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Title: Myths and Legends of the Mississippi Valleyand the Great Lakes
Description: Mystery, magic, and manitoes abound in the land of Hiawatha, in the land of the Ojibwas, among the green islands, graceful and beautiful, lying amidst the dancing blue waters when the sun shines over Gitche Gomee, the Great Water. Manitoes, great and mighty, lived in the cool depths of the mighty forests, in the rivers and lakes, and even in the snows of winter. And adventures there were in those early days amongst these islands of the North, when manitoes directed the affairs of men. But the animal fathers lived upon the earth before there came the "two-legged walkers." There were many animals. There were many beavers. It was the beavers who made Gitchee Gomee, the Great Water. They made it by building two dams. The first they built at the Grand Sault, and the second was five leagues below. When Great Hare came up the river, he said "This must not be so." Therefore he stepped upon the first dam. But he was in haste.
Description: Mystery, magic, and manitoes abound in the land of Hiawatha, in the land of the Ojibwas, among the green islands, graceful and beautiful, lying amidst the dancing blue waters when the sun shines over Gitche Gomee, the Great Water. Manitoes, great and mighty, lived in the cool depths of the mighty forests, in the rivers and lakes, and even in the snows of winter. And adventures there were in those early days amongst these islands of the North, when manitoes directed the affairs of men. But the animal fathers lived upon the earth before there came the "two-legged walkers." There were many animals. There were many beavers. It was the beavers who made Gitchee Gomee, the Great Water. They made it by building two dams. The first they built at the Grand Sault, and the second was five leagues below. When Great Hare came up the river, he said "This must not be so." Therefore he stepped upon the first dam. But he was in haste.
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P R E FA C E
magic and m an it o e s a b o u n d in the
l a n d o f H i awatha in the lan d o f the Oj i b was
among the green islands graceful and beauti
ful l yin g amids t th e d ancing b l u e wate rs when the su n
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shines ove r G it ch e G o m e e the G reat Wate r
it o e s great and m ig htywli v d in t he2{ 9 9 1 d ep ths o f the
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mighty fo rests i n t lf
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snows o f winte r And i degt u e s :h e re we re i n those
av i rj t
early days amongst t he éé li é laudZD Et h e No rth when
sI f
fa
m an i t o e s di rected t h e afi rso f men
But the animal fathers l ived upon the ea rth b efo re
“
The re we re
there came the t wo leg g ed walke rs
m any animals There we re many beave rs I t was the
beavers wh o made G it c h e e G o m e e the G reat Wate r
They m ade i t by building two d ams The fi rst the y
buil t at the G rand S ault and the second was five l eagues
below Wh en G reat H a re came up the rive r he s aid
“
This mus t not b e so
The refo re he step p e d up on the
first d am B ut he was in h aste H e di d no t b reak i t
YST E RY,
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P R E FA C E
d own ; therefo re the re a re now g reat falls an d wh i r l
pools at that p lace B ut a t the secon d dam G reat H are
e
s tepp ed up on i t mi g htily ; the refo re the re a re now f w
falls and only a littl e swi rling wate r a t th at p l ace
G reat H a r e was very mighty Wh en h e ch as ed B eave r
h e step p ed a c ross a b ay ei g ht leagues wide
Around M ich ilim ack in ac k was the l and o f G reat
H a re The re amongst the green islets unde r t h e cool
shade of wide sp reading trees where fish leap e d a b ove
the rip p ling waters he made the fi rst fish net H e
m ade i t afte r watching S p i der weave a we b fo r catch in g
fli es
“
i
I t was W e n ib bj d vi ho fin Oj ibw l and d iscovere d
v
a
fi
fi i
the wil d rice and
Ii dan s to us e i t H e fi rs t
: ra
is l s
pointed out the lo w g ssyglhgd i n the l akes wavin g
g
:
adspikes o f yellowish green
n
thei r b right green
blossoms H e showed them how to cut p aths th rough
th e wi ld rice beds befo re the grain was rip e and l ater
to beat i t into thei r canoes H e told them always to
gathe r the wil d rice befo re a sto rm else th e wind woul d
blow i t all into the wate r Therefo re the Indi ans us e
wild rice in all thei r feasts They even tau g h t the whi te
men to use i t
When th e s nows o f winte r l ay deep up on the fo rests
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P R E FA C E
chant m in g lin g with the s ighin g o f the p ine trees is
F o r the mystical and poetical is s tron g
t ru e ly I n d i an
in the I ndi an natu re
f
As in a ll the othe r volumes o f this seri es no e fo rt
has b een made to o rnament o r amp l i fy these legends i n
”
“
f
the e fo rt to m ake them l itera ry o r give them li t
They mus t S p eak fo r themselves Wh at
c rary ch a rm
ed i tin g has been done has been in s imp l ifyin g them
and f reein g them f rom the ve rbos e settin g in which
many we re found Fo r i n this section o f the country
settled befo re i t was realized that there was an I nd ian
li teratu re the o ri g inal wo rk o f notin g down the myths
was ve ry imp erfectly done
Thanks a re due to the wo rk o f Al b e rt E J enks on
th e wild rice I ndi ans o f th e up p er lakes ; to J ames
M oone y fo r th e myths o f the C he rokees ; to Geo rge
C atlin fo r some o f the up pe r M ississ ipp i l egends ; t o
the well known but almost inaccessible wo rk of School
c raft an d to o the rs
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M an ab o zho an d We s t
M an ab u sh an d t h e G reat F ish
T he D e p art u re o fM an ab u sh
T h e R e t u rn o fM an ab us h
Req u es t
T he
P eb o an
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o
Oj ib wa
O
I m m o rt ality
O j ib w a
See gwu n
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G rav e F ire s
T h e D e ath Trail
T he D u ck an d t he N o rth
Win d
H o w t he H u n t e r D e s t ro y e d
T he P i p e o f P e ace
T he Th u n d e r s N es t
T he P ipe s t o n e
T he P ip es to n e
P au pu k k ee wis
I ago o t h e B o as t e r
Oj ib wa
T he
C he r o k e e
We s t
Oj i b wa
Sn ow
O j ib wa
S io u x
K n is t e n e a u x
Oj ib wa
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t he
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Oj ib w a
,
O j e e g,
M e n o m in i
O j ib wa
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M e n o m in i
M e n o m in i
M e n o m in i
10 4
R abb it G o es D uc k H u n t in g
C h e ro ke e
R ab b it an d t he T ar B aby
B ilo xi
R ab b it an d T ar Wo lf
C he o k e e
R ab b i t an d P an the r
M e om i i
H o w R ab b it S t o le O tt e r s C o a t
C h e ro k e e
B ilo x i
R abb i t an d B e ar
M e omi i
Why D e e r N e v e r E at M e n
H o w R ab b i t S n are d t he Su n
B ilo x i
Wh en t he O rp h an T rapp e d t h e
r
n
n
’
n
n
10 9
111
114
1 16
118
12 2
12 5
12 8
Oj i b wa
0
13
O j ib wa
13
4
C he ro k e e
I
3
7
B ab y S o n g
C her o k e e
I
3
9
F ire fl y
So n g o ft h e M o th e r B e ars
T h e M an in t h e S tu m p
Oj ib wa
14 0
C he ro k e e
14 1
C h e ro k e e
I 43
Su n
T he H are
We
l
co m e
So n g
to
an d t h e
to
a
Lyn x
B aby
t he
x ii
TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S
P AGE
T h e A n t s an d t he Kat yd i d s
Wh e n t he O wl M arri e d
T he K i t e an d t h e E agl e
The Lin n e t an d t h e E agl e
H ow P art ridge go t h is Wh i s t l e
H o w Kin gfi sh e r go t h is B ill
Why t he B l ac kb i rd H as Red
W
B all
14 4
C h e ro kee
I4S
I
B i rds
o f t he
an d
O j ib wa
14 8
C h e ro k e e
I
C h e ro ke e
151
I
C he ro ke e
n
155
B i rd s H av e S h arp
Tail s B ilo xi
T h e W il d cat an d t he T u rk eys
B ilo x i
T he B ran t an d t he O tt e r
B ilo xi
T he T i n y Fro g an d t h e P an th e r
T he F righ t e n e r o f H u n t e rs
C h o ct aw ! B ayo u L acam b )
T h e H u n t e r an d t he Al li gato r
C h o ct aw ! B ayo u L a co m b )
T he G ro u n dh o g D an ce
C h e ro k e e
T he R aco o n
M e n o m in i
W hy t he O p o ss u m P l ays D e ad B ilo x i
Why t h e P o ss u m s Tail is B are C h e ro ke e
Why P o ss u m H as a Large M o u th C h o ct aw ! B ayo u L aco m b )
T he P o rc upi n e an d t he T wo
S i s t e rs
M e n o m in i
’
’
’
T he Wo lf an d t he D o g
T he Cat fi sh an d t he M o o se
Wo rsh ip
Tashk a
an d
16 1
163
166
167
169
17 1
172
174
176
I
77
79
18
0
181
I
O j ib wa
Creat u res
M e teo rs
192
193
C he ro k ee
M o o n P e rso n
18
9
B ilo x i
M oo n
18
5
C ho ct aw ! B ayo u L aco m b )
Sun
lo
T he
I 94
M e n o m in i
M e n o m in i
T he A u ro ra B o realis
The
15
9
M e n o m in i
Wa
an d
T he
158
M e n o m in i
o f t he
Su n
The S tar
S3
C h e ro k e e
M e n o m in i
Tu rt l e
T he
49
An i
ma s
l
t he
47
C hit im acha
i gs
G am e
Why
B ilo x i
Wes t Wi d
Lo n e L i ght n i n g
195
196
C h it im acha
x iii
I 97
Oj ib wa
n
198
TA B L E O F C O N T EN T S
P A GE
Th u n d e rs
T he
M o n th s
Why
t he
of
C he ro k e e
t he
O aks
Nat che z
an d S
u m achs
The M an o f I ce
T he Nun n ehi
T he L i tt l e P eo pl e
T he
T he
So ng
20 2
C h e ro ke e
205
C h e ro k e e
20 7
C he ro ke e
z 1o
Re d
dn
e
W ar
20 1
Fo x
Y e ar
2 00
W ar M e d ic i n e
Co m i n g o ft he Wh i t e M an
O j ib wa
C he ro ke e
Wyan do t
xiv
2 12
2 13
2 14
I L L U S T R AT I O N S
P A GE
ly I d i an d rawi g h owi g a w tl i g b u t
t i pi
F
p tt y
E ly I d i
20
h v
W il d i e t i d i b u h
42
W il d ic k
l s f t th h i g d w i w i g
42
Bi h b k y k
d ap b u k ts u d i m pl
u g m k i g 52
P i ct u e w it i g A O j ibwa M d s g
84
P e m a e n t ash b ark W i gwam o ft h wil d ri ce gath e i g Oj i b wa 10 4
S h ll g g t sh wi g e gl ca vi g
12 8
I d i j f m t h m o u d f A k as
12 8
158
S p id
g g ts
S h ll pi
m d a d u d by I d i
f t h e M is i s ippi ! ll y 176
198
b g
O j ibwa d a ce r s b e d e d m d i ci
E ar
n
ar
n
an
rc
e
r
e rn e
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rc
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er
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TH E M I S S I S S I P P I V A LLEY
I am not thinkin g o f that I am s aying that o u r
fathe r mad e death s o the re should not be a lack o f
food on earth
H e m ade d e ath to p revent ove r
c rowding H e also m ade a S p i rit wo rld in which they
”
should live afte r death
“
H a re did not like wh at sh e s ai d
G ran d mothe r
”
“
su rely does no t like i t h e thought
S he must be
”
rel ate d to the evil sp i rits
No G rands on i t is not so But to quiet you you r
”
uncl e an d aunts will live to b e very old
Then sh e
“
spoke again
Now G randson s tand up The two
legg ed walkers shall follow me always I shall follow
you always The refo re try to do what I tell you
Remem b e r you a re a m an Do not look back a fter
”
you h ave s tarted
Then they sta rted t o g o a roun d th e earth
”
Do not look back sh e said
”
I wonde r why sh e s ays that thought H a re Th en
h e tu rned his head the least li ttle bi t to the left and
looked b ack to the p lace from which they had sta rte d
Instantly eve rything caved in
“
Oh my ! Oh my !
e x claimed grandmothe r
G randson a man you a re ; but I thought you we re a
great man s o I greatly encou raged you Now even i f
”
I wished to I could not p reven t d eath
This sh e meant s o they say
so n ,
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MYTH S AN D LEGEN D S OF
T hen they went a roun d the ea rth to the edge o f the
fire which enci rcles the ea rth Th at way they went
so the y s ay
,
...
,
TH E M I S S I S S I P P I VALL EY
C R E ATION
C h it i m a c h a
H E R E was a C r e ato r of A ll Things Th is
Great Myste ry unde rstood all things H e
h ad no eyes yet h e could s e e H e h a d n o
ea rs yet h e c ould hea r H e h ad a b o dy, b u t i t cou l d
no t be seen
When the ea rth was fi rs t ma d e the C reato r o f A ll
Things p laced it unde r the wate r The fish were firs t
c reated B ut when the C reato r wanted to make men
there was no d ry l and Therefo re C rawfish was s ent
down to b ring up a li ttle earth H e b rought up mu d
in his claws Immedi ately i t sp read out and the ea rth
ap p ea red above the waters Then the G reat Mystery
made men H e m ade the C hitimachas I t was at
N atchez that he first made them
H e gave them laws but the p eople di d not follow
the laws The refo re many troubles came s o that the
C reato r could no t rest
The refo re the C reato r m ade
to b acco Then men could become quiet and rest
Afterwa rds he m ade women but at first they we re like
wood S o he d i rected a chi ef to teach them how to
move an d how to cook an d to s e w skins
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MYTH S AN D LE G EN D S O F
N ow when th e animals met the C h itimachas they
,
ri diculed them Fo r thes e men h a d no fu r and no
wool and no feathers to p rotect them f rom s to rms o r
rain o r the ho t su n
Th e C hi timachas we re s ad
becaus e o f this
Then th e C reato r g ave them bows and a rrows and
taugh t them how thes e things should be use d H e tol d
them th at the fl esh of th e animals was goo d fo r food
and thei r skins fo r covering Thus the animals were
punished
Th e C rea to r taught them also how to d raw fire from
t wo p i eces o f wood one flat and the o the r p ointed ;
thus they l ea rned to cook th ei r food Th e C reato r
taught them also to hono r the bones o f thei r relatives ;
an d so long as they l ived to b ring them foo d
Now i n thos e d ays the animals took p a rt i n the
councils o f men They gave advice to men bein g
wise r
E ach animal took esp eci al ca re o f th e
Therefo re the I ndi ans resp ect th e
C h itimach as
animals which gave g oo d advice to thei r ancesto rs
and this ai ds them even today in time o f need
Th e C reato r also m ade the moon and the s ta rs
Both we re to give li fe and light to all things on ea rth
Moon fo rgo t the s ac red bathing the refo re he is p al e
and weak giving but li ttle light to man B ut Sun
g ives l igh t to all things S un o ften s top s on he r trail
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6
T H E M I S S I S S I P P I V A L L EY
to g ive mo re time to the I ndi ans when they a re hunt
ing o r figh tin g thei r enemies M oon does no t but
always pu rsues his wi fe ove r the sky trail Yet he c an
neve r catch up wi th he r
The mounds in the C hitim ach a country a re the
camp ing p laces o f the S p i ri t sen t down by the C reato r
to visi t the Indi ans This S p i ri t taught the men how
to cook thei r foo d an d to cu re thei r wounds H e is
s till highly hono red
,
,
...
...
...
