Myths And Legends of the Mississippi Valley And the Great Lakes

ning. He said, " Why did the Good Spirit send death so soon? " The Good Mystery heard this. He called a great council. He said, " Man is not happy. I have made him very frail, therefore death happens. What shall we do?" The council lasted six days, and there was not a breath of air to disturb the waters. The seventh was the nageezhik, the excellent day. The sky was blue and there were no clouds. On that day Gitche Manito sent down a messenger to earth. In his right hand was a piece of white hare's skin, and in the left the head of a white-headed eagle. On each was the blue stripe of peace. The messenger said, " Gitche Manito sent me. He has heard your words. You must obey his commands." Then he gave to the Indians the hare's skin, the eagle's head, and a white otter skin with the blue stripe of peace. Thus Gitche Manito taught the Indians how to make magic and how to be strong. CREATION (A fragment) Ojibwa ENG ago, Nokomis came down from Sky-land, but remained fluttering in mid air. There was no place on which to rest her foot. The Fishes at once held a great council. Now Tortoise had a shell-covered back, very broad. After the council, he rose to the surface so that Nokomis might rest upon his back. Then the drift-masses of the sea gathered about the Tortoise. Thus the land was made. Then Nokomis found herself alone on the land. So she married a manido from the Sky-land. Two sons had Nokomis ? twin brothers. But the brothers were not f...