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was
still there。 He shot the first arrow with great precision； and
came
very near to it。 The second came still closer； as he took the
last
arrow； he felt his arm firmer； and； drawing it up with vigor； saw
it
pass through the neck of the swan a little above the breast。
Still
it did not prevent the bird from flying off； which it did；
however；
at first slowly； flapping its wings and rising gradually into the
airs and teen flying off toward the sinking of the sun。〃 pp。
10…
12。
When I think of my beloved。
The original of this song may be found in Oneota； p。 15。
Sing the mysteries of Mondamin。
The Indians hold the maize； or Indian corn； in great veneration。
〃They esteem it so important and divine a grain；〃 says
Schoolcraft；
〃that their story…tellers invented various tales； in which this
idea
is symbolized under the form of a special gift from the Great
Spirit。 The Odjibwa…Algonquins； who call it Mon…da…min； that is；
the Spirit's grain or berry； have a pretty story of this kind； in
which the stalk in full tassel is represented as descending from
the
sky； under the guise of a handsome youth； in answer to the
prayers
of a young man at his fast of virility； or coming to manhood。
〃It is well known that corn…planting and corn…gathering； at least
among all the still uncolonized tribes； are left entirely to the
females and children； and a few superannuated old men。 It is not
generally known； perhaps； that this labor is not compulsory； and
that it is assumed by the females as a just equivalent； in their
view； for the onerous and continuous labor of the other sex； in
providing meats； and skins for clothing； by the chase； and in
defending their villages against their enemies； and keeping
intruders off their territories。 A good Indian housewife deems
this
a part of her prerogative； and prides herself to have a store of
corn to exercise her hospitality； or duly honor her husband's
hospitality； in the entertainment of the lodge guests。〃
Oneota；
p。 82。
Thus the fields shall be more fruitful。
〃A singular proof of this belief； in both sexes； of the
mysterious
influence of the steps of a woman on the vegetable and in sect
creation； is found in an ancient custom； which was related to me；
respecting corn…planting。 It was the practice of the hunter's
wife；
when the field of corn had been planted； to choose the first dark
or
overclouded evening to perform a secret circuit； sans
habillement；
around the field。 For this purpose she slipped out of the lodge
in
the evening； unobserved； to some obscure nook； where she
completely
disrobed。 Then； taking her matchecota； or principal garment； in
one
hand； she dragged it around the field。 This was thought to
insure a
prolific crop； and to prevent the assaults of insects and worms
upon
the grain。 It was supposed they could not creep over the charmed
line。〃 Oneota； p。 83。
With his prisoner…string he bound him。
〃These cords；〃 says Mr。 Tanner 〃are made of the bark of the elm…
tree； by boiling and then immersing it in cold water。 。 。 。 The
leader of a war party commonly carries several fastened about his
waist； and if； in the course of the fight； any one of his young
men
take a prisoner； it is his duty to bring him immediately to the
chief； to be tied； and the latter is responsible for his safe
keeping。〃 Narrative of Captivity and Adventures； p。 412。
Wagemin； the thief of cornfields；
Paimosaid； who steals the maize…ear。
〃If one of the young female huskers finds a red ear of corn； it
is
typical of a brave admirer； and is regarded as a fitting present
to
some young warrior。 But if the ear be crooked； and tapering to a
point； no matter what color； the whole circle is set in a roar；
and
wa…ge…min is the word shouted aloud。 It is the symbol of a thief
in
the cornfield。 It is considered as the image of an old man
stooping
as he enters the lot。 Had the chisel of Praxiteles been employed
to
produce this image； it could not more vividly bring to the minds
of
the merry group the idea of a pilferer of their favorite
mondamin。 。
。 。
〃The literal meaning of the term is； a mass； or crooked ear of
grain； but the ear of corn so called is a conventional type of a
little old man pilfering ears of corn in a cornfield。 It is in
this
manner that a single word or term； in these curious languages；
becomes the fruitful parent of many ideas。 And we can thus
perceive
why it is that the word wagemin is alone competent to excite
merriment in the husking circle。
〃This term is taken as the basis of the cereal chorus； or corn
song；
as sung by the Northern Algonquin tribes。 It is coupled with the
phrase Paimosaid；a permutative form of the Indian substantive；
made from the verb pim…o…sa； to walk。 Its literal meaning is； he
who walks； or the walker； but the ideas conveyed by it are； he
who
walks by night to pilfer corn。 It offers； therefore； a kind of
parallelism in expression to the preceding term。〃 Oneota； p。
254。
Pugasaing； with thirteen pieces。
This Game of the Bowl is the principal game of hazard among the
Northern tribes of Indians。 Mr。 Schoolcraft gives a particular
account of it in Oneota； p。 85。 〃This game；〃 he says； 〃is very
fascinating to some portions of the Indians。 They stake at it
their
ornaments； weapons； clothing； canoes； horses； everything in fact
they possess； and have been known； it is said； to set up their
wives
and children and even to forfeit their own liberty。 Of such
desperate stakes I have seen no examples； nor do I think the game
itself in common use。 It is rather confined to certain persons；
who
hold the relative rank of gamblers in Indian society；men who
are
not noted as hunters or warriors； or steady providers for their
families。 Among these are persons who bear the term of
Iena…dizze…
wug； that is； wanderers about the country； braggadocios； or fops。
It can hardly be classed with the popular games of amusement； by
which skill and dexterity are acquired。 I have generally found
the
chiefs and graver men of the tribes； who encouraged the young men
to
play ball； and are sure to be present at the customary sports； to
witness； and sanction； and applaud them； speak lightly and
disparagingly of this game of hazard。 Yet it cannot be denied
that
some of the chiefs； distinguished in war and the chase； at the
West；
can be referred to as lending their example to its fascinating
power。〃
See also his history； Condition； and Prospects of the Indian
Tribes；
Part II； p。 72。
To the Pictured Rocks of sandstone。
The reader will find a long description of the Pictured Rocks in
Foster and Whitney's Report on the Geology of the Lake Superior
L