MYTH S AN D LE GEN D S OF
TH E C R EATION
Wya n do t
H E RE was i n olden d ays somethin g the
m atter with the ea rth I t h as changed We
think so We think the G reat Mys tery mad e
i t an d m ad e men also H e mad e them at a p lace called
Mountains I t was eas twa rd When he had m a d e
the earth and these mountains he covered the ea rth
ove r wi th something H e did i t with his h ands
Und e r this h e put men All the differen t tribes we re
the re On e o f the young men climbed u p and found
his way to the su rface I t was ve ry beauti ful Then
a d ee r ran p as t with an a rrow i n i ts s ide H e followed
i t to whe re i t fell and d ied H e looked back to s e e
i ts track s and he soon saw other t racks They were the
footp rints o f th e p e rson wh o shot the dee r H e soon
cam e up I t was the M ake r of M en Thus h e taugh t
the I ndians wh at they mus t do when they came out o f
the ea rth Th e c reato r showed the Indi an how to ski n
the deer and p rep a re i t fo r food and how to use the
ski n fo r d ress
”
When everything was ready h e sai d M ake a fire
,
,
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8
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“
A p e rson s aid Why do you not e at
th e f rui t o f this tree ! I think h e m ade i t fo r you
”
to eat
S o the woman p ulled o f some f rui t and stewed i t
f
and sh e and the I ndi an ate i t S ho rtly afte r the One
A b ove retu rned Now h e h ad gone away to find foo d
fo r them When h e foun d they h ad s tewed this fruit
“
h e was very angry H e s aid
Wo rk fo r you rsel f
”
Find you r own food el s e you shall be hungry
When th e One Above had been a long time gone
h e s ent back a lette r to t h e I ndi ans B ut the I ndi ans
di d not receive i t becau s e th e Americans took i t That
is why Ame ricans know how to read and write
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12
t e ach in g b u t
,
a
m os
t c u rio u s
TH E M I S S I S S I P P I VALLEY
Now afte r the lette r came th e p eop le foun d a ve ry
clea r s tream of wate r The American foun d i t firs t
and l ay down i n 1t ; therefo re h e is ve ry white all over
N e x t c ame the Frenchman but the wate r was no t so
clea r Th en came the I ndi ans ; the refo re I nd ians are
no t o f light comp le x ion becaus e they d i d not find
th e wate r when i t was clea r Afte rwards came the
S p ani ard and he was not wh ite bec ause the wate r had
b ecome very muddy
S ome time afte r the N egro was m ade Th e One
Above thought h e should attend to wo rk s o he ma d e
the Negro s nos e fl at And by th is time the wate r was
ve ry muddy and th e S tream was ve ry low S o the
N egro washed only the p alms o f his h ands The refo re
N egroes a re ve ry black e x cep t on the p alms o f the i r
h ands
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13
MYT H S AN D L E G E N D S O F
S TO RY O F T H E C R EATI O N
Oj i b wa
H E N G it ch e M ani to the G oo d Mystery
c reated the ea rth p lain i t was ba re without
trees o r sh rubs
Th en he c reated t wo
I ndi ans a man an d a woman Now when the re were
ten p ersons on the ea rth p l ain death h ap p ened The
fi rs t man l amented an d went b ack and fo rth ove r the
plain comp l ainin g
“
H e s ai d Why did the Goo d S p i ri t s en d d eat h so
”
soon !
Th e Good Mys tery h ea rd this H e c all e d a
“
g reat council H e s aid M an is not h ap py I h ave
m ade him ve ry frail the refo re death hap p ens Wh at
”
sh al l we d o !
Th e council l aste d s ix d ays an d the re was no t a
b reath o f a i r to dis tu rb the wate rs Th e s eventh was
the n ag e e z h ik th e e x cellent d ay The s k y was blue
an d the re we re no clouds On th at d ay G it c h e M anito
sent down a messenge r to ea rth I n his right hand was
a p i ece o f white h are s skin and i n the left th e head o f
a whi te h eade d eagle On each was th e b lue s trip e
o f p eace
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I4
TH E M I S S I S S I P P I VA L LEY
Th e mess en g e r s ai d G it ch e M ani to sent me H e
”
h as hea rd you r wo rds You mus t obey h is commands
Then he gave to the I ndians th e ha re s skin the eagle s
head an d a white otte r skin with the blue strip e of
p eace
Thus G it ch e M ani to tau g h t th e Indi ans how to
m ake ma g ic an d how to b e stron g
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16
T H E M I S S I S S I P P I VALLEY
C REATI ON
O F TH E MAN DAN S
a
M an d n
H E M andans we re the Peop le o f t h e
P h easants They we re th e fi rst p eople in the
wo rld At fi rs t they l ived in the ea rth Now
in th e d a rk E a rth l and they had m any vines Then a t
l ast one vine grew up th rough a hole i n the E a rth p lain
fa r above thei r heads One o f thei r young men at once
went up the vine unti l h e c am e out on th e Ea rth pl ain
H e came out on the p rai ries on the b ank of a rive r
1
j ust whe re the M and an vi llage now s tands
H e looked all about h im Th e E arth p l ain was very
beauti ful There were m any bu faloes there
f
He
killed o ne wi th his b ow an d a rrow and found i t was
good fo r food
Then th e young m an retu rned to h is p eop l e un d e r
the ground H e told them all h e had s een They h e l d
a council and then they began to climb up the vine to
S ome of the chiefs and the young
t h e Ea rth p l ain
wa rrio rs an d m any o f th e women wen t up Th en
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183
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MYTH S AN D LE G EN D S O F
came a very fat wom an T h e chiefs s ai d
D o not
”
go up
B ut s h e d id so the vin e b roke
The M and ans we re ve ry so rry about this B ecause
no mo re could go up the tribe on th e E a rth p lain i s not
ve ry l a rge And no one coul d retu rn to his village in
the ground The refo re the M andans b uilt thei r vi l
l age on the b anks o f the rive r B ut the res t o f the
peop l e rem aine d un d e r g roun d
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18
TH E M I S S I S S I P P I VALLEY
TH E FLOO D
C h it i m a c h a
ON G lon g ago a g reat s to rm c ame At once the
peop le baked a great ea rthen p o t and in this
two o f them s aved thems elves The p o t was
held up on the su rface o f the wate r Now two rattle
snakes we re also s aved i n th e ea rthen j a r because i n
the olden d ays rattlesn akes we re the f ri ends o f man
I n those days when an I ndi an left his lodge the rattle
snake ente red i t and p rotected i t until he retu rned
When all the l and was flooded the red headed woo d
p ecke r hooked h is cl aws into the s ky and so hung above
the waters B ut the floo d ros e s o h igh that p art of h is
tail was wet You c an see the ma rks even to this d ay
When the wate rs s ank h e was sent to find l and H e
could find none Then a dove was sent and came b ac k
W i th a gra i n o f s and This s and was p laced on top o f
the great wate rs and immedi ately i t s tretche d out I t
b ecame d ry l and
The refo re the d ove is cal l e d
”
G roun d Watcher
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19
M YTH S AN D L E G EN D S O F
T H E G REAT FLOO D
A f ra g men t )
!
M an d n
a
H E ea rth is a l a rge to rtois e I t moves ve ry
slowly and c a rri es a great de al o f ea rth on its
back Long ago there was a tribe whi ch is
now dead They used to d ig deep down in the ea rth
fo r b adge rs They du g with knives One d ay th ey
stuck a knife fa r down into the ea rth I t cut th rough
the shell o f To rto is e
The refo re To rtoise a t once b egan to s ink into th e
wate r T he wate r ros e th rough the kni fe cut unti l i t
cove re d all th e groun d All the p eop l e were d rowned
e x cept one m an
B ut some o f the o ld p eople s ay i t was th is way
Th ey s ay the re were fou r To rtois es one in the Eas t
one i n the Wes t on e in the S outh and anothe r in the
No rth E ach To rtoise m ad e i t rain fo r ten d ays
The refo re th e wate r covere d t h e ea rth and all the
p eop le we re d rowned
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20
'
1
R e po r
t
o
f the B
u r e au
o
f Am e ri c a
n thn
E
l
o o gy
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TH E M I S S I S S I P P I VALL EY
T H E G REAT FLOOD
M e n o m in i
ANAB U S H wanted to punish the evi l
m an id e s the Ana m aqk i u who h ad destroyed
o
h is b rothe r W ol f
The refo re he invented
the ball game
The p l ace selected b y M an ab u sh fo r a ball groun d
w as nea r a l a rge s and ba r on a great lake n e ar M ack
inac H e asked the Thunde rers to p lay agains t the An a
m aq k iu
o
T hese evi l m an i d e s cam e out of the groun d
as B ea rs One chief w as a s ilvery whi te bea r and the
othe r a gray bea r T hey pl ayed the ball game all day
M an ab u sh watched the game f rom a tree on a knoll
When night c ame M an ab u sh wen t to a spot
between the p l aces whe re the B ea r ch i efs h a d
“
p layed ball H e s ai d
I want to be a p ine tree cut
o f halfway between the ground and t h e top
f
wi t h
two s trong b ranche s reaching out ove r the p laces
whe re the B ea r chiefs li e down
At once he be c ame
ju s t such a tree
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MYTH S AN D L E G EN D S O F
N ow when the p l aye rs came to th e ball game the
“
ne x t mo rnin g the B ea r chi efs at o nce s aid This tree
”
was no t s tanding the re yeste rd ay
“
The Thunde rers at once s ai d
Oh yes I t was
”
there
Thus they a r g ued At last on e B ea r chi ef
“
s aid
This tree i s M an ab u sh The refo re we will
”
kill him
At once they s ent fo r G ri zz ly B ea r They
“
s ai d
C limb thi s tree
Tea r o f the b ark S c ratch
f
”
it
G ri zz ly B ea r d id so H e also bi t the b ranches
Then the B ea r chiefs c alled to S e rp ent They s ai d
H o S e rp ent ! C ome climb th is tree B i te i t
”
S trangle i t in you r coils
S e rp ent at once di d so I t
was ve ry h a rd fr M an ab u s h ; yet h e s ai d no t hin g
o
at all
“
Then the B e a r chiefs s ai d
N o i t is not M an a
”
bush The refo re we will finis h the game
Now when they we re p laying someone c a rried the
ball so fa r that the B ea r chiefs we re l eft enti rely alone
At once M an ab u sh d rew an a rrow f rom his quive r
and sho t the Whi te B ea r chief Then he shot anothe r
a rrow at G ray B ea r chief H e wounded both o f th em
Then M an ab u sh became a man again and ran fo r th e
s and ba r Soon the underground Ana m aq k iu came
back They saw the two B ea r chief s we re wounded
They immediately called fo r a flood f rom the ea rth to
d
rown M an ab u sh I t came very quickly an d followed
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22
TH E M I S S I S S I P P I VALLEY
!
th at one Th en B adge r c ame H e hi d M an ab u sh in
th e ea rth As he burrowed h e th rew the earth behind
h im and that held th e wate r back S o the Ana m aq k iu
could not find M an ab u sh The refo re they gave up
th e s earch j us t as the wate r began to fill B adger s
bu rrow S o M an ab u sh and B adge r retu rned above
ground
Now the underground p eop le c a rried thei r chi efs
“
to a W igwam They s ai d to an ol d woman
Take
”
c a re of them
Then M an ab u sh followed them H e
m et the ol d wom an H e took h e r skin and hi d himself
in 1
S o he went into the W igwam H e killed both
t
the B e a r ch ief s Then he took the S kins of the bea rs
When he came out of the W igwam h e shook a netwo rk
o f ba sswo o d twigs s o that the An a m aqk iu might know
he h ad been there
At once they pu rsued him Wate r p ou red out o f t h e
ea rth in m any p l aces A great flood c ame
M an ab u sh at once ran to the top o f the h ighes t
mountain Th e waters followed him closely H e
climbed a great p ine tree on the mountain top but the
wate rs soon reached him M an ab u sh s aid to the p ine
”
“
G row twice as high
At once i t did so Yet the
waters ros e highe r M an ab u sh s ai d again to the tree
“
”
G row twice as high
H e s ai d this fou r times yet the wate rs kep t rising
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23
MYTH S AN D LE G EN D S OF
unt il they reache d h is a rm p its Then M an ab u sh
called to Kish a M anido fo r help Th e Goo d Mys te ry
a t onc e comm ande d th e wate rs to s top
M an ab u sh looked a round There we re only a few
a nimals in th e wate r
H e c alled H o Otte r ! C om e
to me an d b e my b rothe r D ive d own into th e wate r
”
B ring up some ea rth th at I may m ake a new wo rld
Otte r d ived down i nto the wate r and was g on e a lon g
time When h e ap p eared again on the su rface M ana
bush s aw he was d rowned
Then h e c all ed again
H o M ink ! C ome to me
an d be my b rothe r D ive down i nto the wate r B rin g
”
m e some ea rth
Then M ink d ived into th e water
H e was gone a long time H e also was d rowned
M an ab u sh looked about h im again H e s aw Musk
rat H e c alled
H o M uskrat ! C ome to m e an d be
my b rothe r D ive down i nto the wate r B ring me up
Muskrat immed i ately d ived into
ea rth f rom b elow
the wate r H e w as gone a ve ry long time Then when
he came up M an ab u sh went to him I n his p aw was a
tiny b i t o f mud Th en M an ab u sh h eld Muskrat up
and bl ew on h im s o h e became alive again
Then M an ab u sh took th e ea rth H e rubbed i t b e
tween the p alms o f his hands and th rew i t out on
the wate r Thus a new wo rld was made and trees
ap p ea red o n i t
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26
T H E M I S S I S S I P P I VALLEY
“
s hook The ol d m an roused H e s aid
My dau gh
”
ters wh at h as h ap p ened !
“
The gi rls answe red
No thing a t all W e p icked
up a li ttle we t rabbi t and a re letting h im d ry by the
”
fi re
Then a g ain the old m an fell asleep The gi rls
were busy
S uddenly Rabbi t sei z ed a S tick o f bu rning wood and
ran out o f the W igwam H e ran with great sp ee d
towa rds his cano e The ol d m an and the two gi rls
followed h im closely B ut Rabbi t reached his c ano e
and p addled quickly away to the W igwam of No
komis H e p addled so quickly th at the fi re S tick
bu rned fie rcely S p a rks flew from i t and bu rned
Rabbit
At o nce Rabbi t and N o k o m is gave fi re to the Thun
d re rs They have h ad the c a re of fire eve r s ince
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27
MYTH S AN D L E G EN D S O F
TH E T H UN D E RE RS AN D TH E
O RI G IN O F FI RE
M e n o m in i
H E N the G reat Myste ry c reated the e arth
he m ade also m any m ani dos Thos e o f ani
mal fo rm we re Peop le o f the Underground
and ev il B ut the b i rd m anidos were E agles a n d
H awks They were th e Thunde re rs Th e golden
eagl e was the Thunde r which no one could S ee
Now when M ash a M ani do th e Goo d Mystery s aw
th at B ea r was s till an anim al he p ermi tte d h im to
change h is fo rm Thus B ea r becam e a n I ndi an wi th
light skin All t his h ap p ened nea r M enomini Rive r
nea r whe re i t emp ties in to G reen B ay At this p lace
also B ea r fi rs t c ame out o f the ground
B ea r found h imsel f alone so h e c alled to E agle
”
H o E agle ! come to me and b e my b ro the r
So
E agl e c am e down to ea rth an d became an Indi an
While the Thunde re rs s tood the re B eave r came
nea r Now as B eave r w as a woman she b ecame a
younge r b rothe r o f the Thunde re rs S oon afte r as
B ea r an d Ea g le s tood on a rive r b ank th ey s aw a
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3
TH E M I S S I S S I P P I VALLEY
TH E O RI G IN OF FI RE
C h it i m a c h a
I RE firs t c ame f rom the G reat B eing Ku t n ak in
H e gave i t into the ca re o f an I ndian so old that
he w as blind
Now the I ndi ans all knew that fi re was g ood the re
fo re they tri ed to s teal i t The old man coul d not s e e
them when they c ame S tealthily to h is W igwam but h e
coul d feel th e p resence o f anyone Then he woul d
beat about him wi th h is s tick until h e d rove away the
s eekers fo r fire
Now one d ay an I nd ian sei z ed the fi re suddenly
At once the Watche r o f the Fi re began beating about
h im with his S tick unti l the thi ef d ropp ed the fire
B ut the old m an di d not know he had d ro pp ed i t H e
s till beat abou t h im so fie rcely with his s tick that h e
p ounded some o f the fire into a lo g
That is wh y fire i s in woo d
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31
MYTH S A N D L E G EN D S O F
T H E G I FTS OF T H E S KY GO D
C h it i m a c h a
O N G lon g a g o , m any I n d i ans sta rte d to reach the
S k y wo rld
They walked fa r to th e no rth
un ti l th ey came to t h e edge o f t h e sky whe re
i t is fitted down ove r the E a rth p l ain Wh en the y
cam e to this p l ace th ey tri ed to s lip th rough a c rac k
unde r the ed g e b ut the Sky cove r c ame d own ve ry
t ightly an d quickly and c rushed all bu t s ix T h ese
s ix h ad sl i p p ed th rough into the Sky lan d
T hen thes e men b e g an to cl im b up walkin g fa r ove r
the sky floo r At l ast they came to the lo d ge o f Kut
n akin They stayed wi th h im as his g uests At l as t
they wishe d to g o b ack to thei r own lod g es on the
Ea rth p l ain
“
Ku t n ak in s a i d
H ow w i ll you g o d own to t h e
E a rth p l ain !
“
”
One s aid
I w ill g o d own as a s qui r rel
So he
s tarted to sp rin g down f rom the Sky l and H e was
d ashed to p i eces
Ku t n ak in s ai d to t h e ne x t
H o w w i ll you g o d own
to the E a rth p l a in !
