🧚 In the Measure of Hiawatha, part 3 · page 2

[Footnote 22: See Mrs. Eastman's Dacotah, pp.87 225-8, describing the feast to Heyóka.]88

[Footnote 23: This stone from which the Dakotas have made their pipes for ages, is esteemed "wakân"--sacred.89 They call it I-yân-ska, probably from "íya," to speak, and "ska," white, truthful, peaceful,--hence, peace-pipe, herald of peace, pledge of truth, etc. In the cabinet at Albany, N.Y., there is a very ancient pipe of this material which the Iroquois obtained from the Dakotas.90 Charlevoix speaks of this pipe-stone in his History of New France.91 LeSueur refers to the Yanktons as the village of the Dakotas at the Red-Stone Quarry, See Neill's Hist.92 Minn., p. 514.]93

[Footnote 24: "Ho" is an exclamation of approval—-yea, yes, bravo.]94

[Footnote 25: Buying is the honorable way of taking a wife among the Dakotas.95 The proposed husband usually gives a horse or its, value in other articles to the father or natural guardian of the woman selected--sometimes against her will.96 See note 75.]97

[Footnote 26: The Dakotas believe that the _Aurora Borealis_ is an evil omen and the threatening of an evil spirit, (perhaps Wazíya, the Winter-god--some say a witch, or a very ugly old woman).98 When the lights appear, danger threatens, and the warriors shoot at, and often slay, the evil spirit, but it rises from the dead again.]99

[Footnote 27: Se-só-kah--The Robin.]100

[Footnote 28: The spirit of Anpétu-sâpa that haunts the Falls of St. Anthony with her dead babe in her arms.101 See the Legend in Neill's Hist.102 Minn., or my "Legend of the Falls."]103

[Footnote 29: Mee-coónk-shee--My daughter.]104

[Footnote 30: The Dakotas call the meteor, "Wakân-denda" (sacred fire) and Wakân-wohlpa (sacred gift.)105 Meteors are messengers from the Land of Spirits, warning of impending danger.106 It is a curious fact that the "sacred stone" of the Mohammedans, in the Kaaba at Mecca, is a meteoric stone, and obtains its sacred character from the fact that it fell from heaven.107 31: Kah-nó-te-dahn--The little, mysterious dweller in the woods.108 This spirit lives in the forest in hollow trees.109 Mrs. Eastman's Dacotah, Pre.110 Rem. xxxi. "111 The Dakota god of the woods--an unknown animal said to resemble a man, which the Dakotas worship; perhaps, the monkey."112 Riggs' Dakota Dic.113 Tit--_Canotidan_.]114

[Footnote 32: The Dakotas believe that thunder is produced by the flapping of the wings of an immense bird which they call Wakínyan--the Thunder-bird.115 Near the source of the Minnesota River is a place called "Thunder-Tracks" where the foot-prints of a "Thunder-bird" are seen on the rocks twenty-five miles apart.116 Mrs. Eastman's Dacotah, p. 71.117 There are many Thunder-birds.118 The father of all the Thunder-birds--"Wakínyan Tanka"--or "Big Thunder," has his teepee on a lofty mountain in the far West.119 His teepee has four openings, at each of which is a sentinel; at the east, a butterfly; at the west, a bear; at the south, a red deer; at the north, a caribou.120 He has a bitter enmity against Unktéhee (god of waters) and often shoots his fiery arrows at him, and hits the earth, trees, rocks, and sometimes men.121 Wakínyan created wild-rice, the bow and arrow, the tomahawk and the spear.122 He is a great war-spirit, and Wanmdée (the war-eagle) is his messenger.123 A Thunder-bird (say the Dakotas) was once killed near Kapóza by the son of Cetan-Wakawa-mâni, and he there upon took the name of "Wakínyan Tanka"--"Big Thunder."]124

[Footnote 33: Pronounced Tah-tâhn-kah--Bison or Buffalo.]125

[Footnote 34: Enâh--An exclamation of wonder.126 Ehó--Behold! see there!]127

[Footnote 35: The Crees are the Knisteneaux of Alexander Mackenzie.128 See his account of them, Mackenzie's Travels, (London 1801) p. xci. to cvii.]129

