make of their triumph. 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, and make this their home. One day they
moved off some distance from the lodge for the purpose of hunting,
having left the wampum captured 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,
we will 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 height 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 endeavoring to overtake them,
came to the place where the undying 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 up 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 of Iamo 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 the enemy, in 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 eyes 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 as her
eyes met those of her brother, tears rolled down the cheeks of the
undying 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 old 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 vain 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 scrutiny.
She returned to the old 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 toward _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 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 Iamoqua 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 they all possessed invisibility.
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, the father of Manabozho, there to remain
forever. 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.
[63] War-cry.
[64] A gigantic she bear wearing the sacred necklace of wampum.
[65] My grandfather.
THE RED SWAN.
Three brothers were left destitute, by the death of their parents, at
an early age. The eldest was not yet able to provide fully for their
support, but did all he could in hunting, and with his aid, and the
stock of provisions left by their father, they were preserved and kept
alive, rather, it seems, by miraculous interposition, than the adequacy
of their own exertions. For the father had been a hermit,[66] having
removed far away from the body of the tribe, so that when he and his
wife died they left their children without neighbors and friends, and
the lads had no idea that there was a human being near them. They did
not even know who their parents had been, for the eldest was too young,
at the time of their death, to remember it. Forlorn as they were, they
did not, however, give up to despondency, but made use of every
exertion they could, and in process of time, learned the art of hunting
and killing animals. The eldest soon became an expert hunter, and was
very successful in procuring food. He was noted for his skill in
killing buffalo, elk, and moose, and he instructed his brothers in the
arts of the forest as soon as they became old enough to follow him.
After they had become able to hunt and take care of themselves, the
elder proposed to leave them, and go in search of habitations,
promising to return as soon as he could procure them wives. In this
project he was overruled by his brothers, who said they could not part
with him. Maujeekewis, the second eldest, was loud in his disapproval,
saying, "What will you do with _those you propose to get_--we have
lived so long without them, and we can still do without them." His
words prevailed, and the three brothers continued together for a time.
One day they agreed to kill each, a male of those kind of animals each
was most expert in hunting, for the purpose of making quivers from
their skins. They did so, and immediately commenced making arrows to
fill their quivers, that they might be prepared for any emergency. Soon
after, they hunted on a wager, to see who should come in first with
game, and prepare it so as to regale the others. They were to shoot no
other animal, but such as each was in the habit of killing. They set
out different ways; Odjibwa, the youngest, had not gone far before he
saw a bear, an animal he was not to kill, by the agreement. He followed
him close, and drove an arrow through him, which brought him to the
ground. Although contrary to the bet, he immediately commenced skinning
him, when suddenly something red tinged all the air around him. He
rubbed his eyes, thinking he was perhaps deceived, but without effect,
for the red hue continued. At length he heard a strange noise at a
distance. It first appeared like a human voice, but after following the
sound for some distance, he reached the shores of a lake, and soon saw
the object he was looking for. At a distance out in the lake, sat a
most beautiful Red Swan, whose plumage glittered in the sun, and who
would now and then make the same noise he had heard. He was within long
bow shot, and pulling the arrow from the bow-string up to his ear, took
deliberate aim and shot. The arrow took no effect; and he shot and shot
again till his quiver was empty. Still the swan remained, moving around
and around, stretching its long neck and dipping its bill into the
water, as if heedless of the arrows shot at it. Odjibwa ran home, and
got all his own and his brothers' arrows, and shot them all away. He
then stood and gazed at the beautiful bird. While standing, he
remembered his brothers' saying that in their deceased father's
medicine sack were three magic arrows. Off he started, his anxiety to
kill the swan overcoming all scruples. At any other time, he would have
deemed it sacrilege to open his father's medicine sack, but now he
hastily seized the three arrows and ran back, leaving the other
contents of the sack scattered over the lodge. The swan was still
there. He shot the first arrow with great precision, and came very near
to it. The second came still closer; as he took the last arrow, he felt
his arm firmer, and drawing it up with vigor, saw it pass through the
neck of the swan a little above the breast. Still it did not prevent
the bird from flying off, which it did, however, at first slowly,
flapping its wings and rising gradually into the air, and then flying
off toward the sinking of the sun.[67] Odjibwa was disappointed; he knew
that his brothers would be displeased with him; he rushed into the
water and rescued the two magic arrows, the third was carried off by
the swan; but he thought that it could not fly very far with it, and
let the consequences be what they might, he was bent on following it.