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3
3
MYTH S AN D LE G EN D S O F
M ON DAM IN
Oj ib wa
H EN the sp ringtime c ame long long ago an
I ndi an boy began his fas t acco rding to the
cus toms of his tribe H is father was a very
good m an but he was no t a goo d hunte r and often
the re was no foo d in the W igwam
So as the boy wande red f rom his small tep ee i n the
fo res t h e thought about thes e things H e looked at the
p l ants and sh rubs and wonde red about thei r uses and
“
whethe r th ey we re goo d fo r food H e thought
I
”
mus t fin d out about thes e things in my vis ion
One d ay as he l ay s tretched up on his bed o f ro b es
i n the solita ry W igwam a handsome I ndi an youth
came down f rom Sky l and H e was gaily d ressed in
robe s o f green an d yellow with a p lume o f wavin g
feathe rs in h is hands
”
“
I am sent to you s aid the s trange r by the G reat
”
Mystery H e will teach you wh at you would know
Then h e told t h e boy to rise and wrestle with him
“
The boy at once di d s o At l as t the vis ito r s aid Th at
”
I will come tomo rrow
is enou g h
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1
Th en
S p ak e
’
T is
ll
N o k o m is ,
,
d
an d s ai
t he
t h e o ld wo m an ,
to
M in n eh ah a :
M o o n wh e n
ld i
l v
e a e s are
f lli g ;
a
b e e n gath e re d
An d t h e m aize is rip e an d re ady ;
L e t u s g ath e r in t h e h arv es t
Le t u s wre s tl e w i th M o n d am in
S t ri p h im o fh is plu m e s an d t asse l s
O f his g arm e n ts g re e n an d y e ll o w
A
t he W i
r ce
h as
n
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8
3
TH E M I S S I S S I P P I VALLEY
edge o f the wood Retu rn afte r one moon Tell no
”
one
M ass wa wei nini d i d as the voice d i rected Then
he retu rned into the woods H e killed a deer S o h e
retu rned to his W igwam
Now afte r one moon he retu rned to the p l ain B e
hold ! There were blades and sp ikes of young co rn
And from th e b roken bits o f sp ine grew long pump kin
vines
When summe r was gone Living S tatue went again
to the p lai n with h is sons The co rn was i n full ea r
Also the l a rge pumpkins we re rip e
Thus the Ottawas received the gift o f c o m
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3
M YTH S A N D L E GEN D S OF
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41
MYTH S AN D LE G EN D S O F
D I S C OVE RY O F TH E WI L D R I C E
Oj ib wa
O N G a g o W e n ib o j é m ad e his hom e wi th his
grandmothe r N o k o m is One day N o k o m is
“
s ai d to he r grandson
P rove you rself a man
Take a long j ou rney Go th rough the great fo rests
”
Fas t you P rep are fo r the ha rdship s o f l ife
S o W e n ib o j é took his bow an d arrow f rom h is wi g
wam H e wandered out into the fo rest M any d ays
h e wande red Then at l ast he reached a b road
lake cove red thick with heavy headed stalks B ut
W e n ib o j é knew no t that the grain was food
S o W e n ib o j é went back to his grandmothe r Noko
mis H e tol d he r o f the b ro ad quiet lake with the
heavy headed s talks S o N o k o m is came and in thei r
cano e they gathe red the wil d rice and sowed i t in
anothe r l ake
Again W e n ib o j é left Nokomis With his bow an d
a rrow he wandered fa r into th e fo res t Then some
“
littl e bushes sp oke as he walked
S ometimes they
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42
or
t he
M en o m in i
m R epo r
t
o
f t h e B u re au
WI LD
o
f A m e ri c a
n thn
E
R I C E TI E D
l
o o gy
...
TH E M I S S I S S I P P I VALLEY
eat us they s ai d W e n ib o j é made no answe r A g ain
”
the bushes sp oke S ometimes they eat us
”
“
Who a re you talking to he asked
”
To W e n ib o j é they s ai d S o he ben t down an d
d g up the bushes by the roots Th e roots we re lon g
u
like an a rrow Th ey were goo d to eat but W e n ib o j é
h ad fasted too lon g
Afte r a wh il e W e n ib o j é wande red on H e was
ve ry hun g ry M any bushes sp oke to him M any
”
s aid Sometimes they eat us but he m ade no answer
One d ay he followed the rive r trail when the sun
was high M any li ttle bunches of S traw we re growing
out of the wate r They sp oke to h im They s aid
”
W e n ib o j é sometimes they eat us
S o W e n ib o j é p icked some o f the grains from the
heavy headed s talks and ate
”
“
“
You a re goo d to eat he s ai d
Wh at do they
c all you !
”
“
They c all us m a n o m in answe red the wil d rice
Then W e n ib o j é waded fa r out i nto the wate r H e
beat out grains and ate many They we re good fo r
food
Then W e n ib o j é remembe red th e grain which Noko
m is had sown and h e retu rned to h is grandmo the r an d
the m an o m in lake
”
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M YTH S AN D L E G EN D S O F
O R I G IN O F WI LD R I C E
Oj i b wa
OW one evenin g W e n ib o j é retu rn e d to his
W i gwam f rom hunting
H e h ad foun d no
g ame As h e came towa rds h is fi re h e s aw a
duck s itting on th e e d g e o f a kettle o f boiling water
Immedi ately th e duck flew away
W e n ib o j c looked i n th e kettle B ehold ! G rains
)
were flo ating up on the wate r Then h e ate the b roth
made wi th the grains I t was good
S o W e n ib o j t) followed the trail o f the duck H e
cam e to a l ake of m an o m in All the bi rds and t h e
ducks and geese we re eating the grain The refo re
W e n ib o j é lea rned to know m an o m in the wil d rice
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T H E M I S S I S S I P P I VALLEY
O RI G IN O F WI NN E BAGO
M e n o m in i
N E d ay M an ab u sh w alked along the l ake
S ho re H e w as ti red and hungry Then h e
s aw
a round a s an d sp i t jutting fa r out into
th e wate r m an y waterfowl
Now M an ab u sh h ad wi th him only a medicine ba g
H e hung that on a m an ab u sh tree i n the brush H e
p ut a roll o f bark on h is back and returned to the l ake
sho re H e p assed slowly by so as not to f righten the
b i rds D uck and Swan suddenly reco g niz ed h im and
swam quickly away f rom the sho re
“
One o f the Swans c alled out
H o ! M an ab u sh
”
where a re you going !
”
“
I am going to h ave a dance s ai d M an ab u sh
”
As you may see I h ave al l my songs with me
“
C ome to me
Then h e called out to all the bi rds
”
b roth e rs ! Let u s s ing and dance
At once the b i rds returned to the sho re and walke d
b ack u pon a n op en sp ace in the g rass M an ab u sh took
the bundle of bar k f rom his b ack H e p lace d i t on the
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TH E M I S S I S S I P P I VALLEY
Then M an ab u sh gathered up the bi rds he ha d killed
and took them out on the s and sp i t H e bu ried them in
the s and and buil t a fire ove r them to cook them but
he left S ticking out the heads of some and the leg s o f
others s o h e would know where they we re
B ut M an ab u sh was ti red H e slapp ed h is thigh and
“
said You watch the bi rds and awaken me i f anyone
”
comes nea r them
H e S tretched out on the s an d wi th
h is back to the fi re and went to sleep
Afte r awhile I nd ian s c ame along in thei r c anoes
They s aw the fire and the ro asting bi rds They went
asho re on the s and p i t They pulled out the b i rds and
ate them But they p ut back into the s and the heads
an d feet j us t as they had found them So they
dep a rted
Afte rwards M an ab u sh awoke very hungry H e
pulled a t the head o f a swan B ehold ! The head
came ou t but there was no bi rd H e pulled at the feet
o f a goose No bi rd w as there S o he tried every head
an d foot ; but th e b i rd s were gone
“
H e sl app ed h is thigh again and asked
Who h as
b een he re ! Someone h as robbed me o f my feas t I
”
told you to watch
H is thigh answe red I fell asleep also I was ve ry
ti red S ee ! There are p eople moving away i n thei r
”
c anoes ! They a re di rty and poorly dress ed
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47
MYT H S AN D L E G EN D S O F
Then M an ab u sh ran t o t h e p o in t o f the s an d sp it
H e coul d se e the p eop le wh o we re jus t d is app ea rin g
“
around a p o int H e shouted Winnebago ! Winne
b ago !
The refo re the M enomini h ave always calle d
thei r th iev is h nei g h b o rs Winne b a g o
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5
TH E M I S S I S S I PP I VALL E Y
O RI G IN O F M A P L E S U GAR
M e n o m in i
N E d ay M an ab u sh returned f rom the hunt
wi thou t any food H e could find no gam e at
all S o N o k o m is gathe red all th ei r robes and
the b eaded b elts and thei r belongings togethe r They
b ui lt a new wigwam among the suga r map le trees
“
N o k o m is s ai d
G randson go into th e woods and
g athe r fo r m e p ieces o f bi rch b ark I am going to
”
m ake sugar
M an ab u sh went into th e woods H e
g athered strip s o f bi rch b a rk which h e took b ack to
the wigwam N o k o m is h ad cut tiny strip s o f the bark
to use as th read i n s ewing the ba rk into hollow buckets
Then N o k o m is went f rom tree to tree cutting small
holes th rough the map le b ark so th at th e s ap might
flow She pl aced a bi rch bark ve s sel unde r e ach hole
M an ab u sh followed he r f rom tree to tree looking
fo r the s ap to d rop None fell When N o k o m is had
finished M an ab u sh found all the vessels h al f full
H e s tuck h is finge r into the thick syrup I t was
“
sweet Then h e s aid
G randmothe r this is all very
good b ut i t will not do I f p eople m ake suga r so
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M ANAB U SH A N D TH E MOO S E
M e n o m in i
AN AB U SH killed a moose
H e was very
hungry but he was g reatly troubled as to
how h e should eat i t
”
“
“
I f I begin at the head he s aid they will say I
ate him h e adfirst B ut i f I begin at the s ide they will
s ay I ate him sid eways
And i f I begin at the tail they
will s ay I ate him tail first
H e was greatly troubled And while h e thus spoke
the wind blew two tree b ranches togethe r I t made a
har s h c reaking sound
”
I cannot eat in this noise s aid M an ab u sh and he
climbed the tree Immedi ately the b ranches caught
him by the a rm and held him Then a p ack o f wolves
came and ate up the moose
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53
MYTH S AN D LE G EN D S O F
O R I G IN OF DA Y AN D N I G HT
M e n o m in i
N E d a y as W ab u s, t h e R a bb i t, travele d t h rou gh
a fo res t h e came to a cl ea rin g on the bank o f
th e rive r The re s at To t o b a the S aw whet
Ow l T h e li g h t was dim and Rabbit coul d no t s e e
well H e s ai d to S aw whet
“
Why do you want i t so d a rk ! I do no t like i t I
”
will c aus e i t to be ligh t
S aw whet s aid
D o s o i f you a re s tron g enou gh
”
Let us try ou r p owe rs
So Rabbit and th e Owl calle d a great council of t h e
bi rds S ome o f the bi rds an d anim als wanted Rab b it
to succeed so that i t woul d be li g h t Others wanted i t
to remain d a rk
Rabbit and Owl b e g an to try thei r powe rs R ab b i t
began to rep eat rap idly Wa b o n Wa b o n Wa b o n
Light Light Light ) whil e Owl kep t s aying as
!
rap i dly as he could
U n i t ip a q k o t
U n i t ipa q k o t
”
U n i t ipa gh o t
! N igh t N ight N ight )
I f one o f them should sp eak th e wo rd o f th e o t her
h e would los e S o Rabbi t kep t rep eatin g rap idl y
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MYTH S AN D L E GEN D S O F
O RI G IN OF TH E B EAR
C h e ro k e e
O N G ago b efo re the white m an came i n the l and
o f the C he rokees w as a cl an called th e An i
T s agu lin
On e o f the boys o f the cl an used to
wande r all d ay long i n the mountains H e neve r ate
h is foo d at home
”
“
Why do you do so ! asked h is fathe r and mother
The boy di d no t answe r
“
Why do you do so ! they asked m any d ays as the
boy wande red away into the h ills H e d i d not answe r
them
Then his mo the r s aw that long b rown h ai r cove red
”
“
his body They s ai d again
Whe re do you g o !
”
“
They asked Why do you not eat at home !
“
At las t the boy s ai d The re is p len ty to eat there
I t is b ette r than the co rn in the vill age Soon I S h al l
”
stay in the woods all th e time
”
H is fathe r and mothe r s ai d No
The boy kep t s aying I t is bette r than he re I am
f
b eginning to be di f e rent S oon I shall not want to
live he re I f you come with me you will no t h ave to
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MYTH S AN D L E G E N D S O F
O RI G IN O F T H E W O RD C H I C AG O
Oj i b wa
NC E an Ottawa hunte r and h is wi fe l ived o n
th e s ho res o f Lake M ichigan Then the
hun te r wen t south toward th e end o f the l ake
1
to hun t When he reached the l ake where h e h ad
caugh t b eave r th e yea r befo re i t was still cove red wi th
ice Then h e tap p ed the ic e to find th e thinne r p l aces
wh ere the b eave r fami lies lived H e b roke holes at
thes e weake r p oints in the i ce an d wen t to his wi gwam
to get his trap s
Now the hunte r s wi fe ch anced to p ass one o f thes e
holes and sh e s aw a b eave r on th e ice S he cau g ht i t
by the tail and c alled to the hunte r to come and kill it
quickly befo re i t could get back into th e water
“
”
“
N o s ai d the hunte r
i f I kill this beaver the
othe rs will become f righ tened They will escap e from
”
the l ake by othe r op enings in the ice
Then the wom an became angry and they qua rreled
When the su n was nea r S etting the hunter went out
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58
so
u th
to
wh e re C h icago
TH E M I S S I S S I PP I VALL EY
on th e ice a g ain to s e t mo re trap s W hen h e retu rned
to his tep ee his wi fe h ad gone H e thought s h e h ad
g one to m ake a visi t The ne x t mo rning sh e had not
retu rned and h e s aw he r footp rints S o h e followed
he r trail to the south As he followed he r trail he s aw
th at the foo tp rints g ra d ually ch an g ed At l as t they
became the trail o f a skunk Th e trail ended in a
m a rsh an d m any skunks we re in that ma rsh
Then h e retu rne d to h is p eop l e A n d he called the
“
”
p lace Th e P l ace o f the Skun k
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S9
MYTH S AN D LE G EN D S OF
O RI G I N O F TH E WO RD C H I C AGO
1
M en o m i ni
O T AW AT O M I
I ndi ans used to live i n th e
m a rshes whe re C hicago now s tands They sent
out wo rd to the o the r tribes th at hunting was
g ood Then the M enomini I ndi ans went to the
m a rshes fo r game I n the n ight thei r dogs b a rked
much B ut when th e M enomin i I ndi ans re ached the
S p o t whe re the do g s ba rked they foun d only skunks
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M YTH S AN D LE G EN D S O F
TH E STO RY O F M ANAB U S H
1
M e n o m in i
H E d au g hte r o f N okom is the E a rth is the
mothe r o f M an ab u sh wh o i s als o the Fi re
Fl int firs t g rew up ou t o f N o k o m is an d was
alone Then Flint made a bowl and filled i t with
ea rth W ab u s th e Rab b i t came f rom the earth an d
bec ame a m an Thus was M an ab u sh c reate d
B eneath th e e a rth l ived the Und ergroun d P eop le
th e enemies o f M an ab u sh They we re the An a m aqk iu
who annoye d h im constantly an d sou g h t to d estroy
him
Now M an ab u sh shap ed a p iece o f fl int to make an
Whi le he was rubbing i t on a rock he heard the
ax e
rock m ake sounds :
,
,
,
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K e ka
k e ka
k e ka
k e ka
G os s
g o ss
g o ss
g o ss
H e soon unde rstood what the rock was s ayin g : th at
he was alone on the ea rth Th at h e h ad n ei the r fathe r
...
