Legends of the Northwest Part 15

Many summers on the highland, in the full-moon's golden glow-- In the woods on Fairy Island, [b] walked a snow white fawn and doe Spirits of the babe and mother sadly seeking evermore, For a father's love another turned with evil charm and power.

[a] p.r.o.nounced Walk on--Sacred, inhabited by a Spirit.

[b] Fairy Island--Wita Waste--Nicollet Island.

Sometimes still when moonbeams s.h.i.+mmer through the maples on the lawn, In the gloaming and the glimmer walk the silent doe and fawn; And on Spirit-Isle or near it, under midnight's misty moon, Oft is seen the mother's spirit, oft is heard her mournful tune.

[Ill.u.s.tration: SCENE ON THUNDER BAY, LAKE SUPERIOR.]

THE SEAGULL. [101]

THE LEGEND OF THE PICTURED ROCKS OF LAKE SUPERIOR. OJIBWAY.

IN THE MEASURE OF HIAWATHA

(The numerals 1 2 etc., refer to Notes to Sea-Gull in Appendix.)

On the sh.o.r.e of Gitchee Gumee--[102]

Deep, mysterious, mighty waters--Where the manitoes--the spirits-- Ride the storms and speak in thunder, In the days of Neme-Shomis, [103]

In the days that are forgotten, Dwelt a tall and tawny hunter-- Gitchee Pez-ze-u--the panther, Son of Waub-Ojeeg, [104] the warrior, Famous Waub-Ojeeg, the warrior.

Strong was he and fleet as roebuck, Brave was he and very stealthy; On the deer crept like a panther; Grappled with Makwa, [105] the monster, Grappled with the bear and conquered; Took his black claws for a necklet, Took his black hide for a blanket.

When the Panther wed the Sea-Gull, Young was he and very gladsome; Fair was she and full of laughter; Like the robin in the spring time, Sang from sunrise till the sunset; For she loved the handsome hunter.

Deep as Gitchee Gumee's waters Was her love--as broad and boundless; And the wedded twain were happy-- Happy as the mated robins.

When their first born saw the sunlight Joyful was the heart of Panther, Proud and joyful was the mother.

All the days were full of suns.h.i.+ne; All the nights were full of star light.

Nightly from the land of spirits On them smiled the starry faces,-- Faces of their friends departed.

Little moccasins she made him, Feathered cap and belt of wampum; From the hide of fawn a blanket, Fringed with feathers soft as sable; Singing at her pleasant labor, By her side the tekenagun [106]

And the little hunter in it.

Oft the Panther smiled and fondled, Smiled upon the babe and mother, Frolicked with the boy and fondled.

Tall he grew and like his father, And they called the boy the Raven-- Called him Kak-kah-ge--the Raven.

Happy hunter was the Panther.

From the woods he brought the pheasant, Brought the red deer and the rabbit, Brought the trout from Gitchee Gumee--

Brought the mallard from the marshes,-- Royal feast for boy and mother: Brought the hides of fox and beaver, Brought the skins of mink and otter, Lured the loon and took his blanket, Took his blanket for the Raven.

Winter swiftly followed winter,

And again the tekenagun Held a babe--a tawny daughter, Held a dark-eyed, dimpled daughter; And they called her Waub-omee-mee,-- Thus they named her--the White-Pigeon.

But as winter followed winter Cold and sullen grew the Panther; Sat and smoked his pipe in silence; When he spoke he spoke in anger; In the forest often tarried Many days, and homeward turning, Brought no game unto his wigwam: Only brought his empty quiver, Brought his dark and sullen visage.

Sad at heart and very lonely Sat the Sea-Gull in the wigwam; Sat and swung the tekenagun, Sat and sang to Waub-omee-mee; Thus she sang to Waub-omee-mee, Thus the lullaby she chanted:

Wa-wa, wa-wa, wa-we-yea; Kah-ween, nee-zheka ke-diaus-ai, Ke-gah nau-wai, ne-me-go s'ween, Ne-baun, ne-baun, ne-daun-is-ais, Wa-wa, wa-wa, wa-we-yea;

Ne-baun, ne-baun, ne-daun-is-ais,

E-we wa-wa, wa-we-yea, E-we wa-wa, wa-we-yea,

[TRANSLATION]

Swing, swing little one, lullaby; Thou'rt not left alone to weep; Mother cares for you,--she is nigh; Sleep, my little one, sweetly sleep; Swing, swing, little one, lullaby; Mother watches you--she is nigh; Gently, gently, wee one swing; Gently, gently, while I sing

E-we wa-wa--lullaby, E-we wa-wa?-lullaby.

