🧚 In the Measure of Hiawatha, part 3

[Footnote 3: Pronounced Wah-zeé-yah.1 The god of the North, or Winter.2 A fabled spirit who dwells in the frozen North, in a great teepee of ice and snow.3 From his mouth and nostrils he blows the cold blasts of winter.4 He and "I-tó-ka-ga Wi-câs-ta"--the spirit or god of the South (literally the "South Man"), are inveterate enemies, and always on the war-path against each other.5 In winter Wa-zí-ya advances southward and drives "I-tó-ka-ga Wi-câs-ta" before him to the Summer-Islands.6 But in Spring the god of the South, having renewed his youth and strength, in the "Happy Hunting Grounds," is able to drive Wa-zí-ya back again to his icy wigwam in the North.7 Some Dakotas say that the numerous granite boulders, scattered over the prairies of Minnesota and Dakota, were hurled in battle by Wa-zí-ya from his home in the North at "I-tó-ka-ga Wi-câs-ta."8 The Wa-zí-ya of the Dakotas is substantially the name as "_Ka-be-bón-ik-ka_"--the "Winter-maker" of the Ojibways.]9

[Footnote 4: Mendota--(meeting of the waters) at the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers.10 See view of the valley—front cut.11 The true Dakota word is Mdó tè--applied to the mouth of a river flowing into another,--also to the outlet of a lake.]12

[Footnote 5: Pronounced Wee-wâh-stay; literally--a beautiful virgin, or woman.]13

[Footnote 6: Cetân-wa-ká-wa-mâni--"He who shoots pigeon-hawks walking"--was the full Dakota name of the grandfather of the celebrated "Little Crow" (Ta-ó-ya-te-dú-ta.--His Red People) who led his warriors in the terrible outbreak in Minnesota in 1862-3.14 The Chippewas called the grandfather "Kâ-kâ-keé"--crow or raven--from his war-badge, a crow-skin; and hence the French traders and _courriers du bois_ called him "_Petit Corbeau_"--Little Crow.15 This sobriquet, of which he was proud, descended to his son, Wakínyan Tânka--Big Thunder, who succeeded him as chief; and from Big Thunder to his son Ta-ó-ya-te-dú-ta, who became chief on the death of Wakínyan Tânka.16 These several "Little Crows" were successively Chiefs of the Light-foot, or Kapóza band of Dakotas.17 Kapóza, the principal village of this band, was originally located on the east bank of the Mississippi near the site of the city of St. Paul.18 Col. Minn.19 Hist.20 Soc., 1864, p. 29.21 It was in later years moved to the west bank.22 The grandfather, whom I, for short, call Wakâwa, died the death of a brave in battle against the Ojibways (commonly called Chippewas)--the hereditary enemies of the Dakotas.23 Wakínyan Tânka.--Big Thunder, was killed by the accidental discharge of his own gun.24 They were both buried with their kindred near the "Wakan Teepee," the sacred Cave--(Carver's Cave).25 Ta-ó-ya-te-dú-ta, the last of the Little Crows, was killed July 3, 1863, near Hutchinson, Minnesota, by one Lamson, and his bones were duly "done up" for the Historical Society of Minnesota.26 For a part of the foregoing information I am indebted to Gen. H. H. Sibley.27 See Heard's Hist.28 Sioux War, and Neill's Hist.29 Minnesota, Third Edition.]30

[Footnote 7: Hârps-te-nâh.31 The first-born _daughter_ of a Dakota is called Winona; the second, Hârpen; the third, Hârpstinâ; the fourth.32 Wâska; the fifth, Wehârka.33 The first born _son_ is called Chaskè; the second, Hârpam; the third, Hapéda; the fourth, Châtun; the fifth, Hârka.34 They retain these names till others are given them on account of some action, peculiarity, etc. The females often retain their child-names through life.]35

[Footnote 8: Wah-pah-sâh was the hereditary name of a long and illustrious lineof Dakota Chiefs.36 Wabashaw is a corrupt pronounciation.37 The name is a contraction of "Wâ-pa-hâ-sa," which is from "Wâ-ha-pa," the standard or pole used in the Dakota dances, and upon which feathers of various colors are tied, and not from "Wâ-pa"--leaf or leaves, as has been generally supposed.38 Therefore Wâpasa means the Standard--and not the "Leaf-Shaker," as many writers have it.39 The principal village of these hereditary Chiefs was Ke-úk-sa, or Ke-ó-sa,--where now stands the fair city of Winona.40 Ke-úk-sa signifies--The village of law-breakers; so-called because this band broke the law or custom of the Dakotas against marrying blood relatives of any degree.41 I get this information from Rev. Stephen R. Riggs, author of the Dakota Grammar and Dictionary, "_Takoo Wakan_," etc. Wapasa, grandfather of the last Chief of that name, and a contemporary of Cetan-Wa-kâ-wa-mâni, was a noted Chief, and a friend of the British in the war of the Revolution.42 Neill's Hist.43 Minn., pp.44 225-9.]45