62
T H E M I S S I S S I P P I V A LLEY
moth e r b rother no r s is te r Th is is wh at Flint s a id
while M an ab u sh was rubbin g it up on the rock
Whi le h e was thinking o f this he heard somethin g
coming I t was M o k qu ai the Wol f H e s ai d to
“
M an ab u sh
Now you h ave a b rothe r fo r I too am
”
a lone We sh all live togethe r an d I will hun t fo r you
I am gl ad to s e e you my b rothe r
M an ab u sh s aid
”
The refo re I S h all m ake vou like myself
S o he ma d e
h im a man
Then M an ab u sh and his b ro the r moved away to the
s ho re o f a lake and the re built a wigwam
M an ab u sh
told h is b rothe r o f the evi l S p i ri ts the Unde rgroun d
Peopl e wh o lived beneath th e water
H e s ai d
”
“
N eve r go into the water and neve r c ross o n the i ce
Now one d ay Wolf b rothe r went a hunting I t was
l ate when h e s ta rted b ack H e found h imself on the
sho re o f the l ake j ust op pos ite the wigwam H e coul d
H e d i d no t want to make a long j ou rney
s e e i t clea rly
a round by the l ake S ho re ; therefo re h e began to c ross
on the ice When he reached the middle o f th e l ake
the ice b roke The Unde rground Peop le pulled him
unde r the water and h e was d rowned
Now M an ab u sh knew this H e mou rned fou r d ays
fo r Wol f b rothe r On th e fifth day whil e he was fol
lowing the hunting trail h e saw him ap p roachin g
Wolf b rother s aid My fate will b e the fate o f a l l
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63
MYT H S AN D L E G EN D S OF
ou r p eop le They will all di e b ut a fte r fou r d ays they
”
will retu rn
Then M an ab u sh s aw i t was only the
sh ad e o f hi s b rothe r
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TH E M I S S I S S I PP I VALLEY
M ANAB O Z H O AN D W E ST
Oj ib wa
AN AB O ZH O l ive d wi th his grandmothe r
Nokomis the E a rth o n the edge o f a wi de
p rai rie The fi rs t sound h e heard was that o f
H e quickly climbed down the tree H e ran
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65
MYTH S A N D LE G EN D S O F
p owe r T hey travel on mi g hty win g s You r mothe r
”
is no t al ive
“
”
M an abo z ho sai d
I will vis i t my fathe r but h e
m eant to m ake w ar on h im becaus e he h a d l ea rned th at
h is fathe r h ad no t been kin d to h is mo th e r and h e
meant to punish him
M anabozho started on his j ou rney H e travele d
ve ry rap idly H e wen t ve ry far at each step S 0 at
last h e m et h is fathe r Wes t on th e top o f a h i g h
mountain Wes t was gl ad to se e h is so n M an abozho
p retended to be g ad
l
“
They talked much One d ay the s o n asked Wh at
”
a re you most af rai d o f on ea rth !
”
“
No thing s ai d West
“
M anabo z ho s aid
Oh yes there mus t be some
”
thing
“
At l ast West s aid The re is a black s tone o n e a rth
I am af rai d o f th at I f i t s hould s trike me i t woul d
We s t s aid th is was a great secret
i nj u re me
“
One d ay h e asked M anabo z ho Wh at a re you mos t
”
afrai d of !
”
“
Nothing was th e answe r
“
Oh ye s there must be somethin g you a re afrai d
”
o f s ai d Wes t
“
I e e e I e e e — it is — i t is
s o n s aid
The
He
se emed af rai d to mention i t
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66
TH E M I S S I S S I P P I VALL EY
Wes t s aid Don t b e af rai d !
Then at l ast his s o n
”
said I t i s the roo t o f the ap u k wa th e bul rush
They qua rreled because Wes t h ad no t been kind to
the mothe r o f M anabozho
Some d ays l ate r they qua rreled M anabozho s ai d
”
I will get some o f the bl ack rock
”
Oh no ! Do not do s o c ried Wes t
”
“
Oh yes ! s ai d his s o n
“
West s ai d at once
I will get some o f the ap u k wa
”
root
”
“
Oh no !
c ried M anabozho p retending to b e
af raid
D o not ! Do not !
Oh ye s ! s ai d Wes t
M an abo z ho a t once went out an d b rought to h is
father s wigwam a l a rge p i ece of black rock Wes t
pulled up and b rough t i n some b ul rush roo ts M an a
I t b roke i n
b o zh o th rew the black rock at Wes t
p i eces Therefo re you may s e e p ieces lying a roun d
even to this d ay West struck his s o n wi th the bul rush
root Thus they fough t B ut at l as t M anabo z ho d rove
Wes t fa r ove r the p l ains to the D arkening Land S o
West came to the edge o f the wo rld whe re the ea rth is
b roken o f sho rt Then h e cri ed
f
S top my so n ! I
am immo rtal therefo re I c anno t b e killed I will
remain he re on th e edge o f the E a rth p lain You mus t
go about doing g ood You mus t kill monste rs an d
’
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t t d M u d ekeewis
j
R u sh i n g we s tward o e r t he m o u n t ai n s
S t u m b l in g w e s t ward d o wn t he m o u n t ain s
Th re e who l e d ays re t re ate d fi gh t in g
S t ill pu rs u e d by H i awatha
T o t h e d o o rways o f t h e We s t W i n d
T o t he p o rt al s o f t h e S u n se t
1 B ac
k
re re a e
,
’
,
,
-
,
H old,
Ho
ld
”
,
at
my
l e gth
n
so n ,
d M u d ekeewis
j
H iawatha !
c rie
my
T is i m po ss ib l e t o k ill m e ,
Fo r yo u c an n o t k ill t he i m m o rt al
,
’
68
”
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1
T he O j i b was
h ave
a s
im ilar m yth
69
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7O
TH E M I S S I S S I P P I VA L LEY
F ish reached the sho re of Nokomis the E a rth T he y
s ang a magic son g Th ey s ang I s e e the s k y I see
”
the s ky
Pine S qui rrel h ad a cu rious voice H e
hopp ed a round singing S e k s e k s e k s e k !
This was
ve ry amusing to the othe r p eo ple
G reat Fish though t I ought no t to h ave swallowe d
that man I mus t swim to the S ho re where N o k o m is
”
l i ve s
S o he swam quickly unti l h e reached the beach
Then M an ab u sh cut a la rge r hol e Thus they all
climbed out o f Great Fish Th e bi rds help ed M an a
bu sh They S tood on the s ides o f G reat Fish and
p icked the flesh f rom h is bones
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1
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d art e d u pw ard
Fl ash in g le ap e d in to t h e s u n sh in e
O p e n e d h is g re a t j aws an d swallo we d
B o th c an o e an d H iaw ath a
I n h is w rath h e
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72
TH E M I S S I S S I PP I VALLEY
wate r to th e lan d o f roc k s H e vanished from his
1
p eople as he went towa rds the rising su n
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1
T he O j i bwas
say
he we n t
to ward
t h e se
tt i n g
sun
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M an ab u sh
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75
MYTH S AN D LE G EN D S O F
w ish some hunting medicine ; thus we may sup p ly ou r
”
p eop le with much food
”
“
You sh all h ave i t s ai d M an ab u sh T hen he
“
tu rned to the S ilent o n e H e asked
W hat do you
”
wish !
“
The I nd i an repl ied
I wish no hunting medicine
”
I wish to l ive fo reve r
M an ab u sh ros e and wen t towa rds the I ndian H e
too k him b y th e shoulders and c a rri ed him to his
s l eep in g p lace H e se t him down and s aid
“
You shall be a s tone Thus you sh all be eve r
”
l asting
Immedi ately the othe r In di ans a rose and went down
to the sho re I n thei r c anoes they returned to thei r
I t is f rom th es e s even wh o retu rned that
o wn l and
we know o f the abode o f M an ab u sh
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TH E M I S S I S S I P P I VALLEY
P E B O AN
S E E GW AN
AN D
Oj ib wa
ago an old man s at alone in h is lodge beside
a frozen s tream Th e fire was dying out and
it was nea r th e end o f winte r
Outside the
lodge the cold wind swep t b efo re i t the d ri ftin g snow
S o the old man s at alone d ay a fte r d ay until at l ast a
young war rio r en te red hi s lodge H e was f resh and
joyous and youthful
The old man welcom ed him H e d rew out h is lon g
p ip e and filled i t wi th tobacco H e lighted i t from the
d ying embers of the fi re Then they smoked togethe r
The old man s aid
I blow my b reath and the
f
s treams s tand still The wate r becomes s ti f an d ha rd
”
like the s tones
“
”
“
I breathe s ai d the wa rrio r and flowe rs sp rin g
”
up ove r the p lain
”
“
“
I shake my locks sai d the old m an
and snow
covers the land Leaves fall f rom the trees The bi rds
”
fly away The animals hide The ea rth becomes h a rd
“
“
”
I sh ake my locks s ai d the youn g m an and the
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the
bi r d s retu rn ; t h e
”
s tr e ams flow
Th en the s u n came up ove r the ed g e o f the Ea rth
p lain an d b egan to climb th e trail th rough the Sky
l and The ol d man slep t B ehol d ! Th e f rozen s tream
nea r by b e g an to flow The fire in the lodge di ed out
Robins sat upon the lod g e p oles and s ang
Then the wa rrio r looked upon th e s leeping old m an
B ehold ! I t was P e b o an the Wi nte r make r
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as a s n o w-
,
no
ld m an
,
th i n g b u t t h e t em p es t
As it ro are d al o n g t he f o res t
S e e in g n o th in g b u t t h e s n o w s t o rm
As it wh irle d an d his se d an d d rif t e d
l
A l t he c o al s we re wh it e w ith as he s
An d t he fire was s l o wl y dy in g
As a y o u n g m an wal k in g l igh tl y
A t t h e o p e n d o o rway e n t e re d
R e d with b l o o d o f y o u th h is ch e cks were
S o f t h is e y es as s tars in S p ri n g t im e
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79
,
M YTH S AN D LE G EN D S O F
h e s ai d She m a d e no answer Only s h e raised agai n
the death wail
Then the ch ief thought Pe rhap s only his sp i ri t h ad
retu rned Pe rh ap s h is body was yet on the field o f
b attle S o h e followed the trai l back to the battle field
I t was a fou r d ays j ourney Fo r th ree d ays he saw
no one as he j ou rneyed The fou rth d ay on the ed g e
o f the p lain he saw a fire in h is trail H e walked to
one S id e and the othe r ; the fi re moved also and always
bu rned befo re h im Then he tu rned in anothe r di re c
tion The fi re was agai n i n h is trail Then h e sp ran g
suddenly and j ump ed th rough the fl ame
A t once h e awoke H e was s itting on the g roun d
wi th h is back against a tree Ove r his head in the
b ranches s at a l a rge wa r eagle N o w Eagle was his
gua rdi an bec aus e he h ad com e to him in hi s fas tin g
vision i n his youth
Then th e wounded chi ef a ros e H e followed the
trail o f the war p arty to his village Fou r d ays h e
followed th e homewa rd trail H e came to a s tream
which flowed between h im and his wigwam the refo re
h e gave the whoop which means the retu rn of an
absent f riend Then the Ind ians be g an to think They
”
s aid N o one is absent Pe rhap s i t is an enemy
So
they sent ove r a cano e with arme d men Thus the
chi ef l anded amon g h is own p eop le
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1
Th u s th ey b u ri e d M i n n eh ah a
An d at n igh t a fire was l igh t e d
O n h e r grave f o u r t im e s w as k i n d l e d
Fo r he r s o ul up o n it s j o u rn e y
T o t h e I s l an d s o f t h e B l es se d
F ro m h is d o o rway H iawatha
Saw it b u rn in g in t he fo re s t
Ligh t in g u p t he gl o o m y h em lo cks ;
F ro m h is sle e p l ess b e d u p ris in g
F ro m t he b e d o f M in n e h ah a
S t o o d an d w at ch e d it at t h e d o o rway
That it m igh t n o t b e e x t in gu ishe d
M igh t n o t l eave h e r in t he d arkn ess
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82
TH E M I S S I S S I P P I VALL E Y
m in d the s tones an d does not dod g e them H e c rosses
the s tream and g oes to a g oo d hunting lan d I t is mo re
b eauti ful there than on the Earth p lain The re a re no
s to rms Th e sky is always blue and the g rass i s g reen
f
and there a re m any bu f aloes T he refo re t h er e is
always feastin g and d anc in g
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,
MYTH S AN D LE G EN D S OF
TH E DU C K AN D TH E N O RTH WE ST
WIN D
Oj i b w a
N C E S h in ge b iss the d uck lived all alone in
h is wi gwam on the sho re o f a lake I t was
winte r and ve ry cold I ce h ad fro z en ove r the
top o f the wate r S h in ge b iss had but fou r logs o f wood
i n h is wi gwam but e ach lo g would burn one month
1
an d the re we re b u t fou r winter months
Sh in ge b iss had no fea r o f the cold
H e would go
,
,
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’
t c an
E
thn l
o o gy
...
TH E M I S S I S S I PP I VALL E Y
out on the coldes t d ay H e would s eek fo r p laces
where rushes and fl ags grew throu g h the ice H e
pulled them up and dived th rou g h the b roken i ce fo r
fis h Thus he had p lenty of food Thus he went to his
wi gwam d ra gg in g lon g strin g s o f fish b ehin d him on
the ice
No rth Wes t noticed this H e s aid
S h i n g e b iss i s
a stran g e man I wi ll see i f I c anno t get the bette r
”
o f him
No rth West shook his rattl e and the win d b l ew
colde r S now d ri fted high B ut Sh in ge b iss di d not
let hi s fi re go out I n the wo rs t sto rms h e co n t inued
going out seeking fo r the weak pl aces in the ic e where
the roots grew
“
No rth Wes t noticed this H e s aid
S h in ge b is s is
”
a S trange man I s hall go and visi t him
That ni g ht No rth West went to the doo r o f the
wi gwam Sh in ge b iss h ad cooked h is fish and eaten i t
H e was lying on his side befo re the fi re s inging son g s
H e s an g
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‘
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,
Ka
n ee
j
Ka
n ee
B e in
cc
Oc
Ca
,
B o n in
CC
Th is meant
”
fellow man
B e in
B o n in
W e ya
j
ee
Ca
-
W e ya
-
...
85
M YT H S AN D LE G EN D S O F
N ow h e s an g th is b ecaus e h e knew No rth Wes t was
standin g at the d oo r of h is wi gwam H e could feel h is
cold b reath H e kep t ri g ht on singin g h is songs
S h in ge b iss i s a s trange m an
N o rth Wes t s aid
I
”
sh all g o ins i d e
Th e refo re No rth Wes t ente red the wi gwam and s at
down on the o p pos ite si de o f the lod g e Sh in ge b iss
la y b efo re the fi re an d s an g :
”
S p i ri t o f N o rt h W est you a re b ut m y fellow man
T hen h e g ot u p an d po k ed the fi re The wi gwam
b ecame ve ry wa rm At l as t N o rth Wes t s ai d I c an
no t s tand this I must g o out Sh in g e b iss is a ve ry
”
s tran g e man
S o h e wen t out
Then No rth Wes t shook his rattles until the great
sto rms came Thus the re was much ice and snow and
wind All the flag roots we re f rozen i n h a rd ice S ti ll
f
H e bit o f the f rozen fl a g s
S h in g e b iss went fishing
and rushes and b roke the ha rd ice a round thei r roots
H e dived fo r fish and went home d ra g gin g s trin g s o f
fis h behind him on the ice
S h in g e b is s
No rth Wes t no ticed th is H e s aid
must h ave ve ry strong medicine
S ome manito is
help in g him I canno t conquer h im Sh in ge b iss i s a
”
ve ry s tran g e m an
S o h e l et h im alone
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At l as t winte r came again When the hunter was in
“
the fo rest one d ay h e heard Kon s ay : N ow I am
coming to vis i t you as I s aid I should I n fou r d ays
”
I sh all be at you r tep ee
When the hu n te r retu rne d home he m ade ready
mo re firewood ; he buil t a fi re at the two s i des o f the
tep ee After fou r d ays eve ryth ing becam e f rozen I t
Th e hunte r kep t up the fi res in the
was very cold
tep ee H e took out all the e x tra fu r robes to cove r
h is wi fe and chi ld ren Th e cold became mo re s evere
I t was h a rd no t to f reeze
On the fifth d ay towa rds night the hunte r looked
out from his tep ee up on a f ro z en wo rld Then he saw
a stranger coming H e looked like any o the r strange r
e x cep t that he had a very l arge head and an immens e
bea rd Wh en h e cam e to the tep ee the hunte r asked
h im i n H e at once came in but h e would not go nea r
eithe r o f th e fires Th is puz z led the hunte r and he
began to watch the s trange r
I t became colde r and colder afte r the s trange r h ad
come i nto the tep ee The hunte r added mo re wood to
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1
O n t he
M o u n t ain s o f t h e
P rairie
,
gre at Re d P ip e s to n e Qu arry
G it ch e M an it o t he m igh ty
H e t h e M as t e r o f Lif e d e s ce n d in g
O n t h e re d c rags o f t h e q u arry
S t o o d e re c t an d c all e d t he n at io n s
C all e d t h e t rib e s o f m e n t o g e th e r
On
t he
-
,
,
,
,
,
,
'
...
H iawat ha
91
MYTH S AN D L E GEN D S O F
TH E T H UN D E R S N E S T
’
Oj i b wa
H UN D E R h ad a N est W he re a very small bi r d
s i ts up on he r eggs du ring fai r we athe r When
an e gg hatches the skies are rent w ith b olts
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96
TH E M I S S I S S I P P I VALLEY
“
”
T h e o l d m anito s aid Wh at h ave you com e fo r !
