Myths and Legends of the MacKinacs and the Lake Region

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1897. Excerpt: ... GHOST DANCE. THE days of Indian Summer were usually devoted to the annual games and thankofferings of the Indians, which young men and old, women and maidens, toddling babes and well-swaddled papooses, gathered to engage in or witness, each brilliant with additional paint and plumage, and lending the touch of color which gay blankets and bright embroideries alone can produce, and all eager to see the prizes secured by their favorites. The racing, climbing, leaping, and wrestling matches were over and the prizes about to be awarded, when a ferocious grizzly bear invaded the space set apart for the sports, to be fought and killed by young To-wah-bic, who had already won the white feather for the most difficult climbing, to which was added a fine string of wampum beads as a tribute to his bravery and skill in the dispatch of Bear. This compliment so inflamed his zeal and pride that he determined to enter the swimming contest, to win, if possible, the royal canoe which was offered as a prize. Michibou thus far had smiled upon the efforts of To-wah-bic, but as the day wore on the Manitou repented of his partiality, and, deeming the avaricious disposition exhibited by the youth as unworthy of a brave, determined on his punishment. He frowned upon the young man, and resolved upon his death. As To-wah-bic with the other contestants struck out for the stake to which the valuable prize was secured, the voice of the angry god was heard ordering in thunder tones his blackest and most forbidding clouds to hide the descending sun, while the lightning terrors of his eyes flashed through the scudding clouds, sending all but two of the terrified swimmers back to the safety of the shallows. By the lurid gleams of the lightning the two determined ones were seen breasting th...