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 he 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 invited them in as
her brother had directed. But the war party, being closely pursued,
came promptly 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.
"Behold, Mishemokwa," she cried, "this is the meda sack of Iamo. These
are war eagle's feathers of Iamo (casting them aside). These are magic
arrows of Iamo (casting them down). These are the sacred paints and
magic charms of Iamo. These are dried tufts of the hair of furious
beasts. And this (swinging it with all her might) is his undying head."
The monster began to totter, as she cast one thing after the other on
the ground, but still recovering strength, came close up to the woman
till she flung the head. 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 the monster 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, the mukwahs, derived their origin.
Having thus overcome their pursuer, they returned to the lodge. In the
mean time, the woman, gathering the implements she had scattered, and
the head, placed them again in the sack. But the head did not speak
again.