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."
[20] _Nah_--look, see. _Nashke_--behold.
[21] _Kee-zis_--the sun,--the father of life. _Waubunong_--or
_Waub-o-nong_--is the White Land or Land of Light,--the Sun-rise, the
East.
[22] The Bridge of Stars spans the vast sea of the skies, and the sun and
moon walk over on it.
[23] The _Miscodeed_ is a small white flower with a pink border. It is the
earliest blooming wild flower on the shores of Lake Superior, and
belongs to the crocus family.
[24] 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.
[25] _Ogema_, Chief,--_Oge-ma-kwa_--female Chief. Among the Algonkin
tribes women are sometimes made chiefs.
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