”
“
N othin g s ai d Pau p uk kee wis
Do you want to wrestle ! asked the m anito
”
“
Yes s ai d P au puk kee wis
At once the eldes t b rothe r ros e and they b e g an to
wrestl e Thes e m an it o e s we re ve ry evil They wished
to kill P au p uk kee wis i n o rd er to e at h im B ut that
m an was very s tron g H e trip p ed the m anito Then
he th rew h im down H is h ea d struck on a stone
The ne x t b rothe r wrestled wi th P au puk kee wis
H e fell Then the othe r two wrestled All fou r fell
o n the ground The ol d man ito began to run P au
puk — wis pu rsued h im H e p u rsued h im in a ve ry
kee
quee r way j us t fo r fun S ometimes h e l eap ed ove r
him and ran ahead S ometimes h e pushed him ahead
f rom b ehind
All the twenty wa rrio rs c ried
Ha ! ha ! ha ! Ha !
”
h a ! h a ! P au puk kee wis is d rivin g him
At l as t P au puk kee wis killed him Thus all the
evi l m an it o e s we re dead
Then they looked on the bones o f the wa rrio rs an d
p eop l e who h ad been killed by thos e evi l ones Th en
P au puk kee wis took th ree a rrows H e p e rfo rmed a
ce remony to G i t ch e M anito H e sho t one a rrow H e
“
cri ed You wh o a re lying down ris e up o r you will
”
be h it
At once th e b ones all moved to one p lace
,
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97
MYTH S AN D LE G EN D S O F
“
H e sho t a S econd a rrow H e c ri ed You who a re
lying down rise up o r you wi ll be h it
The p rope r
b ones moved togethe r towa rd each othe r
“
H e sho t a thi rd a rrow H e c ri ed
You wh o a re
lying down ris e up o r you will be hi t
The p eop le
became alive again Then P au puk kee wis led them
b ack to th e vill age of the f riendly chi ef
Th is one then came to him wi th his council H e
“
s aid You should rule my p eop le You only a re able
”
to d efend them
“
P au puk kee w is s ai d
I am goin g on a j ou rney
”
Let my p i p e bea re r be chi ef
S o h e was
P au puk kee wi s began his j ou rney
H o ! ho ! ho !
”
c ri ed all th e p eop l e
C ome back aga in H o ! ho ! ho !
H e jou rneyed on H e came to a l ake m ade by
beave rs
H e s too d on th e beaver d am and watche d
H e s aw the head o f a b eave r p ee rin g out
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1
W ith
a sm
il
e
he
s
p ak e
in
wise :
th is
O m y f rie n d , Ah m e e k , t h e b e av e r,
C o o l an d p le asan t is t h e wat e r ;
,
Le t m e
d iv e in t o
re s t t h e re
t he
w at e r,
y o u r l o dge s ;
C han g e m e t o o in t o a b e av e r !
C au t io u s l y re p l ie d t h e b e av e r
W ith re se rv e h e th u s m ad e an swe r
L e t m e fi rs t c o n s u lt t h e o th e rs
Le t m e ask t h e o th e r b e av e rs
Le t m e
in
”
,
,
,
,
,
”
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99
M YT H S A N D L E G EN D S O F
I ndi ans b roke d own the d am They lowe red the wate r
They b roke i n the lodge Th ey s aw tha t o ne
Ty a u / Ty a a !
c ried the I ndi ans
M e s ham
”
m e k the ch ief of the beave rs i s he re
S o they ki lled h im
Yet P au puk kee wis k ep t
t h inkin g They p l aced his g reat body o n a p ole
S even o r eight I ndi ans c a rri ed i t They went b ack to
thei r lodges They s ent out invi tations fo r a grea t
feas t Then the women came ou t to skin him on the
snow When h is flesh became cold th e Je e b i o f P au
puk — wis went away H is sp i ri t went away
kee
S o P au puk kee wis foun d h imsel f s tand ing alone
o n a p rai ri e Soon the re came nea r by a he rd o f elk
”
“
H e thou g ht They a re ve ry h ap py I wil l b e an elk
“
H e went nea r them an d s aid
M ake me an elk I
”
wish to l ive amon g you
“
They s ai d
Get down o n you r hands and
Ye s
”
knees
Soon he found himsel f an elk
”
I want b i g ho rns and big feet s ai d P au puk kee
”
I want to be ve ry la r g e
wis
”
“
s ai d the elk S o th ey made him very
Ye s yes
”
“
l ar g e At las t they s aid
Are you l ar g e enough !
”
“
P au puk kee wis s aid Yes
S o h e l ived wi th the elks One col d d ay they all
went into the woo d s fo r shelte r S oon some o f th e
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1
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t u rn e d I ago o
T he g re at t rav e l le r t h e g re at b o as t e r
F ull o f n ew an d s t ran ge ad ve n t u res
M arv e l s m an y an d m an y wo n d e rs
H o m eward
no
w
re
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1 3
0
MYTH S AN D LE G EN D S O F
E
OJ E G ,
T H E S U M M E R M A KE R
Oj ib wa
was a g reat hunte r H e l ived on the
southe rn sho re o f Lake Sup e rio r O j e e g had
a wi fe and one so n
Now the so n hunted game as the fathe r taught h im
H e followed the trails ove r the snow Fo r snow lay
always on the ground I t was always cold The refo re
the b oy retu rned home c rying
One d ay as h e went to his father s wi gwam in th e
cold and snow h e s aw Red S qui rrel gnawing the end
o f a p ine cone Now the son of O j e e g had sho t nothin g
all d ay becaus e h is h ands were so cold When h e s aw
Red S qui rrel h e came n e a re r and rais ed his bow
“
Red S qui r rel s aid
My grandson put up you r
”
a rrow Listen to me
The boy put th e ar row i n h is quive r
“
Y o u p ass my wigwam ve ry
Red S qui rrel s aid
o ften You c ry becaus e you canno t kill bi rds You r
fingers a re numb with col d Obey m e Thus i t shall
”
always be summe r Thus you c an kill many b i rds
EEG
J
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10 4
TH E M I S S I S S I P P I VALLEY
“
R e d S qui rrel s ai d a g ain
Ob ey m e When you
reach you r father s wi g wam throw down you r bow
and a rrows B e g in to weep I f you r mother s ays
My son wh at i s the matte r ! do no t answe r he r
C ontinue weep in g I f sh e s ays My s o n e at this y ou
mus t refu s e the foo d C ontinue weep ing I n the
evening when you r fathe r comes i n he wi ll s ay to you r
mothe r Wh at is the m atter with my so n !
She wi ll
s ay
H e came in c ryin g H e wi ll no t tell me You r
fathe r wi ll s ay My son wh at is the matte r ! I am a
S p i ri t N othin g is too h a rd fo r me
Then you must
answe r I t is always cold and d rea ry S now l ies
a lways up on the ground M elt th e snow my fathe r
s o that we m ay h ave always summe r
Then you r
fathe r will s ay I t is ve ry difli cu lt to do wh at you ask
I will try Then you mus t be quiet You mus t eat the
”
foo d they g ive you
Thus i t h ap p ened
O j e e g then s aid
I mus t make a feas t I must inv i te
”
my f riends to go on this j ou rney with me
At once
O j e e g killed a bea r
Th e n e x t d ay h e h ad a great
feast There were Otte r B eave r and Lyn x Als o
W olve rine and B adge r we re at the feas t
Then they s tarted on thei r j ou rney On t h e
twentieth d ay they came to the foo t o f a high mountain
There was b lood in the trail S ome p erson ha d kil l ed
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1 5
0
MYTH S AN D LE G EN D S O F
an animal Th ey followed the trail o f that pe rson
They ar rived a t a wigwam
”
Do no t l augh B e very quiet
O j e e g s ai d
A m an s too d i n the doo rway of the wigwam H e
was a great m anito H e was a head only Thus h e
was very s trange Then he made a feas t fo r them H e
m ad e ve ry curious movements so Otter l aughed At
once the manito l eap ed up on him H e S p rang on him
but Otte r slip p ed ou t from under him and escap ed
Th e m ani to an d the animals talked all night The
“
mani to s ai d to O j e e g the Fishe r You will succeed
You will be the summe r make r But you will die
”
Yet the summe r will come
Now when they followed the trail i n the mo rnin g
they met Otte r H e was very cold and hungry there
fo re Fishe r gave him meat
Then they j ou rneyed on On th e twenti eth d ay they
came to the top o f a lofty mountain Then they
smoked the i r p ip es
Then O j e e g the Fi s he r and the animals p rep a red
“
themselves O j e e g s ai d to Otte r We must first make
”
a hol e in the Sky cove r You try firs t
Otte r mad e a great s p ring H e di d not even touch
the Sky cove r H e fell back down the h ill to the
”
bottom o f the hill Then Otter s aid I will go home
S o h e di d
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H iawat ha
10 8
TH E M I S S I S S I P P I VALLEY
RAB B IT GO E S D U C K H UNTIN G
C h e ro k e e
AB B I T was ver y b oas tful
On e d ay he met
”
Otte r O tte r s aid S ometimes I eat ducks
”
“
Well I eat ducks too s ai d Rabbit
S o they went up th e s tream until they s aw several
d ucks in the wate r They followed the trai l softly
Then they s too d on th e rive r b ank
”
“
Rab b i t s aid You go fi rst
At once Otte r dived
f rom the bank H e swam unde r wate r unti l he
reached a duck ; then h e p ulled i t unde r quickly s o
th at the othe r ducks we re not frigh t ened While he
was un d e r wate r Ra bb i t p eele d b ark f rom a s ap lin g
and mad e a noose
”
“
Now watch m e he s aid when Otte r c ame b ack
H e d ived in and swam unde r wate r until he was nearly
choke d S o h e came to the top to b reathe H e d i d th is
s eve ral times The last time h e came up amon g the
d ucks and th rew th e noose ove r th e head o f one
Duck s p read h e r win g s and flew up with Ra b bi t
h anging to the en d o f the noose U p and up flew the
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The chil d ren at once ran hom e to tell thei r fathe r
H e came and cut a hole in the tree As he chopp ed
away Rabbi t kep t s inging
...
,
,
l ut
C
it
l g
ar e r, s o
yo u
c an s ee
me
...
’
So they m ade t h e h o le l a rge r Then Rabbi t told
them to s tan d back s o they could get a good look at
h im They s tood back Then Rabbi t sp ran g out and
leap ed away
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11
0
TH E M I S S I S S I P PI VALLEY
RAB B IT AN D TH E TA R BABY
B ilo x i
ed
AB B I T ai d his f riend the F renchm an with
his wo rk
They p lanted potatoes Rabbit
looked upon the p otato v ines as his share o f the
c rop and ate them all
Again Rabbi t aided h is friend the Frenchman
Th is tim e they p lanted co rn When i t was g rown
”
“
Rabbi t s aid This tim e I will eat the roots
S o he
pulled up all the co rn by th e roots bu t he foun d
nothing to s at is fy his hunge r
“
”
Then the Frenchman s aid
Let us dig a well
”
Rabbi t s aid N o You dig i t alone
“
The Frenchman s aid
Then you sh all no t d rin k
”
wate r from the well
”
“
Th at does not m atte r s ai d Rabbi t
I am used to
”
f
licking o f the dew f rom the ground
So th e Frenchman dug h is well Th en he mad e a
ta r baby and s tuck i t up clos e to the well On e day
Rabbi t cam e nea r the well ca rryin g a long p iece of
hollow cane and a tin bucket When h e reached th e
well he spoke to the ta r baby ; it d i d not answe r
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112
TH E M I S S I S S I P P I VALLEY
an d th rew him fa r into th e b ri e r p atch Ra bb it fell
fa r away f rom the Frenchm an
Then he p icked hims elf up and ran o f lau g hin g at
f
the trick he
pl ayed on the Frenchman
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R a bb i t grew b rave and s aid
“
,
Get out o f m y
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117
MYT H S AN D L E G E N D S O F
HO W R A B B I T S TOL E OTT E R S
’
C O AT
C h e ro k e e
f
LL the animals we re o f di ferent s izes and wo re
d iff
erent co ats S ome wo re lon g fu r and
othe rs wo re S ho rt fu r S ome h ad rings o n
thei r tails ; othe rs h ad no tails at all The co ats of the
anim als were o f many colo rs — b rown o r b lack o r
yellow o r gray
T h e animals we re a lways qua rrel ing abou t whose
co at was the fines t Therefo re they held a counci l to
d eci de the matte r
Now eve ryone had h ea rd a g reat deal a b out Otter
b ut h e l ived fa r up th e trai l ; h e di d not o ften visi t the
othe rs I t was s ai d h e had the fin est co at o f all but
i t was so long since they h ad s een him that no one
remembered what i t was like They d i d not even know
jus t whe re he l ived but they knew h e would com e
when h e hea rd o f the council
Rabbi t was afraid the council wou l d s ay that Otte r
h ad the fines t coat H e l earned by what trai l Otte r
woul d come to the counci l Then he went a fou r d ays
m arch u p the trai l to meet him At last h e s aw Otte r
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1 18
TH E M I S S I S S I P P I VALLEY
comin g H e knew him at once b y his beautiful coat of
soft brown fu r
”
“
Otte r s aid Where a re y ou g oin g !
“
”
They sent me to b ring you to the council
“
answe red Rabbit
They were afrai d you might not
”
know the trai l
80 Rabbi t tu rned b ac k and they traveled togethe r
They traveled all day At nigh t Rabbi t p icked out a
camp ing p lace Otte r w as a S trange r in that p a rt
Rabbi t cut down bushes fo r beds an d m ade eve rything
comfo rtable N e x t mo rning they s ta rted on again
I n the afte rnoon Rabbit p icked up p ieces of b ark
and wood as they followed th e trail and lo aded them
on his back
“
”
Why a re you d oin g that ! asked Otte r
”
S o that we m ay be wa rm and com fo rtable tonigh t
s ai d Rabbi t N ea r sun s et they stop p ed and mad e
c amp Afte r sup pe r Rabbi t began to wh ittle a S tick
sh aving i t down to a p addle
”
“
Why a re you doing th at ! asked Otte r again
”
“
“
Oh s aid Rabbi t
I h ave good d reams when I
”
S leep wi th a p addle unde r my h ead
When the p addle was finished Rabbi t began to cu t
a good trail th rough the bushes to the rive r
“
”
Why a re you doing that ! asked Otte r
“
Th is is c alled The Place Where I t Rains Fi re
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I 2O
TH E M I S S I S S I P P I VALLEY
T he animals we re surp rised They d i d no t know
Otte r was so ba sh ful At l ast B ea r pulled the p aw
away There was Rabbit ! H e sp rang up and sta rted
f
to run B ea r struck at him and p ulled the tai l o f his
coat B ut Rabbi t was too quick and g ot s afely away
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12 1
M YTH S A N D L E G EN D S O F
RAB B IT AN D B E AR
B ilo x i
AB B I T an d B ea r h a d b een f r iends fo r some
“
C ome
time One day Rabbit s ai d to B ear
and vis i t me I l ive in a ve ry l a r g e b rier
”
p atch
Then h e went home
When h e reached home h e went out an d g athere d a
qu antity o f youn g canes wh ich he hun g up
After a whil e B ea r reached a p lace nea r his hous e
but was seeking th e l a rge b ri e r p atch N ow Rabbi t
really dwel t i n a ve ry sm all p atch When Rabbi t
found th at B ea r was n ea r h e began to m ake a p atter
ing sound wi th his feet
B ea r was sca red H e retreated to a d is tance an d
then s topp ed an d stood l is tening As soon as Rab b it
s aw this
h e c ri ed out
H alloo ! my f ri end ! Was i t
you whom I treated in that manner ! C ome and take a
”
seat
S o B ea r went b ack to Rabbi t s house and took a s eat
Rabbi t gave th e young canes to his guest wh o sw al
lowed them all Rabbi t nibbled now and then a t one
wh ile B ea r swallowe d all th e othe rs
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12 2
TH E M I S S I S S I P P I VALLEY
“
”
T h is is wh at I h ave alwa y s liked s ai d B ea r when
“
h e went home
C ome an d v it me
is
I dwell in a
”
l a rg e bent tree
No t lon g a fte r Rabbi t sta rte d on h is j ou rney H e
sp ent some time s eekin g th e l a r g e bent tree but he
could no t fin d i t B ea r l ived i n a hollow tree and he
Rabbi t heard the growls an d fled
s at the re growlin g
fo r som e distanc e befo re h e s at down
“
Then B ea r c alled
H alloo ! my f riend ! Was it
you whom I treated in that m anne r ! C ome here an d
”
s i t down
Rabbit di d so
“
B ea r s aid
You a re now my gues t but there is
”
nothin g fo r you to e at
S o B ea r went in s ea rch of
food
B ea r went to gathe r youn g canes b ut as h e went
along h e gathered also the small bl ack bugs which
l ive i n d e c ayed logs When he h ad been gone some
time h e retu rned to his lodge wi th only a few youn g
canes H e put them down befo re Rabbi t and then
walked a round him i n a ci rcle I n a little while h e
o fe red Rabbi t the black bugs
f
”
“
I h ave neve r eaten such food s ai d Rabbit
“
B ea r was offended H e s aid
When I was you r
g uest I ate all th e food you gave me as I l iked i t ve ry
well Now when I off r you food why do you treat
e
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12 4
TH E M I S S I S S I P P I VALL E Y
WHY D E E R N E V E R E AT M EN
M e n o m in i
FTE R R a bb i t h ad d ecided about light an d d a r k
ness h e s aw O wass e th e B ea r coming
“
Rabbi t s aid
B ea r what do you want fo r
”
“
”
food !
