East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1860-04-05
EAST SAGINAW, MICHIGAN, APRIL 5, 1860

trary to the usagc,) NEEJEE, or friend.
She directed him to sit down beside he
daughter, and from this moment they
were regarded as man and wife.
Early the following morning, he asked
for the bows and arrows of those who haC
been slain by the Manito, and went out 1
hunting. AZ soon as he had got out n
sight of the lodge, he transformed him
self into o PEENA, or partridge, and tool
his flight in the air. Where or how he
procured his food, is unknown; but he re
turned at evening with the carcasses o.
two deer This continued 10 be his daily
practice, and it was not long before tho
scalfolds near the lodge were loaded with
meat. 1t was observed, however, that he
ate but little himself, aud that of pecu.
liar kind of meat, which added to some
other particulars, convinced the family OF
his mysterious character. In few days
his mother-in-law told him that the Man
ito would come to pay them visit, to see
how the young man prospered. He told
her that he should be away that day pur-
posely, but would return the moment the
vsiter left them. On the day named he
few upon o tall tree, overlooking the
lodge, and took his stand there to observe
the movement Of the Maaito. This
wicked spirit soon appeared, and as he
passed the scaffolds of meat, cast sus-
picious glances toward them. lie had no
sooner entered the lodge, stopping first to
look, before he went in, than he said
"Why, woman, who is it that is furnish
ing You meat so plentifully?" "No one"
she answered, "but my son-he is just
beginning to kill deer" "No, no" said
he, "somc one is living with YOU" "Ka.
wecn,rt said the old woman, assembling
again, "You are only jcsting on my dcsti-
tute situation. Who do you think would
come and trouble themselves about me?'
every WELL" replied the Manito, z" | viii
90; but on such day, / will again visit
you, and see who it is that furnishes the
meat, and whether it is your son or not"
He had no sooner left the lodge and got
out of sight, than the son-in-law made his
appearance with two more deer. On be-
ING told of the particulars of the visit,
Every well, said he, | will be at home
next time and see him" They remon-
strated against this, telling him of his
cruelties, and the barbarous murders he
had committed. No matter" said he,
''if he invites me to the race ground, l
will not be backward. The result viii
teach him to show pity on tho vanqushei,
and not to trample on the widow, and
those who are without fathers" When
the day Of the expected visit arrived, he
told his wife to prepare certain pieces of
meat, which lie pointed out and handed to
her, together with two or three buds of
the birch-tree which he requested her to
put in the pot; aud he directed that moth
ing should be wanting TO show the usual
to their guest, although he
knew that his only object was to kill him.
He then dressed himself as a warrior,
putting tints of red on his visage and
dress, to show that he was prepared for
either war or peace.
As soon as the Manito arrived, he eyed
this, to him, strange warrior, bat dissem.
bed his feelings, and spoke laughingly to
the old woman, saying, Did not tell
YOU that some one was staying with you,
for / knew your son was too young to
hunt !" She turned it OFF by saying that
she did not think it necessary to tell him,
as he was a Manito and knew before ask
inr. He then conversed with the son-in-
law on different topics, and finished by in
viting him to the race ground, saying it
was a manly amusement-that it would
give him an opportunity Of seeing other
men, and he should himself be pleased to
run with him. The young man said he
knew nothing Of running. Why," he
replied, "don't you see how old look,
while you are young and active. We
must at least run to amuse others" "Be
it so, then," replied the young man, " |
will go in the morning." Pleased with
his success, the Manito now wished to re-
turn, but was pressed to remain and par
take of the customary hospitalities, al
though he endeavored to excuse himself.
The meal was Immediately spread. But
one dish was used. The young man par
took Of it first, to show his guest csat he
need not fear to partake, and saying at
the same time to him, at is feast, and
as we seldom meet, we must eat all that
is placed on the dish, as a mark of graft
tude to the Great Spirit for permitting
me to kill the animals, and for the pleas
ure Of seeing You, and partaking Of it
with YOU" They ate and converscd until
they had eaten nearly ALL when the Man
ito took up the dish and drank the broth.
On setting it down, he Immediately
turned his head and commenced coughing
violently, having, as the young man ex-
pocted, swallowed grain Of the birch
tops, which had lodged in his windpipe.
lie coughcd incessaatly, and found his
situation SO unpleasant, that he had to
leave, saying, as he quit the lodge, that
he should expect the young man at the
raco ground in the morning.
MoNEDowA prepared himself early in
the morning by oiling his limbs, and dec
Grating himself so as to appear to advan-
tage, aad having procured leave for his
brother to attend him, they repaired to
the Manito's race grounl. The Manito's
lodge stood on an cminence, and a row Of
other lodges stood near it, and as soon as
the young man and his companions came
near it, the inmates cried out, "We arc
visited" At this cry he came out, and
descended with them to the starting post
on a plain. From this, tho course could