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York。
On the Mountains of the Prairie。
Mr。 Catlin； in his Letters and Notes on the Manners； Customs； and
Condition of the North American Indians； Vol。 II p。 160； gives an
interesting account of the Coteau des Prairies； and the Red Pipe…
stone Quarry。 He says：
〃Here （according to their traditions） happened the mysterious
birth
of the red pipe； which has blown its fumes of peace and war to
the
remotest corners of the continent； which has visited every
warrior；
and passed through its reddened stem the irrevocable oath of war
and
desolation。 And here； also； the peace…breathing calumet was
born；
and fringed with the eagle's quills； which has shed its thrilling
fumes over the land； and soothed the fury of the relentless
savage。
〃The Great Spirit at an ancient period here called the Indian
nations together； and； standing on the precipice of the red pipe…
stone rock； broke from its wall a piece； and made a huge pipe by
turning it in his hand； which he smoked over them； and to the
North；
the South； the East； and the West； and told them that this stone
was
red；that it was their flesh；that they must use it for their
pipes of peace；that it belonged to them all； and that the
war…club
and scalping…knife must not be raised on its ground。 At the last
whiff of his pipe his head went into a great cloud； and the whole
surface of the rock for several miles was melted and glazed； two
great ovens were opened beneath； and two women （guardian spirits
of
the place） entered them in a blaze of fire； and they are heard
there
yet （Tso…mec…cos…tee aud Tso…me…cos…te…won…dee）； answering to the
invocations of the high…priests or medicine…men； who consult them
when they are visitors to this sacred place。〃
Hark you； Bear！ you are a coward。
This anecdote is from Heckewelder。 In his account of the Indian
Nations； he describes an Indian hunter as addressing a bear in
nearly these words。 〃I was present；〃 he says； 〃at the delivery
of
this curious invective； when the hunter had despatched the bear；
I
asked him how he thought that poor animal could understand what
he
said to it。 'O；' said he in answer； 'the bear understood me very
well； did you not observe how ashamed he looked while I was
upbraiding him？〃'Transactions of the American Philosophical
Society； Vol。 I。 p。 240。
Hush！ the Naked Bear will hear thee！
Heckewelder； in a letter published in the Transactions of the
American Philosophical Society； Vol。 IV。 p。 260； speaks of this
tradition as prevalent among the Mohicans and Delawares。
〃Their reports；〃 he says； 〃run thus： that among all animals that
had
been formerly in this country； this was the most ferocious； that
it
was much larger than the largest of the common bears； and
remarkably
long…bodied； all over （except a spot of hair on its back of a
white
color） naked。 。 。 。 。
〃The history of this animal used to be a subject of conversation
among the Indians； especially when in the woods a hunting。 I
have
also heard them say to their children when crying： 'Hush！ the
naked
bear will hear you； be upon you； and devour you；'〃
Where the Falls of Minnehaha； etc。
〃The scenery about Fort Snelling is rich in beauty。 The Falls of
St。 Anthony are familiar to travellers； and to readers of Indian
sketches。 Between the fort and these falls are the 'Little
Falls；'
forty feet in height； on a stream that empties into the
Mississippi。
The Indians called them Mine…hah…hah； or 'laughing waters。'〃
MRS。
EASTMAN'S Dacotah； or Legends of the Sioux； Introd。； p。 ii。
Sand Hills of the Nagow Wudjoo。
A description of the Grand Sable； or great sand…dunes of Lake
Superior； is given in Foster and Whitney's Report on the Geology
of
the Lake Superior Land District； Part II。 p。 131。
〃The Grand Sable possesses a scenic interest little inferior to
that
of the Pictured Rocks。 The explorer passes abruptly from a coast
of
consolidated sand to one of loose materials； and although in the
one
case the cliffs are less precipitous； yet in the other they
attain a
higher altitude。 He sees before him a long reach of coast；
resembling a vast sand…bank； more than three hundred and fifty
feet
in height； without a trace of vegetation。 Ascending to the top；
rounded hillocks of blown sand are observed； with occasional
clumps
of trees standing out like oases in the desert。〃
Onaway！ Awake； beloved！
The original of this song may be found in Littell's Living Age；
Vol。
XXV。 p。 45。
On the Red Swan floating； flying。
The fanciful tradition of the Red Swan may be found in
Schoolcraft's
Algic Researches； Vol。 II。 p。 9。 Three brothers were hunting on
a
wager to see who would bring home the first game。
〃They were to shoot no other animal；〃 so the legend says； 〃but
such
as each was in the habit of killing。 They set out different
ways：
Odjibwa； the youngest； had not gone far before he saw a bear； an
animal he was not to kill； by the agreement。 He followed him
close；
and drove an arrow through him； which brought him to the ground。
Although contrary to the bet； he immediately commenced skinning
him；
when suddenly something red tinged all the air around him。 He
rubbed his eyes； thinking he was perhaps deceived； but without
effect； for the red hue continued。 At length he heard a strange
noise at a distance。 It first appeared like a human voice； but
after following the sound for some distance； he reached the
shores
of a lake； and soon saw the object he was looking for。 At a
distance out in the lake sat a most beautiful Red Swan； whose
plumage glittered in the sun； and who would now and then make the
same noise he had heard。 He was within long bow…shot； and；
pulling
the arrow from the bowstring up to his ear； took deliberate aim
and
shot。 The arrow took no effect； and he shot and shot again till
his
quiver was empty。 Still the swan remained； moving round and
round；
stretching its long neck and dipping its bill into the water； as
if
heedless of the arrows shot at it。 Odjibwa ran home； and got all
his own and his brother's arrows and shot them all away。 He then
stood and gazed at the beautiful bird。 While standing； he
remembered his brother's saying that in their deceased father's
medicine…sack were three magic arrows。 Off he started； his
anxiety
to kill the swan overcoming all scruples。 At any other time； he
would have deemed it sacrilege to open his father's
medicine…sack；
but now he hastily seized the three arrows and ran back； leaving
the
other contents of the sack scattered over the lodge。 The swan
was
still there。 He shot the first arrow with great precision； and
came
very near to it。 The second came still closer； as he took the
last
ar