[Footnote 36: Lake Superior.130 The only names the Dakotas have for Lake Superior are Medé Tânka or Tânka Medé--Great Lake, and Me-ne-yâ-ta--literally, _At-the-Water_.]131

[Footnote 37: April--Literally, the moon when the geese lay eggs.132 See note 71.]133

[Footnote 38: Carver's Cave at St. Paul was called by the Dakotas "Wakân Teepee"--sacred lodge.134 In the days that are no more, they lighted their Council-fires in this cave, and buried their dead near it.135 See Neill's Hist.136 Minn., p. 207.137 Capt.138 Carver in his _Travels_, London, 1778, p. 63, et seq., describes this cave as follows: "It is a remarkable cave of an amazing depth.139 The Indians term it Wakon-teebe, that is, the Dwelling of the Great Spirit.140 The entrance into it is about ten feet wide, the height of it five feet, the arch within is near fifteen feet high and about thirty feet broad.141 The bottom of it consists of fine clear sand.142 About twenty feet from the entrance begins a lake, the water of which is transparent, and extends to an unsearchable distance; for the darkness of the cave prevents all attempts to acquire a knowledge of it.143 I threw a small pebble towards the interior parts of it with my utmost strength.144 I could hear that it fell into the water, and notwithstanding it was of so small a size, it caused an astonishing and horrible noise that reverberated through all those gloomy regions.145 I found in this cave many Indian hieroglyphics, which appeared very ancient, for time had nearly covered them with moss, so that it was with difficulty I could trace them.146 They were cut in a rude manner upon the inside of the walls, which were composed of a stone so extremely soft that it might be easily penetrated with a knife: a stone everywhere to be found near the Mississippi.147 This cave is only accessible by ascending a narrow, steep passage that lies near the brink of the river.148 At a little distance from this dreary cavern is the burying-place of several bands of the Naudowessie (Dakota) Indians."149 Many years ago the roof fell in, but the cave has been partially restored and is now used as a beer cellar.]150

[Footnote 39: Wah-kahn-dee--The lightning.]151

[Footnote 40: The Bloody River--the Red River was so-called on account of the numerous Indian battles that have been fought on its banks.152 The Chippewas say that its waters were colored red by the blood of many warriors slain on its banks in the fierce wars between themselves and the Dakotas.]153

[Footnote 41: Tah--The Moose.154 This is the root-word for all ruminating animals; Ta-tânka, buffalo—-Ta-tóka mountain antelope--Ta-hinca, the red-deer--Ta-mdóka, the buck deer—-Ta-hinca-ska, white deer (sheep).]155

[Footnote 42: Hogâhn--Fish.156 Red Hogan, the trout.]157

[Footnote 43: Tipsânna (often called _tipsinna_) is a wild prairie turnip used for food by the Dakotas.158 It grows on high, dry land, and increases from year to year.159 It is eaten both cooked and raw.]160

[Footnote 44: Rio Tajo, (or Tagus), a river of Spain and Portugal.]161

[Footnote 45:162

"* * * * Bees of Trebizond-- Which from the sunniest flowers that glad With their pure smile the gardens round, Draw venom forth that drives men mad."163

--_Thomas Moore_]164

[Footnote 46: Skeé-skah--The Wood duck.]165

[Footnote 47: The Crocus.166 I have seen the prairies in Minnesota spangled with these beautiful flowers in various colors before the ground was entirely free from frost.167 The Datotas call them frost-flowers.]168

[Footnote 48: The "Sacred Ring" around the feast of the Virgins is formed by armed warriors sitting, and none but a virgin must enter this ring.169 The warrior who knows is bound on honor, and by old and sacred custom, to expose and publicly denounce any tarnished maiden who dares to enter this ring, and his word cannot be questioned--even by the chief.170 See Mrs Eastman's Dacotah, p. 64.]171