B ea r s aid
Aco rns and f rui t
“
Then Rabbi t aske d Fish H awk H e s ai d
Fish
”
H awk wh at will you s elect fo r you r food !
“
Fish H awk s aid
I will take that fellow S ucke r
”
lying i n the wate r there
Sucke r sai d at once You m ay eat me i f you can b ut
”
that h as s till to b e decided
Sucke r at once swam out into the deep es t p art o f
the rive r where Fish H awk could not reach him
Then Fish H awk ros e into the ai r to a point where
his shadow fell e x actly on the S pot where Sucker l ay
Now as Sucke r lay the re h e s aw th e sh adow o f a l a rg e
bi rd on the bed of th e s tream H e b ecame f ri g htene d
“
”
H e thought
I t must b e a m ani do so h e swam
slowly to the su rface At once Fish H aw k d arte d
down on h im an d ca rried him into the ai r Then h e
ate him
Rabbit looke d about him again H e s aw M o qwaio
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TH E M I S S I S S I P P I VALLEY
Ve ry ea rl y the ne x t mo rnin g he went to look at h is
trap B ehold ! Sun h ad been caught Rab b i t ran
home ve ry quickly
Oh G randmothe r I h ave caugh t something but i t
sca res m e I W is he d to take the noos e but i t sc a red me
”
eve ry time I went to g et i t
Then Ra b bi t took a kni fe and again went there
“
The p erson s aid You h ave done ve ry wrong C ome
”
and release me
Ra bb i t di d not g o d i rectly towa rd him H e went to
one side H e bent his he ad low and cu t the co r d At
once Sun wen t above on his trail B ut Rabbi t h ad
been so nea r h im that Sun b urned his fu r on the b ack
o f his neck
“
Rabbit ran hom e H e c ri ed Oh G ra nd m othe r I
”
have b een seve rely b u rne d
”
“
Alas ! My grandson has been severely b u rne d
s ai d g randmothe r
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12 9
M YT H S AN D L E G E N D S OF
W H EN TH E O R P H AN TRA PP E D
TH E S UN
Oj ib wa
N I M AL S and men lived on the ea rth i n the b e
ginning Th e animals killed all th e p eop le
e x cep t a g i rl and h e r tiny b rothe r wh o hi d
f rom them The b ro the r d i d not grow a t al l The re
fo re when the s is te r collected firewood she took him
with he r S he mad e him a bow and a rrow
“
One day Sh e s aid
N ow I must le ave you fo r a
whil e S oon th e snowbi rds will come and p ick wo rms
out o f the woo d I h ave cut S hoo t on e of them an d
”
b ring i t to m e
The boy wai ted Th e bi rds c ame and h e S hot a t
them with h is a rrows H e coul d no t kill one The
ne x t d ay he S ho t at them again Then h e killed one
H e came back to the wi g wam wi th a bi rd
H e s aid
My s iste r skin i t I will wea r the skins
”
o f th e snowbi rds
“
”
Wh at shall we d o w i t h the b o d y ! s h e asked
”
C u t i t i n two We wi ll pu t i t i n ou r b roth
N ow
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b ack f
’
“
H e went home H e s aid to h is s is te r
Sun h as
sp oiled my co at
H e woul d no t ea t H e l ay down on
the g roun d H e l ay ten d ays on one s i d e Then h e
tu rned ove r an d l ay ten d ays on the oth er si de
At las t he ros e H e s ai d to h is s iste r M ake m e a
”
sna re I s hall c atch Sun
”
S he s aid I h ave no strin g
The b oy s ai d M ake
”
a s trin g
Then sh e remembe re d a bi t o f d ri ed s inew
wh ich h e r fathe r h ad b ad S o sh e mad e a s na re fo r
h im
“
o
M a k e a b etter
Th e b o y s a id Th at w ill n ot d
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131
MYTH S AN D LE G EN D S O F
”
”
re
S h e s ai d
I h ave no strin g
A t l as t sh e t e
f
mem b ered S h e cut o f some of he r h ai r S h e m a d e
a s trin g f rom th at
”
The boy s ai d That wi ll no t do M ake me a noose
S he thought a g ain Then s h e remembe red S he went
out o f the wi g wam S h e took somethin g S he m ade a
b rai d ou t o f th at thin g
”
“
T h e b oy s aid
Th is will do
H e was much
p leased When he took i t i t became a lon g red co r d
There was much o f i t H e wound i t a round his body
The b oy left the wigwam while Sun was a t home
H e d i d this s o that he might c atch him as he came ove r
the e d ge o f the ea rth H e p ut the noos e a t the s pot
j us t whe re Sun came ove r th e ed g e When Sun came
alon g the noose caught h is head H e was held tight
so that h e coul d no t follow h is trai l i n th e Sky land
Now the animals wh o ruled the ea rth we re fright
ened b ecause Sun d i d not follow the trail They s aid
”
“
Wh at S h all we do !
S o they called a great council
”
“
They s aid We mus t send someon e to cut the noose
Thus they S p oke in the council
N ow all the anim als were af raid to cut the co rd
S un was s o ho t he would bu rn them At las t Do r
H e s tood up in the council
mouse s ai d I will g o
H e was as high as a mountain H e was the l ar g est o f
all the anim als
sn a
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13
2
TH E M I S S I S S I P P I VAL L EY
Wh en D o rmous e reache d th e p lace where S un was
sn a red his fu r b e g an to S in g e an d h is b ack to b u rn I t
was very ho t Do rmous e cut the co r d with his teet h
B ut so muc h o f h im was b u rned up h e b ecame ve ry
small Therefo re D o rmous e i s the smalles t o f ani
m als Th at is why h e is cal l e d Ku g e b een gwa kwa
,
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13
3
MYT H S AND L E G EN D S OF
T H E H A R E A N D TH E LYN !
Oj ib wa
NE
C
the re was a little whi te ha re l ivin g in
a wigwam wi th h e r grandmothe r N ow
G randmothe r s en t H a re back to he r native
l an d When H a re h ad gone a sho rt way L yn x came
d own th e trail Lyn x s ang :
,
...
,
...
and ran b ack to G randmothe r
”
S ee G randmothe r sh e s aid
th e trail and s ang
c ried H a re
,
...
...
,
so
,
To
t he
p
o in
t
l dI
o f an
Th e re is t he ho m e
Th ere I go
o
go ,
f t he litt l e wh it e
o n e,
...
,
,
,
,
Littl e wh it e
L ittle wh it e
W hy
are
o n e,
o n e,
yo ur
t e ll
t e ll
m e,
m e,
th i n
e ars so
an d
r
dy !
”
“
”
Ho ! s ai d G ran d mothe r
Go and tell him you r
”
uncles made them s o when they came f rom the South
So H a re ran up the trai l and san g
,
...
I
3
S
...
,
Why
Why
y li tt l e wh i t e o n e !
away li tt l e wh i t e o n e !
r
yo u r f ee t so d y an d s wif t !
d yo u go
o
d yo u go
o
Wh y are
awa
,
,
Ts h w e e l Ts h we e l Ts h we e l Ts h we e l
”
c ried H a re
and a g a in sh e ran b ack to G randmo the r
”
H o ! do no t mind him s aid G ran d mothe r
Do
no t lis ten to h im Do no t answe r him J us t run
”
s traight on
S o th e li ttle wh i te ha re ran u p the trai l as fast as
When s h e came to th e p l ace whe re Lyn x
s h e could
had stood he was g one S o H a re ran o n and h ad
almos t reache d he r n ative land on t h e poin t o f l an d
when Lyn x sp rang ou t o f the thicket and ate he r up
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13
6
TH E M I S S I S S I P P I VALL EY
WE L C OM E TO A B A B Y
C h e ro k e e
I TTL E
WR E N is t h e messen g er o f the B i r d s
S h e p ri es into eve ryth in g Sh e g ets up early
in the mo rn in g and goes a round to eve ry wig
wam to g et news fo r the B i r d council When a new
b a by comes into a wi g wam sh e finds out whethe r i t is
a boy o r a g i rl
I f i t i s a boy the B i rd counci l sings mournfully
“
Alas ! The whistle o f the a rrow ! My shins wil l
”
b u rn !
B ecaus e the B i rds all know th at when th e
boy g rows olde r h e will hunt them wi th his bows and
a rrows an d will ro as t them on a s tick
B ut i f the baby is a g i rl they a re g l a d They sin g
Th anks ! Th e sound o f the p estle ! In her wigwam
”
I shall su rely be able to scratch where S he sweep s
B ecause they know that w h en sh e g rows olde r an d
b eats the co rn i nto meal they will be able to p ick up
s tray g rains
He
C ricket also is gla d when the baby is a gi rl
“
sin g s
Thanks ! I shall sing i n the wigwam whe r e
”
es
B ut i f i t is a boy C ricket laments G wo
sh e l i v
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,
,
,
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,
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I
3
7
,
M YTH S AN D L E G EN D S O F
H e will shoo t me ! H e w ill s h oot me ! H e wil l
”
shoo t m e !
B ecaus e boys m ake little bows to s hoot
c rickets an d g rasshop p ers
When the C he rokee I n d i ans he a r o f a new ba b y
they ask I s i t a bow o r a meal S i fte r !
O r else they
”
ask I s i t b a ll s tic k s o r b rea d !
he!
...
yu we h e ,
hy
u
we
...
...
,
F l ittin g white
bu g
F littin g white fire b u g
G ive m e you r l i g ht befo re I
G ive m e you r l i g ht befo re I
C ome l ittle wavin g fire b u g
C ome l ittle wavin g fire b u g
Light me with you r b ri g ht
L i g ht m e wi th you r b ri g ht
-
fire
-
-
,
-
,
g o to sleep
g o to s leep
...
-
,
...
to rch
to rch
...
ly
fire f , W ah wah t aysee ,
Flitt i n g th ro u gh t h e d u sk o f e vn in g,
e
W ith t he t w in kl e o f it s c an d le ,
Saw
t he
-
-
b rakes an d b u she s ;
An d h e s an g t h e s o n g o fc hild re n
S an g t h e s o n g N o k o m is t au gh t h im ;
W ah wah t ayse e litt l e fire fly
L i ttl e fli tt i n g W h it e fire in sec t
L igh t in g
up
-
t he
,
r
-
-
,
,
-
,
,
H iawat ha
14 o
T H E M I S S I S S I P P I VALLEY
S ON G O F TH E MOTH E R B EAR S
C h e ro k e e
N E d a y a hunte r in the woods hea rd s inging i n
a c ave H e came n e a r and p eep ed in I t was
a mother bea r s inging to he r cubs and tellin g
them wha t to do when the hunters came afte r them
M othe r B ea r s aid
...
...
go
...
go
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to
,
...
1
...
'
14 2
TH E M I S S I S S I P P I VALLEY
T H E MAN I N T H E S TU M P
C h e ro k e e
N IN D IAN h ad a fiel d o f co rn rip ening in the
One d ay when he wanted to look at i t
he climbed a s tum p Now the s tump was hol
low and in i t was a nest o f bea r cubs The m an S l ip p ed
and fell down upon the cubs
At once the cubs began callin g fo r th ei r mothe r and
M other B ea r came running She began to climb down
into the s tump b ackwa rds Then the Indi an c aught
hold o f her leg ; thus sh e b ecame f rightened S he b e
gan to climb ou t and d ragged the Indi an also to the
top o f the stump Thus he g ot ou t of the s tump
su n
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,
,
,
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,
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-
-
,
,
s au -
h!
-
ho o ho o!
-
hoo hoo!
hoo hoo!
-
-
ch
i!
ch
i!
c
h i!
w h e w!
N ow when the m an came home that night the
mo the r asked
”
“
What h ave you been doing all d ay !
”
“
Wo rking h a rd h e s ai d
”
B ut you were not the re when I c ame afte r you
”
“
Oh I went ove r i n the thicket awhile s aid the
”
“
man
to se e some o f my rel atives
“
Then the mothe r s ai d
I h ave l ived he re a lon g
whi le and no on e lives i n that swamp b ut l azy h u h u s
My d au g h te r wants a husban d that can wo rk and not a
h u hu !
And she d rove him f rom th e house
,
,
...
,
,
...
,
-
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,
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t he
b lu e sky
...
,
...
,
,
...
,
,
I al o n e
I al o n e
,
,
C an go
So as t o
u p,
s e e m as
if h g i n g fro m
an
t he
b lu e sky
...
...
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,
,
’
,
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,
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,
14 8
TH E M I S S I S S I P P I VALLEY
H OW PA RTR I D G E G OT: H I S W H I STL E
C h e ro k e e
N T H E ol d d ays Te rrap in had a fine wh istle and
Pa rtrid g e h ad none
Te rra pin whistled con
H e was always b oas tin g o f his fine
s t an t ly
whistl e
”
One d ay P a rtri dge s aid Let me try you r whistle
”
“
T errap i n s aid
No
H e was afrai d Pa rtrid g e
would try som e trick
“
P a rtri dge s aid
Oh i f you a re afrai d stay ri g h t
”
he re while I use i t
So Te rrap in gave i t to him P a rtri dge strutted
a round whistling constantly
”
H e s ai d H ow does i t sound wi th me !
”
“
You do i t very well s ai d Terrap in walking by
his s ide
”
“
a sked
Now how do you l ike i t !
Pa rtri d g e
running ahead
”
“
I t s fine s aid Terrapin trying to keep up with
”
him
B ut don t run so fast !