Off he started on the run; he was noted for speed, for he would shoot
an arrow, and then run so fast that the arrow always fell behind him. I
can run fast, he thought, and I can get up with the swan some time or
other. He thus ran over hills and prairies, toward the west, till near
night, and was only going to take one more run, and then seek a place
to sleep for the night, when suddenly he heard noises at a distance,
which he knew were from people; for some were cutting trees, and the
strokes of their axes echoed through the woods. When he emerged from
the forest, the sun was just falling below the horizon, and he felt
pleased to find a place to sleep in, and get something to eat, as he
had left home without a mouthful. All these circumstances could not
damp his ardor for the accomplishment of his object, and he felt that
if he only persevered, he would succeed. At a distance, on a rising
piece of ground, he could see an extensive town. He went toward it, but
soon heard the watchman, Mudjee-Kokokoho, who was placed on some height
to overlook the place, and give notice of the approach of friends or
foes--crying out, "We are visited;" and a loud holla indicated that they
all heard it. The young man advanced, and was pointed by the watchman to
the lodge of the chief, "It is there you must go in," he said, and left
him. "Come in, come in," said the chief, "take a seat there," pointing
to the side where his daughter sat. "It is there you must sit." Soon
they gave him something to eat, and very few questions were asked him,
being a stranger. It was only when he spoke, that the others answered
him. "Daughter," said the chief, after dark, "take our son-in-law's
moccasins, and see if they be torn; if so, mend them for him, and bring
in his bundle." The young man thought it strange that he should be so
warmly received, and married instantly, without his wishing it, although
the young girl was pretty. It was some time before she would take his
moccasins, which he had taken off. It displeased him to see her so
reluctant to do so, and when she did reach them, he snatched them out of
her hand and hung them up himself. He laid down and thought of the swan,
and made up his mind to be off by dawn. He awoke early, and spoke to the
young woman, but she gave no answer. He slightly touched her. "What do
you want?" she said, and turned her back toward him. "Tell me," he said,
"what time the swan passed. I am following it, and come out and point
the direction." "Do you think you can catch up to it?" she said. "Yes,"
he answered. "Naubesah" (foolishness), she said. She, however, went out
and pointed in the direction he should go. The young man went slowly
till the sun arose, when he commenced travelling at his accustomed
speed. He passed the day in running, and when night came, he was
unexpectedly pleased to find himself near another town; and when at a
distance, he heard the watchman crying out, "We are visited;" and soon
the men of the village stood out to see the stranger. He was again told
to enter the lodge of the chief, and his reception was, in every
respect, the same as he met the previous night; only that the young
woman was more beautiful, and received him very kindly, but although
urged to stay, his mind was fixed on the object of his journey. Before
daylight he asked the young woman what time the Red Swan passed, and to
point out the way. She did so, and said it passed yesterday when the sun
was between midday and _pungishemoo_--its falling place. He again
set out rather slowly, but when the sun had arisen he tried his speed by
shooting an arrow ahead, and running after it; but it fell behind him.
Nothing remarkable happened in the course of the day, and he went on
leisurely. Toward night, he came to the lodge of an old man. Some time
after dark he saw a light emitted from a small low lodge. He went up to
it very slyly, and peeping through the door, saw an old man alone,
warming his back before the fire, with his head down on his breast. He
thought the old man did not know that he was standing near the door, but
in this he was disappointed; for so soon as he looked in, "Walk in,
Nosis,"[68] he said, "take a seat opposite to me, and take off your
things and dry them, for you must be fatigued; and I will prepare you
something to eat." Odjibwa did as he was requested. The old man, whom he
perceived to be a magician, then said: "My kettle with water stands near
the fire;" and immediately a small earthen or a kind of metallic pot
with legs appeared by the fire. He then took one grain of corn, also one
whortleberry, and put them in the pot. As the young man was very hungry,
he thought that his chance for a supper was but small. Not a word or a
look, however, revealed his feelings. The pot soon boiled, when the old
man spoke, commanding it to stand some distance from the fire; "Nosis,"
said he, "feed yourself," and he handed him a dish and ladle made out of
the same metal as the pot. The young man helped himself to all that was
in the pot; he felt ashamed to think of his having done so, but before
he could speak, the old man said, "Nosis, eat, eat;" and soon after he
again said, "Help yourself from the pot." Odjibwa was surprised on
looking into it to see it full; he kept on taking _all out_, and as
soon as it was done, it was again filled, till he had amply satisfied
his hunger. The magician then spoke, and the pot occupied its accustomed
place in one part of the lodge. The young man then leisurely reclined
back, and listened to the predictions of his entertainer, who told him
to keep on, and he would obtain his object. "To tell you more," said he,
"I am not permitted; but go on as you have commenced, and you will not
be disappointed; to-morrow you will again reach one of my fellow old
men; but the one you will see after him will tell you all, and the
manner in which you will proceed to accomplish your journey. Often has
this Red Swan passed, and those who have followed it have never
returned: but you must be firm in your resolution, and be prepared for
all events." "So will it be," answered Odjibwa, and they both laid down
to sleep. Early in the morning, the old man had his magic kettle
prepared, so that his guest should eat before leaving. When leaving, the
old man gave him his parting advice.