Homeward to his lodge returning Kindly greeting found the hunter, Fire to warm and food to nourish, Golden trout from Gitchee Gumee, Caught by Kak-kah-ge--the Raven.

With a snare he caught the rabbit-- Caught Wabose, the furry footed, [107]

Caught Penay, the forest drummer; [107]

Sometimes with his bow and arrows, Shot the red deer in the forest.

Shot the squirrel in the pine top, Shot Ne-ka, the wild goose, flying.

Proud as Waub-Ojeeg, the warrior, To the lodge he bore his trophies So when homeward turned the Panther Ever found he food provided, Found the lodge-fire brightly burning, Found the faithful Sea-Gull waiting.

"You are cold," she said, "and famished; Here are fire and food, my husband."

Not by word or look he answered; Only ate the food provided, Filled, his pipe and pensive puffed it, Smoked and sat in sullen silence.

Once--her dark eyes full of hunger-- Thus she spoke and thus besought him: "Tell me, O my silent Panther, Tell me, O beloved husband, What has made you sad and sullen?

Have you met some evil spirit-- Met some goblin in the forest?

Has he put a spell upon you-- Filled your heart with bitter waters, That you sit so sad and sullen, Sit and smoke, but never answer, Only when the storm is on you?"

Gruffly then the Panther answered: "Brave among the brave is Panther, Son of Waub-Ojeeg, the warrior, And the brave are ever silent; But a whining dog is woman, Whining ever like a coward."

Forth into the tangled forest, Threading through the th.o.r.n.y thickets, Treading, trails on marsh and meadow, Sullen strode the moody hunter.

Saw he not the bear or beaver, Saw he not the elk or roebuck; From his path the red fawn scampered, But no arrow followed after; From his den the sly wolf listened, But no tw.a.n.g of bow-string heard he.

Like one walking in his slumber, Listless, dreaming walked the Panther; Surely had some witch bewitched him, Some bad spirit of the forest.

When the Sea-Gull wed the Panther, Fair was she and full of laughter; Like the robin in the spring-time, Sang from sunrise till the sunset; But the storms of many winters Sifted frost upon her tresses, Seamed her tawny face with wrinkles.

Not alone the storms of winters Seamed her tawny face with wrinkles.

Twenty winters for the Panther Had she ruled the humble wigwam; For her haughty lord and master Borne the burdens on the journey, Gathered f.a.gots for the lodge-fire, Tanned the skins of bear and beaver, Tanned the hides of moose and red deer; Made him moccasins and leggings, Decked his hood with quills and feathers-- Colored quills of Kaug, the th.o.r.n.y, [108]

Feathers from Kenew--the eagle. [108]

For a warrior brave was Panther; Often had he met the foemen, Met the bold and fierce Dakotas; Westward on the war-path met them; And the scalps he won were numbered, Numbered seven by Kenew-feathers.

Sad at heart was Sea-Gull waiting, Watching, waiting in the wigwam; Not alone the storms of winters Sifted frost upon her tresses.

Ka-be-bon-ik-ka, the mighty, [109]

He that sends the cruel winter, He that turned to stone the Giant, From the distant Thunder-mountain, Far across broad Gitchee Gumee, Sent his warning of the winter, Sent the white frost and Kewaydin, [1010]

Sent the swift and hungry North-wind.

Homeward to the South the Summer Turned and fled the naked forests.

With the Summer flew the robin, Flew the bobolink and blue-bird.

Flock wise following chosen leaders, Like the shaftless heads of arrows Southward cleaving through the ether, Soon the wild geese followed after.

One long moon the Sea-Gull waited, Watched and waited for her husband, Till at last she heard his footsteps, Heard him coming through the thicket.

Forth she went to meet her husband, Joyful went to greet her husband.

Lo behind the haughty hunter, Closely following in his footsteps, Walked a young and handsome woman, Walked the Red Fox from the island-- Gitchee Menis--the Grand Island,-- Followed him into the wigwam, Proudly took her seat beside him.

On the Red Fox smiled the hunter, On the hunter smiled the woman.