“
”
H ow do you like i t now !
asked P a rtrid g e
,
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15
0
TH E M I S S I S S I PP I VA LLEY
HO W KIN GFI S H E R GOT H I S B I LL
C h e ro k e e
OM E o f th e ol d men s ay that Kingfishe r was
meant i n the beginning to be a wate r bi rd but
because he h ad no we b on h is feet an d not a good
bill h e could no t get enough to eat The animals
knew o f this so they held a council Afterwards they
made him a bill l ike a long sharp awl This fish gig
h e was to use sp ea ring fish When they fastened i t on
to his mouth he flew firs t to the top o f a tree Th en he
d arted down into t h e wate r an d came up wi th a fish on
h is bill And eve r s ince Kingfishe r h as been the bes t
fisherman
B ut some o f the o ld peop le s ay i t was this way
B lacksnake found Yellowh amme r s nest i n the hol
low tree and killed all the young bi rds Y e llo wh am
me r at once went to the Little Peop le fo r h elp They
s ent he r to Kingfishe r S o sh e went on to him
Kingfishe r came at once and a fte r flying b ack and
fo rth p ast the hole in the hollow tree he made a quick
dart at the snake and pulled him out dead When
they looked they s aw he h ad p i erced B lacksnake with
,
,
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,
,
,
151
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154
,
TH E M I S S I S S I PP I VA L L E Y
'
B ALL GAM E O F TH E B I RD S AN D
AN I MAL S
C h e ro k e e
N C E the Animals ch allenged the B i rds to a
g reat b all p lay an d the B i rd s accep ted The
Animals met nea r the rive r in a smooth grassy
field Th e B i r d s met i n the tree to p ove r by th e ri d g e
N ow the leade r of the Animals was B ear H e was
ve ry s trong and heavy All th e way to the rive r h e
tossed up big logs to sho w h is s trength and bo asted o f
how he would win against the B i rds Te rrap in was
wi th the Animals H e was not the little te rrap in we
h ave now b ut the firs t Te rrap in H is shell was so
h a rd the heavi es t blows could not hu rt h im and h e
was very l a rge On the way to the rive r he ros e on
his hind feet an d d rop p ed heavi ly agai n H e d i d this
m any times b ragging that thus he would c rush a n y
bi rd that tri e d to take the ball f rom him Then the re
was Dee r wh o cou l d outrun all the others And there
were m any othe r animals
Now the leade r o f the B i rds was Eagle ; an d also
H awk and the great T lan u wa They were all swi ft
and s trong o f flight
,
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Now firs t the y h a d a b all d ance T hen afte r the
d ance as the bi r d s s at i n the trees two tiny l ittle an i
m als no l a rge r than fiel d mice climbed up the tree
whe re Eagle s at They c rep t out to th e b ranch tip s
to Ea g le
”
“
They s ai d We wish to p l ay b all
E agle looked at them They we re fou r footed H e
“
s aid Why d on t you j oin th e Anim als ! You b elon g
”
there
”
“
“
The Anim als m ake fun o f us they s ai d
T he y
”
d rive us away because we a re sm all
“
E a g le p i ti ed them H e s ai d
B ut yo u h av e no
”
wi ngs
Then a t once E agle and H awk and al l th e B i r d s
hel d a counci l i n the trees At l as t they s ai d to the
”
“
l ittl e fellows We wi ll m ake wings fo r you
B ut they coul d not think jus t how to do i t T hen a
“
B i rd s aid Th e head o f ou r d rum is m ade o f groun d
”
hog skin Let us m ake wings from that
S o th ey
took two p ieces o f leathe r f rom th e d rum an d shap e d
them fo r wi ngs
Th ey s tretched them with cane
s p lints and fastened them on the fo relegs o f one o f th e
littl e animals S o they m ade T lam e h a th e B a t Th ey
began to teach h im
Fi rs t they th rew the b all to him B at d ropp e d an d
ci rcled a b ou t i n the ai r on h is new wings H e d i d no t
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156
TH E
I
M I S S I S S I P P I VALLEY
let the b all d ro p T he B i r d s s aw at once he wou l d
be one o f th ei r bes t men
Now they wished to g ive win g s also to the secon d
li ttle anim al but the re was no mo re leathe r And
the re was no mo re time Then somebody s aid they
m ight m ake wings fo r the o the r man by S tretching his
skin Therefo re two l a rge bi rds took hold from op po
si te s ides wi th th ei r s trong bills Thus they S tretched
h is skin Thus they m ade Tewa the Flying S qui rrel
Then E agl e th rew to h im the ball At once Flyin g
S qui rrel sp rang afte r i t caught i t i n h is teeth an d
c arri ed i t th rough th e ai r to anothe r tree near b y
Then th e g ame began Almost at the fi rs t toss Fly
ing S qui rrel caugh t the ball and c a rried it up a tree
Then h e th rew i t to the B i rds wh o kep t i t in the ai r
fo r some time When i t d rop p ed to the earth B ear
rushed to get i t b ut M a rtin d a rted afte r i t and th rew
i t to B at wh o was flying nea r the ground B at doubled
and dodged with the ball and kep t i t ou t of the way of
Dee r At l ast B at th rew i t between the posts S o the
B i rd s won the game
B ea r and Te rrap in wh o h a d b oaste d o f wh at t h ey
woul d do never h a d a chance to touch the ball
B ecaus e M a rtin s aved the b all when i t d rop p e d to
th e g round the B i rds afte rwar d s gave h im a g ou r d in
wh ich to b uil d h is nest H e s till has it
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I
S7
MYTH S A N D LE G EN D S O F
...
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158
,
F ro m R e p o r
1
2
...
o
o
Fr m
Fr m
a
a
t
o
f the B
u re au
M ou n d M i
St
on
,
e
o
ss o
f Am
u ri
...
...
l
o o gy
o
o
Fr m
Fr m
G OR G E T S
a
a
...
see
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,
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,
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,
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‘
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16 1
M YTH S A N D L E G EN D S O F
p id l y as b efo re B rant coul d only hi t his b ill a g a ins t
th e s i de o f the dish
When the Ancient o f B rants was dep a rting he s a i d
”
to Otte r C ome to s e e me tomo rrow
When Otte r reached t h e house o f th e Ancient o f
B rants the ne x t day B ran t c ried
H allo o l I h ave
”
nothing at all to give you to eat ! S i t down !
Then the Anci en t o f B rants wen t fishing using a
”
“
leathe r vine which he j e rked now an d then to
s traighten i t H e caugh t many fish and took them
home to cook them When the fish we re cooked they
began to feas t Bu t th e Ancient o f B rants h ad put
some into a small roun d d ish Ancient o f Otters could
not get his mouth into the d ish But B rant ate rap i dly
”
“
H ave you eaten enough !
B rant asked afte r a
while
”
“
Otte r rep li ed Yes I am satisfied
“
”
“
N onsen s e ! s aid the Anci en t o f B rants
H ow
coul d you p ossibly be s atisfied ! I h ave se rved you as
”
you s erved me
B ut this ende d thei r friendship
ra
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162
TH E M I S S I S S I PP I VALL E Y
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rs
6
M YT H S AN D L E GEN D S OF
TH E F R I G H T E N E R O F H UNT E R S
C h o c t aw
B ay o u L a c o m b )
!
AS H E H O TAP AL O is
th e frightene r o f
hun te rs H is head i s small an d d rie d up like
an ol d m an s H is legs an d feet a re l ike thos e
o f a d ee r H e lives i n low swampy p l aces fa r away
f rom m en
I f th e hunters come nea r him when they a re ch asin g
Thus
a d ee r he s lip s up b ehind them and calls lou d ly
h e f ri g htens them away H is voice i s l ike th at o f a
”
woman H is name means the wom an call
...
,
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,
...
...
TH E M I S S I S S I PP I VA LL EY
TH E H UNTE R AN D TH E ALLI GATO R
C h o c t aw
!
B ay o u L a c o m b )
LL the hunters in a vi llage killed m any dee r one
winte r e x cep t one m an Th is one saw many
dee r S ometimes he d rew his bow and shot at
them ; yet they escap ed
Now this hunte r h ad been away f rom h is vill a g e
th ree d ays H e h ad s een m any dee r ; not one had he
killed On the thi rd d ay wh en th e su n was ho t ove r
h is head he s aw an alligato r
Alligato r was i n a d ry sandy spo t H e h ad h ad no
wate r fo r m any days H e was d ry and sh riveled
“
Alligato r s ai d to the hunter Whe re can wate r b e
”
“
found !
Th e hunte r s aid
I n that fo res t no t fa r
”
away is col d wate r
”
“
“
I canno t go there alone s ai d Alligato r
C ome
”
nea rer D o not fea r
Th e hunte r we nt nea re r b ut he
was afrai d
“
”
“
You a re a hunte r s aid Alligato r
b u t all t h e
dee r escap e you C a rry m e into the wate r an d I w ill
”
make you a great hunte r You shall kill m any d ee r
“
T he hunte r was still afraid Then he s a id I wil l
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167
,
MYT H S AN D LE G EN D S O F
ca rry you b u t fi rst I mus t bin d you s o that you c anno t
sc ratch me ; and you r mouth , so that y ou c anno t
”
b i te me
S o Alli g ato r rolle d ove r on his b ack an d l et the
hunte r b ind h im H e fastened h is l egs and mouth
fi rmly Then h e ca rrie d Alligato r on his should e rs to
the wate r in th e fo res t H e unfastene d the co rds an d
th rew him i n
Alli g ato r came to th e su rface th ree times H e s ai d
“
Take you r bow an d a rrow and go into the woo d s
You will find a small doe Do no t kill i t Then you
will find a la rge doe Do not ki ll i t You will meet
a sm all b uck Do no t kill that Then you will meet a
”
la rge ol d b uck Kill th at
Th e hunte r took his bow an d a rrow E verythin g
h ap p ened jus t as Alligato r h a d fo retold Then he
ki lled the l a rge old buck S o he became a ve ry great
hunte r The re was always venison in his wigwam
,
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168
TH E
M I S S I S SI P P I VALLEY
TH E G ROUN D H O G D AN C E
C h e ro k e e
EV E N wolves once caught a g roundho g Th ey
“
s ai d
Now we ll kill you an d h ave something
”
to eat
“
G roundho g s aid
When we fin d g ood foo d we
should rejo ice ove r i t as p eop l e do i n the green co rn
d ances You wi ll kill me and I c annot h elp mysel f
B ut i f you want to d ance I ll s ing fo r you Now this
is a new dance I will lean up agains t seven trees in
tu rn You will d ance fo rward and then go b ack At
”
the las t tu rn you m ay ki ll me
Now the Wolves we re very hungry but they wanted
to lea rn th e new d ance G roundhog leaned up against
a tree and b e g an to sin g
H e s ang
...
,
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’
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Th en
the s econ d son g
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,
...
When Racoon awoke he p ainte d h imself as h e had
b een told to d o S o we see him even to the p resent d ay
,
...
M YTH S AN D LE G E N D S O F
W H Y T H E O P O S S U M P LAYS D E AD
B ilo x i
H E Anci en t o f Op ossums thou g ht th at h e
woul d reach a ce rtai n pon d ve ry ea rly i n the
mo rning so that h e might catch the c rawfish
on th e sho re B ut someone els e r e ached there first
and when Opossum reached the re the c rawfish we re
all gone
Th is p e rson di d th is eve ry d ay Opossum di d not
know wh o i t was so he l ay in wai t fo r him H e foun d
i t was the Ancient of Racoons
T hey a r g ued about the c rawfish an d the p ond The y
agreed to s e e wh ich could ris e the ea rli er in the mo rn
in g g o a round th e sho re o f the p ond and catch the
,
...
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,
c rawfis h
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,
until
...
went
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...
Rab b i t h ad h ad no tai l since B e a r pulled I t o f b ecaus e
f
he was j ealous The refo re he pl anned to p lay a trick
on Possum
The an im als called a grea t cou n ci l The y p lanne d
to have a d anc e I t was Rabbi t s busi ness to s end ou t
the news One d ay as he was p assing Possum s house
he s top p ed to talk
”
“
Are you go ing to the council ! he aske d
”
“
s ai d Possum
Ye s i f I c an have a sp eci al seat
“
I h ave such a h andsome tai l I ought to s it whe re
”
eve ryone can se e me
Rabbi t s aid I wil l s e e that you h ave a s p eci al seat
And I wi ll s end someone to comb you r tail fo r the
d ance !
Possum was ve ry mu ch p leased
Rabbi t at once went to C ricket wh o is an e x p e rt h a i r
cutte r ; therefo re the I ndi ans call him the barbe r H e
tol d C ricket to go the ne x t mo rning and com b
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’
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I
74
TH E M I S S I S S I P P I VALLEY
’
’
Possum s tail fo r the d ance H e tol d C ricket jus t wh at
to do
I n th e mo rnin g C ric k et went to Possum s house
Possum S tretched h imself out on the floo r and went to
s leep while C ricket combed out his tail and wrapp ed
a red string a round i t to keep i t smooth until ni g ht
But all the time as he wound the s tring a round he was
f
snip p ing o f the hai r closely Possum d id not know i t
When i t was night Possum went to the council and
took his sp eci al seat When i t was h is tu rn to d ance
h e loosened the red s tring from h is tail and s tepp ed
into the middle o f the lodge
The d rumme rs began to beat the d rum
P ossum
”
began to sing S ee my beautiful tail
Eve ry m an shouted and Possum d anced a round the
”
“
ci rcl e again s ingin g
S ee wh at a fine colo r i t h as
They all shouted again and Possum went on d ancin g
”
as he s ang S ee how i t sweeps the ground
Then the animals all shouted s o that Possum wo n
de red wh at i t me ant H e looked a round Every man
was laughing at him Then he looked down at h is
beauti ful tail I t was as b a re as a l iza rd s tail The re
was no t a h ai r on i t
H e was s o astonished a n d ashamed that h e coul d not
H e rolled ove r on the ground and grinned
s ay a wo rd
jus t as he does today when taken by su rp rise
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176
F ro m R e p o r
t
o
f t h e B u re au
o
f A m e ri c a
n th n
E
l
o o gy
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TH E
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178
TH E M I S S I S S I P P I VALL E Y
TH E W O L F A N D TH E D O G
C h e ro k e e
t h ey s ay D o g was put on t h e
mountain s ide an d Wol f besi de the fire When
w inte r came Do g coul d no t stand the cold and
d rove Wol f away f rom the fi re Wol f ran into the
mountains and h e l ike d i t so well th at he h as stayed
there eve r s ince
N T H E b e g inn in g
,
so
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18
o
TH E M I S S I S S I P P I VALLEY
TU RTL E
M e n o m in i
H E R E was a l arge c amp i n which M i qk an o
the Tu rtle took up h is abod e H e built a
wigwam bu t h e h ad no one to keep house fo r
h im H e thou g ht he n eeded a wi fe
Now Tu rtle found a young woman whom he liked
”
H e s aid I want you to be my wi fe
“
Sh e s aid
H ow a re you going to p rovide fo r me !
You cannot keep up wi th the res t o f th e p eop le when
”
t hey move
Tu rtle repli ed I can keep up wi th the best o f you r
”
p eop le
f
Then the young woman wanted to pu t him o f She
”
“
s aid Oh well I wi ll ma rry you i n the S p ring
Tu rtle was ve x ed wi th this At last he s aid I shall
go to wa r and take some cap tives When I retu rn in
”
th e s p ring I sh all e x p ect you to ma rry me
Then Tu rtle p rep a red to go on the wa r p ath H e
c alled all his f r i ends the Tu rtle s to him H e left
The
c amp followed by a th rong o f cu rious Indi ans
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TH E
M I S S I S SI P P I VA LL E Y
The I ndi ans wh o we re captu red in this way were
very angry Now the Tu rtle chief h ad cap tu red the
young wom an he s ai d h e was going to ma rry H e s aid
to the I ndi an gi rl Now th at I h ave you I wil l keep
”
you
N ow i t was necess ary to o rganize a d ance to cele
b rate the victo ry ove r the I ndi ans Eve ryone d res s ed
i n h is best robe and beads Tu rtle s ang
“
Whoeve r comes nea r me will di e will di e
”
will di e ! and the o the rs d anced a round him in a
ci rcle At once the I ndi ans bec ame al armed Each
one fled to h is own lodge i n the village Tu rtl e al s o
went to the vi ll age but he a rrived much late r becau s e
h e could no t travel s o fast
“
Someone s ai d to him
That gi rl h as marri ed
”
a nothe r m an
”
“
I S th at true !
sto rmed Tu rtle
Let me s e e the
man
“
So he went to that wigwam H e called
I am
”
going fo r the woman wh o p romised to be my wi fe
H e r husband s aid H ere comes Tu rtl e Now what
”
i s to b e done !
”
I shall take ca re o f that s aid h i s wi fe
“
Tu rtle c ame i n and s ei z ed her H e said
C ome
”
along with me You bel o ng to me
“
She pulled b ack
She s aid
You b roke you r
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183
,
MYTH S AN D LE G EN D S O F
”
p rom is e
The husb an d s ai d also Yes you p romised
to go to wa r and b ring back some p risone rs You failed
”
to do so
Tu rtle s aid I di d g o I retu rned wi th many p ris
”
one rs
Then h e p icked up the young woman an d
c a rri e d h e r o f
f
Now when Tu rtle a rrived at his own wigwam the
youn g wom an went at once to a f riend and bo rrowed
a l a rge kettle S h e filled i t with wate r an d set i t on
“
to boi l Tu rtle became af rai d H e s aid What a re
”
you do ing !
S he s aid I am heating some wate r Do you know
”
how to swim !