Odjibwa set out in better spirits than he had done since leaving home.
Night again found him in company with an old man, who received him
kindly, and directed him on his way in the morning. He travelled with a
light heart, expecting to meet the one who was to give him directions
how to proceed to get the Red Swan. Toward nightfall, he reached the
third old man's lodge. Before coming to the door, he heard him saying,
"Nosis, come in," and going in immediately, he felt quite at home. The
old man prepared him something to eat, acting as the other magicians
had done, and his kettle was of the same dimensions and material. The
old man waited till he had done eating, when he commenced addressing
him. "Young man, the errand you are on is very difficult. Numbers of
young men have passed with the same purpose, but never returned. Be
careful, and if your guardian spirits are powerful, you may succeed.
This Red Swan you are following, is the daughter of a magician, who has
plenty of everything, but he values his daughter but little less than
wampum. He wore a cap of wampum, which was attached to his scalp; but
powerful Indians--warriors of a distant chief, came and told him, that
their chief's daughter was on the brink of the grave, and she herself
requested his scalp of wampum to effect a cure. 'If I can only see it,
I will recover,' she said, and it was for this reason they came, and
after long urging the magician, he at last consented to part with it,
only from the idea of restoring the young woman to health; although
when he took it off, it left his head bare and bloody. Several years
have passed since, and it has not healed. The warriors' coming for it,
was only a cheat, and they now are constantly making sport of it,
dancing it about from village to village; and on every insult it
receives, the old man groans from pain. Those Indians are too powerful
for the magician, and numbers have sacrificed themselves to recover it
for him, but without success. The Red Swan has enticed many a young
man, as she has done you, in order to get them to procure it, and
whoever is the fortunate one that succeeds, will receive the Red Swan
as his reward. In the morning you will proceed on your way, and toward
evening you will come to the magician's lodge, but before you enter you
will hear his groans; he will immediately ask you in, and you will see
no one but himself; he will make inquiries of you, as regards your
dreams, and the powers of your guardian spirits; he will then ask you
to attempt the recovery of his scalp; he will show you the direction,
and if you feel inclined, as I dare say you do, go forward, my son,
with a strong heart, persevere, and I have a presentiment you will
succeed." The young man answered, "I will try." Early next morning,
after having eaten from the magic kettle, he started off on his
journey. Toward evening he came to the lodge as he was told, and soon
heard the groans of the magician. "Come in," he said, even before the
young man reached the door. On entering he saw his head all bloody, and
he was groaning most terribly. "Sit down, sit down," he said, "while I
prepare you something to eat," at the same time doing as the other
magicians had done, in preparing food--"You see," he said, "how poor I
am; I have to attend to all my wants." He said this to conceal the fact
that the Red Swan was there, but Odjibwa perceived that the lodge was
partitioned, and he heard a rustling noise, now and then, in that
quarter, which satisfied him that it was occupied. After having taken
his leggings and moccasins off, and eaten, the old magician commenced
telling him how he had lost his scalp--the insults it was
receiving--the pain he was suffering in consequence--his wishes to
regain it--the unsuccessful attempts that had already been made, and
the numbers and power of those who detained it; stated the best and
most probable way of getting it; touching the young man on his pride
and ambition, by the proposed adventure, and last, he spoke of such
things as would make an Indian rich. He would interrupt his discourse
by now and then groaning, and saying, "Oh, how shamefully they are
treating it." Odjibwa listened with solemn attention. The old man then
asked him about his dreams--his dreams (or _as he saw when asleep_[69])
at the particular time he had fasted and blackened his face to procure
guardian spirits.