[Footnote 9: E-hó, E-tó--Exclamations of surprise and delight.]46

[Footnote 10: Mah-gâh--The wild-goose.]47

[Footnote 11: Teé-peé--A lodge or wigwam, often contracted to "tee."]48

[Footnote 12: Pronounced Mahr-peé-yah-doó-tah--literally, Cloud Red.]49

[Footnote 13: Pronounced Wahnmdeé--The War-Eagle.50 Each feather worn by a warrior represents an enemy slain or captured--man, woman or child; but the Dakotas, before they became desperate under the cruel warfare of their enemies, generally spared the lives of their captives, and never killed women or infants, except in rare instances, under the _lex talionis_.51 Neill's Hist.52 Minn., p. 112.]53

[Footnote 14: Mah-tó--The polar bear--_ursus maritimus_.54 The Dakotas say that, in olden times, white bears were often found about Rainy Lake and the Lake of the Woods, in winter, and sometimes as far south as the mouth of the Minnesota.55 They say one was once killed at White Bear Lake (but a few miles from St. Paul and Minneapolis), and they therefore named the lake Medé Mató--White Bear Lake.]56

[Footnote 15: The Hó-hé (Hó-hây) are the Assiniboins or "Stone-roasters."57 Their home is the region of the Assiniboin river in British America.58 They speak the Dakota tongue, and originally were a band of that nation.59 Tradition says a Dakota "Helen" was the cause of the separation and a bloody feud that lasted for many years.60 The Hohés are called "Stone roasters," because, until recently at least, they used "Wa-ta-pe" kettles and vessels made of birch bark in which they cooked their food.61 They boiled water in these vessels by heating stones and putting them in the water.62 The "wa-ta-pe" kettle is made of the fibrous roots of the white cedar, interlaced and tightly woven.63 When the vessel is soaked it becomes watertight.64 (Footnote Snelling's) Tales of the North west, p 21.65 Mackenzie's Travels.]66

[Footnote 16: Hey-ó-ka is one of the principal Dakota deities.67 He is a Giant, but can change himself into a buffalo, a bear, a fish or a bird.68 He is called the Anti-natural God or Spirit.69 In summer he shivers with cold, in winter he suffers from heat; he cries when he laughs and he laughs when he cries, &c. He is the reverse of nature in all things.70 Heyóka is universally feared and reverenced by the Dakotas, but so severe is the ordeal that the Heyóka Wacípee (the dance to Heyóka) is now rarely celebrated.71 It is said that the "Medicine-men" use a secret preparation which enables them to handle fire and dip their hands in boiling water without injury, and thereby gain great _eclat_ from the uninitiated.72 The chiefs and the leading warriors usually belong to the secret order of "Medicine-men," or "Sons of Unktéhee"--the Spirit of the Waters.]73

[Footnote 17: The Dakota name for the moon is Han-yé-tu-wee--literally, Night-Sun.74 He is the twin brother of An-pé-tu-wee--the Day Sun. See note 70.]75

[Footnote 18: The Dakotas believe that the stars are the spirits of their departed friends.]76

[Footnote 19: Tee--Contracted from teepee, lodge or wigwam, and means the same.]77

[Footnote 20: For all their sacred feasts the Dakotas kindle a new fire called "The Virgin Fire."78 This is done with flint and steel, or by rubbing together pieces of wood till friction produces fire.79 It must be done by a virgin, nor must any woman, except a virgin, ever touch the "sacred armor" of a Dakota warrior.80 White cedar is "Wakân"--sacred.81 See note 50.82 Riggs' "Tahkoo Wakân," p. 84.]83

[Footnote 21: All Northern Indians consider the East a mysterious and sacred land whence comes the sun. The Dakota name for the East is Wee-yo-heé-yan-pa--the sunrise.84 The Ojibways call it Waub-ó-nong--the white land or land of light, and they have many myths, legends and traditions relating thereto.85 Barbarous peoples of all times have regarded the East with superstitious reverence, simply because the sun rises in that quarter.]86