”
“
“
”
Oh yes s ai d Tu rtle
I can swim
“
Th e young woman s aid
You jump in th e wate r
”
and swim I can wash you r shell
S o Tu rtle tri ed to swim in the hot wa te r Then the
othe r Tu rtles s eeing thei r chief swimming i n the
kettl e climbed ove r th e edge an d jump ed into the
wate r Thus Tu rtle and h is wa rrio rs were conque red
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184
TH E M I S S I S S I P P I VALLEY
TH E WORS H I P O F TH E S UN
Oj i b wa
ON G a g o an Oj i b wa I ndian an d h is wife l ive d
on the sho res o f Lake H u ron They had one
“
so n wh o w as named
O n a wut a qui o H e
that c atches the clouds
Now th e b oy was ve ry handsome and his p a rents
thought highly o f h im bu t he refused to make the
fas t o f his tribe H is fathe r gave him cha rco al ; yet he
would not bl acken his face They refused him food ;
but h e wande red along the sho re and ate the egg s o f
bi rds One d ay his fathe r took f rom him by fo rce the
eggs o f the b i rds H e took them violently Then h e
th rew cha rcoal to him Then did the boy blacken his
face and begin his fas t
Now he fell asleep A beauti ful woman came d own
“
th rou g h the ai r and s too d b eside him She s ai d
I
”
h ave come fo r you S tep in my trail
A t once h e b egan to rise th rough the a i r T hey
p assed th rough an op ening in the sky a n d h e found
himsel f on the Sky p lain The re were flowe rs on the
beautiful p l ain an d streams o f f resh col d wate r Th e
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MYTH S AN D L E G EN D S O F
valleys we re g reen an d fai r B i r d s we re s in g in g Th e
Sky land was ve ry be auti ful
Th e re was but one lodge an d i t was divi d e d into
two p a rts I n one end we re b right and glowin g robes
sp ea rs and bows and a rrows At the o the r end the
ga rments o f a woman we re hun g
The woman s aid My b rothe r i s comin g and I must
h i de you
S o sh e p ut h im i n a co rne r and sp read
ove r h im a b ro ad S hining bel t When the b rother
came in he was ve ry richly d ressed and glowing H e
took down his g reat p ip e and his tobacco
“
N e m is s a my elde r s iste r when
At l ast he s aid
will you end thes e doings ! The G reates t of S p i rits
h as commanded th at you shoul d not take away the
child ren of earth I know o f th e coming o f O na wut
“
— i o
a qu
Then he calle d ou t
C ome out o f you r
”
hi ding You will get hungry i f you remain the re
When the boy c ame out he gave h im a h andsome p ip e
o f red s and s tone and a bow and ar rows
S o the boy s tayed in th e Sky l and B ut soon he
found th at eve ry mo rn ing very ea rly the b rothe r left
the wigwam H e retu rned i n the evening and then
the s iste r l eft i t and was gone all night One d ay h e
”
”
“
“
s ai d to th e b rothe r
Let me go with you
Yes
s ai d the b roth er an d the nex t mo rn ing they s ta rted o f
f
The two travel ed a long whil e over a smooth p lain
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b ack f
’
At once the I ndi an youth awoke H e was i n the
ve ry p l ain where he had fallen asleep after h e h ad
blackened his face and begun his fast B ut his mother
s ai d he ha d been g one a yea r
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I
89
MYTH S AN D LE G EN D S O F
M oon asked them how th ey h a d foun d t h ei r way
Th ey we re ve ry fa r from thei r own l and They s aid
”
Fo r m any yea rs we h ave followed S un s trail
”
Sun s ai d
Do you know you r way home !
T hey
”
s aid N o
S o Sun took them up to th e ed g e o f the
wate r T hey coul d s e e the ea rth b ut they could not
s e e thei r own l and
“
Sun asked Why di d you follow me !
They s aid
“
”
We wished to s e e wh e re you l ived
S un s ai d I wi ll s end you home B ut fo r fou r days
you must not sp e ak a wo rd to any person I f you do
no t sp eak you sh all l ive long You S hall h ave much
”
we alth
Then Sun c alled to B u z z a rd
H e put the two
“
b rothe rs on B uzz a rd s back H e s ai d
Take them
”
back to ea rth
S o B uz z a rd started fo r th e earth
Now the clouds a re h al fway between heaven and
ea rth The wind neve r blows above the clouds so
they s ay
B uz z a rd fl ew f rom h eaven to th e clouds The
b rothers coul d eas ily keep thei r hold Then B uzz ard
fl ew from the clouds to the earth B ut now Wind blew
them in all di rections Then at l ast they came to ea rth
They s aw the trees a round thei r own vi llage They
rested und er th e trees An old m an p assing by knew
them
S o he went d own the trai l an d tol d thei r
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19 1
MYTH S AN D LE G EN D S O F
S UN A N D M OO N
M e n o m in i
N C E up on a time Ke so the S un an d h is
“
s is ter
Tip a k e so th e M oon the l as t ni g ht
”
l ived togethe r i n a wigwam in th e Eas t
su n
One d ay Sun d ress ed himself to go huntin g took h is
bows and a rrows and l eft H e was gone a long time
W hen h e d i d no t retu rn h is siste r became frightened
an d c ame out into the sk y to look fo r he r b rother A t
l as t he returne d b rin g ing with h im a b ea r w h ic h h e
h a d sho t
Moon s till comes up into the sky an d travels fo r
twenty d ays Then sh e d is ap p ea rs and fo r fou r d ays
nothing is seen o f he r At th e end o f the fou r days she
comes into the S ky again and travels twenty d ays mo re
H e wears an o tte r
S u n is a b eing like ou rselves
s k in about h is hea d
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192
TH E M I S S I S S I P P I VALLEY
TH E M OON P E RSON
B ilo x i
N O LD EN d ays th e M oon P e rson use d to m ake
visi ts to the I ndi ans One d ay a child put out a
di rty little h and and made a black spo t on Moon
Pe rson Therefo re M oon fel t ashamed and when
night came he dis app ea red H e went up above H e
s tays up above all the time now s o they s ay Some
times he is d ressed altogether in a S hining robe and
the refo re h e i s b right a t night B ut immedi ately afte r
wa rds he d isap p ears You c an still s e e the black sp ot
s o they s ay
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193
MYTH S AN D LE G EN D S OF
TH E STAR
C REATU RE S
C h e ro k e e
N E ni g ht hunte rs in th e mountains noticed two
shin in g ligh ts moving alon g the top of a
dis tan t ridge Afte r a whi le th e li g hts van
i sh e d on the o the r s i de
Thus they watched many
nights talking a round the c amp fi re
One mo rning they traveled to the ridge Then they
searched long At l as t they found two round c reatu res
covered wi th soft fu r o r downy feathe rs They h ad
small heads
Th en the hunters took thes e s trange c reatu res to thei r
camp They watched them I n the d ay they were
only balls o f gray fu r ; only when the b ree z e sti rred
thei r fu r then sp a rks fl ew ou t At nigh t they grew
b right and s hone like S tars
They kep t ve ry quiet They d i d not S ti r s o the
hunte rs d i d no t fasten them One night they sudd enly
rose from the ground like b alls o f fi re They went
above the tops o f the trees and then h igh e r unti l they
reached th e Sky l an d
S o the hunte rs knew they
w e re s ta rs
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194
TH E M I S S I S S I PP I VALLEY
M ETEO R S
M e n o m in i
H EN a s ta r falls from the sk y it leaves a fie ry
trail I t does not die I ts shade goes back
to its own pl ace to shine again The I nd ians
sometimes find the sm all s ta rs whe re they h ave fallen
i n th e g rass
...
...
195
MYTH S AN D L E G EN D S O F
TH E AU RO R A B O R E ALI S
M e n o m in i
N TH E Lan d o f th e N o rt h W in d live the
b a iw o k,
m an a
!
the gi ants o f whom ou r old p eop le tell
The m a n a b a zw o k a re ou r f ri ends but we do no t
They a re great hunters an d fish e r
s e e them any mo re
men Wheneve r they come out wi th thei r to rches to
sp ea r fish we know i t becaus e th e sky is bri g h t over
th at p l ace
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196
TH E M I S S I S S I P P I VALLEY
T H E WE ST WI ND
C h it i m a ch a
LI TTLE boy named U st ap u was one d ay lyin g
on the sho re o f a l ake H is p eop le h ad j ust
reached the sho re f rom the p rai ries b ut the
wind was too high fo r them to c ross
As he lay th ere he suddenly s aw anothe r boy fannin g
h imsel f with a fan of tu rkey wings This was the boy
wh o made the Wes t Wi nd U s t ap u s aid to his tribe
“
I can b reak the arm of the boy wh o makes Wes t
”
W ind
But they laughed at him H e took a shell
and th rew i t at the boy and struck his left a rm
The refo re when the wes t wind i s h igh the Indians
s ay that the boy i s using his s trong a rm
When the
west wind is a gentl e b ree z e they s ay he is using h is
inju red a rm B efo re that the west wind h ad alw ays
b een so st rong i t was very dis agreeable because Wind
make r could use both a rms Now i t is much g entler
Th e I ndi ans think this b oy also m ad e the other
W inds
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M Y TH S A N D L E G EN D S O F
T H E LON E LI G HTN I N G
Oj ib wa
T ON E time an o rp han b oy whose uncle was
ve ry unkind to h im ran away H e ran a long
way H e ran unti l nigh t
Then becaus e he
was af rai d o f wil d anim als he clim b ed i nto a tree in
the fo res t I t was a high p ine tree and he climbe d i nto
the fo rked b ranches o f i t
A p e rson came to h im from the up p e r sky H e s a id
“
Fo llow m e S tep i n my trail I h ave s een how
”
badly you a re treated
Then at once as the bo y
step p ed in h is trail he ros e hi g r and highe r i nto the
he
up p e r sky Then the p erson pu t twelve a rrows into
“
his h ands H e s aid The re a re evi l m an it o e s i n the
sk y
Go to war agains t them Shoo t them with you r
”
bow and a rrows
The boy went i nto the no rthe rn p a rt o f th e upp e r
sky Soon he s aw a m anito and shot at him B ut that
one s magi c was too strong Therefo re the shot failed
The re was only a s ingle s treak o f l ightning in th e
no rthe rn sk y yet the re was no s to rm and not even a
cloud
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198
F ro m R e p o r
t
o
f th e B
u re a u
o
f A m e ri c a n E
th n l
O JI B W A D A N C E R S B E A D E D
M E DI C I N E B AG
’
...
TH E M I S S I SS I P P I VAL LEY
E leven times the boy thus failed to kill a mani to an d
,
thus he h ad but one a rrow left H e hel d thi s in his
h ands a long while looking a round N ow the s e evil
m an i t o e s had ve ry s trong medicine
Th ey could
change thei r fo rm in a moment B ut they fea red the
boy s a rrows becaus e they were also S trong m agic And
becaus e they h ad been given to him by a goo d mani to
they h ad powe r to kill
At l as t the boy s aw th e chief o f the evi l m an it o e s
H e d rew his bow and sho t h is la s t arrow ; but the chief
s aw it coming
At once he ch anged himself into a rock
And the a rrow buri ed itself i n a c rack of the rock
“
The chief was very angry H e c ri ed
N ow you r
a rrows a re all gone ! And becaus e you h ave d a red to
”
shoot at m e you s hall become the trail o f you r a rrow
Thus at once h e changed the boy into N azh ik a
wawa the Lone Lightning
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2 00
TH E M I S S I S S I P P I VALLEY
M ONTH S OF TH E YEAR
N at ch e z
H E N atchez begin the yea r in M a rch each
being a lun a r month Therefo re there a re
thi rteen
I Dee r month
2 S trawbe rry month
Little C o rn month
3
Wate rmelon month
4
Peach month ! July )
5
6 Mulberry month
7 G reat C o rn month ! mai z e )
8 Tu rkey month ! October )
B ison month
9
10 B ea r month
I I C ol d meal month
J anuary )
!
12 C hestnut month
13 Nut month ! nuts b roken to m ake b read
at the
clos e o f winte r when sup p li es run low )
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20 3
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20 8
TH E M I S S I S S I P P I VALLEY
the trail b u t soon he tu rned and looked b ack There
was no co rnfield the re ; there were no p each trees o r
hous e
noth in g b ut trees on the mountain side S till
h e was no t frightened H e went on until he came to
the rive r trail i n sight of his home H e s aw many
p eop l e s tandin g a b out talking When they saw him
“
they ran towa rds him shoutin g H e re he is ! H e is
not d rowned o r killed in the mountains !
“
Then they sai d Whe re have you b een ! We h ave
”
been lookin g fo r you ever s ince yesterday noon
“
A man took me ove r to his hous e j us t across the
“
”
ridge said the boy
I thought U dsi skal a woul d
”
tell you whe re I was
I h ave no t s een you I was out all
U d i skal a s aid
s
d ay i n my canoe looking fo r you I t was one o f the
”
N u n n e h i wh o m ade himsel f look like me
“
H is mothe r s aid
You s ay you had p lenty to eat
”
there !
”
“
Yes s aid the boy
”
“
The re is no house th ere his mother answere d
“
There is nothing there but trees and rocks but we
hea r a d rum sometimes in the big b ald p eak above
”
The p eop le you s aw we re t h e N u n n e h i
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209
M YTH S AN D L E G EN D S O F
TH E L ITTLE P EOPLE
C h e ro k e e
H E R E is ano the r race o f s p i rits the Little
Peop le They l ive in rock caves and in the
mountain sid e They h a rdly reach to a man s
knee b ut they a re very handsome wi th lon g h ai r fall
ing to th e ground They wo rk wonde rs an d a re fon d
o f mus ic They s pend h al f thei r time d rumming an d
dancing I f thei r d rum is hea rd i n lonely p l aces in
the mountains i t is no t s afe to follow i t They do not
l ike to b e distu rbed and they th row a sp ell over p eop le
And even when such a p e rson at
wh o annoy them
l as t g ets back home he s eems d az ed
S ometimes th e Little Peop le come nea r a house at
nigh t but even i f p eop le h ea r them talking they mus t
not g o out And i n the mo rning th e co rn is gathere d
o r the field clea red as i f a great many p eop le h ad been
at wo rk
When a hunte r finds a kni fe i n the woo d s h e must
“
”
s ay
Li ttle P eopl e I want to take this b ecause i t
m ay b elong to them Othe rw is e they may th row
s tones at h im as h e goes home
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TH E M I S S I S S I P P I VALLEY
The re a re othe r S p i rits The W ate r Dwellers live
i n the wate r an d fishe rmen p ray to them
The re a re also the hunter sp i rits who are very hand
Sometimes they help the hunte rs but when
s ome
someone trips and falls we know one of thes e hunter
sp i rits trip p ed him up
Then there is Det s ata Det sata was once a b oy
wh o ran away f rom h is home
H e has a great many
child ren wh o a re all j us t like him and h ave h is n ame
When a flock o f bi rds flies up suddenly as i f f rightened
i t is b ecause Det sata is ch asing them H e is mis
c h ie v u s and sometimes hides an a rrow from the bi rd
o
hunte r wh o may have shot it o f into a perfectly clea r
f
s p ace but looks and looks without finding i t
Then the hunte r s ays Det s ata you h ave my a rrow
”
I f you do not give i t up I ll sc ratch you
When he
looks again he finds it
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2 11
M Y TH S AN D L E G EN D S O F
WA R S ON G
Oj ib wa
F rom the p lace o f the S outh
They come
F rom the p l ace o f the S ou t h
They come
Th e b i rds o f wa r
H ea r th e sound of thei r p assin g sc reams
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2 12
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th e
ai r
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2 13
MY TH S AN D LEG EN D S O F
TH E
C OM IN G
O F TH E WH ITE MA N
Wya n do t
O W i n e arly d ays the Wyandots l ived a b out
the S t L awrence R ive r in the mountains to
th e eastward They we re the firs t tribe of old
They h ad the firs t chieftainship The chief s ai d to h is
nephews the L e n apé e s
Go down to the s eacoas t and look I f y ou se e an y
”
thin g come an d tell me
Now th e L e n ap é e s h ad a vill age b y the s e a They
o ften looked out but they s aw nothing One day
someth ing came When i t came nea r the l an d i t
s topp ed Th en the p eop l e we re a fraid Th ey ran into
the woods Th e ne x t d ay two In di ans went qui etl y
to look I t was lyin g there in the wate r Then some
th ing j us t l ike i t c ame ou t o f i t and walked on t wo le g s
1
ove r the wate r
When i t came to the land two men
s tep p ed out o f i t They were d i f erent from us They
f
made si g ns fo r the L e n ap é e s to com e out o f the woo d s
They g ave p resents T h en t h e L e n apé e s g ave them
skin clothes
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b oat
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Title: Myths and Legends of the Mississippi Valleyand the Great Lakes
Description: Mystery, magic, and manitoes abound in the land of Hiawatha, in the land of the Ojibwas, among the green islands, graceful and beautiful, lying amidst the dancing blue waters when the sun shines over Gitche Gomee, the Great Water. Manitoes, great and mighty, lived in the cool depths of the mighty forests, in the rivers and lakes, and even in the snows of winter. And adventures there were in those early days amongst these islands of the North, when manitoes directed the affairs of men. But the animal fathers lived upon the earth before there came the "two-legged walkers." There were many animals. There were many beavers. It was the beavers who made Gitchee Gomee, the Great Water. They made it by building two dams. The first they built at the Grand Sault, and the second was five leagues below. When Great Hare came up the river, he said "This must not be so." Therefore he stepped upon the first dam. But he was in haste.
Description: Mystery, magic, and manitoes abound in the land of Hiawatha, in the land of the Ojibwas, among the green islands, graceful and beautiful, lying amidst the dancing blue waters when the sun shines over Gitche Gomee, the Great Water. Manitoes, great and mighty, lived in the cool depths of the mighty forests, in the rivers and lakes, and even in the snows of winter. And adventures there were in those early days amongst these islands of the North, when manitoes directed the affairs of men. But the animal fathers lived upon the earth before there came the "two-legged walkers." There were many animals. There were many beavers. It was the beavers who made Gitchee Gomee, the Great Water. They made it by building two dams. The first they built at the Grand Sault, and the second was five leagues below. When Great Hare came up the river, he said "This must not be so." Therefore he stepped upon the first dam. But he was in haste.