Indian Legends of Minnesota Part 17

[Footnote 35: _Pe-boan_, Winter, is represented as an old man with long white hair and beard.]

[Footnote 36: _Segun_ is Spring (or Summer). This beautiful allegory has been "done into verse" by Longfellow in _Hiawatha_. Longfellow evidently took his version from Schoolcraft. I took mine originally from the lips of _Pah-go-nay-gie-shiek_--"Hole-in-the-day,"--(the elder), in his day head-chief of the Ojibways. I afterward submitted it to _Gitche Shabash-Konk_, head-chief of the _Misse-sah-ga-e-gun_ --(Mille Lac's band of Ojibways), who p.r.o.nounced it correct.

"Hole-in-the-day," although sanctioned by years of unchallenged use, is a bad translation of _Pah-go-nay-gie-shiek_, which means a _clear spot in the sky_.

He was a very intelligent man; had been in Washington several times on business connected with his people, and was always shrewd enough to look out for himself in all his treaties and transactions with the Government. He stood six feet two inches in his moccasins, was well-proportioned, and had a remarkably fine face. He had a nickname-- _Que-we-zanc_ (Little Boy)--by which he was familiarly called by his people.

The Pillagers--_Nah-kand-tway-we-nin-ni-wak_--who live about Leech Lake (_Kah-sah-gah-squah-g-me-c.o.c.k_) were opposed to _Pa-go-nay-gie-shiek_, but he compelled them through fear to recognize him as Head-Chief. At the time of the "Sioux outbreak" in 1862 "Hole-in-the-day" for a time apparently meditated an alliance with the Po-ah-nuck (Dakotas) and war upon the whites. The Pillagers and some other bands urged him strongly to this course, and his supremacy as head-chief was threatened unless he complied. Messengers from the Dakotas were undoubtedly received by him, and he, for a time at least, led the Dakotas to believe that their hereditary enemies, the Ojibways, would bury the hatchet and join them in a war of extermination against the whites. "Hole-in-the-day," with a band of his warriors, appeared opposite Fort Ripley (situated on the west bank of the Mississippi River between Little Falls and Crow Wing), and a.s.sumed a threatening att.i.tude toward the fort, then garrisoned by volunteer troops. The soldiers were drawn up on the right bank and "Hole-in-the-day" and his warriors on the left. A little speech-making settled the matter for the time being and very soon thereafter a new treaty was made with "Hole-in-the-day" and his head men, by which their friendship and allegiance were secured to the whites. It was claimed by the Pillagers that "Hole-in-the-day" seized the occasion to profit personally in his negotiations with the agents of the Government.

In 1867 "Hole-in-the-day" took "another wife." He married Helen McCarty, a white woman, in Washington, D. C., and took her to his home at Gull Lake (_Ka-ga-ya-skunc-c.o.c.k_) literally, _plenty of little gulls_.

She bore him a son who is known as Joseph H. Woodbury, and now (1891) resides in the city of Minneapolis. His marriage with a white woman increased the hatred of the Pillagers, and they shot him from ambush and killed him near _Ninge-ta-we-de-gua-yonk_--Crow Wing--on the 27th day of June, 1868.

At the time of his death, "Hole-in-the-day" was only thirty-seven years old, but had been recognized as Head-Chief for a long time. He could speak some English, and was far above the average of white men in native shrewdness and intelligence. He was thoroughly posted in the traditions and legends of his people.

The Ojibways have for many years been cursed by contact with the worst elements of the whites, and seem to have adopted the vices rather than the virtues of civilization. I once spoke of this to "Hole-in-the-day." His reply was terse and truthful--"_Madge tche-mo-ko-mon, madge a-nische-nabe: menoge tche-mo-ko-mon, meno a-nische-nabe._--Bad white men, bad Indians: good white men, good Indians."]

[Footnote 37: _Nah_--look, see. _Nashke_--behold.]

[Footnote 38: _Kee-zis_--the sun,--the father of life. _Waubunong_--or _Waub-o-nong_--is the White Land or Land of Light,--the Sunrise, the East.]

[Footnote 39: The Bridge of Stars spans the vast sea of the skies, and the sun and moon walk over on it.]

[Footnote 40: The _Miscodeed_ is a small white flower with a pink border. It is the earliest blooming wild flower on the sh.o.r.es of Lake Superior, and belongs to the crocus family.]

[Footnote 41: The _Ne-be-naw-baigs_, are Water-spirits; they dwell in caverns in the depths of the lake, and in some respects resemble the _Unktehee_ of the Dakotas.]

[Footnote 42: _Ogema_, Chief,--_Oge-ma-kwa_--female Chief. Among the Algonkin tribes women are sometimes made chiefs. _Net-no-kwa_, who adopted Tanner as her son, was _Oge-ma-kwa_ of a band of Ottawas. See _John Tanner's Narrative_, p. 36.]

[Footnote 43: The "Bridge of Souls" leads from the earth over dark and stormy waters to the spirit-land. The "Dark River" seems to have been a part of the superst.i.tions of all nations.]

[Footnote 44: The _Jossakeeds_ of the Ojibways are soothsayers who are able, by the aid of spirits, to read the past as well as the future.]

DEATH OF WINONA.

Mr. Gordon has taken for his theme the love of the beautiful maiden Winona for Du Luth the explorer. He leaves her to continue his travels, and she, driven to desperation at the thought of marriage with Tauedoka, whom she loathes, takes her life.

[Footnote 45: The Dakota name for the Mississippi.]

[Footnote 46: Wild geese.]

[Footnote 47: Lake Pepin: by Hennepin called the Lake of Tears.--Called by the Dakotas Pem-uee-chah-mday--Lake of the Mountain.]

[Footnote 48: The rock from which Winona leaped was formerly perpendicular to the water's edge and she leaped into the lake. The rock to-day is crumbled and the waters have receded to some distance from the rock. Winona's spirit is said to still haunt the lake.]