The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-25
coSJURER OF THE oJIBBwAs.
Facts that ExcelIed Those of the PROPOSED
Spirls Mediums.


Spirit Mediums.
Yd@ths Companion
During two years residence in Albany district
OF that mysterious country between Lake
Superior and Hudson's bay. as medical ofncer or
the Hudson Bay Fur Company, / was brought
in frequent contact with the medicine man" OF
the Ojibbwas. and had many opportunities OF
witnessing the nominations and ceremonies
peculiar TO their sacred calling.
One medicine man." Wa-au-poos (the Rab-
bit) BIZ name and whose adopted brother [
eventually became, influenced by my ''mash XII
ki-wau-boo" tback medicine water-cofee) and
narratives of the deeds OF ''wau-ste-nau kit-che
moko powahs' famous civilized uecromancers).
occasionally developed sufficient confidence to
enlighten me regarding various secrets of his
craft, and he impressed me with fact, subse-
quently confirmed in my own person, that phys
ical power mesmeric power is not uecessari-
ly natural gift. but one that may be success
fully cultivated by acts that produce. temporari-
Iy, dsordered conditions of the bra n.
A favorite feat of his. as preliminary to
some special incarnation, was modification OF
the called cabinet act" that obtains gen.
orally among the fraternity OF protested me
dums; but AS he performed it it WAS every way
superior to anything / ever witnessed at the
hands of civilized performers.
Not only would he allow himself to be bound
hand and foot after the usual manner, but his
entire body to he enveloped and his arms pin
Toned lmmovabIy to his sides, and the moment
blanket or robe was thrown over him he
would bound to his feet and toss bonds and
covering high in the air in one knotted, almost
inextrcable bunch
d
theater being cit of prairie overlooking the
lake near Cat Island house. l pinioned him
even more deliberately than usual. drawing the
thongs of green moose hide SO tightly that blood
threatened Co spout from beneath the ridges OF
imprisoned flesh.
executed a variety of knots, twists and turns
taught by former seafaring experiences; and he
passed from my hands only to be lifted into
small skin tent (.smedicine wigwam') whose sole
furnishing was huge drum ornamented with
cabalistic devices, that hung from the interl ock
ing supports at the apex of the structure.
Scarce he concealed from view when a
low chant. echoed by muffied accompaniment
upon the drum began. Gradually the voice OF
the wizard rose higher and higher, the music
sounded louder and more rapidly, until one be-
came.a piercing shrek, the other a furious
frantic roll; and in the midst OF it all was heard
wnisting sound as of fierce wind sweeping
by, though the air was still and dead.
When these ceased the chant recon-
menced in its formed cadence and measure and
at the same time sounded multitude Of voices
of various creatures of forest and plain, beneath
our feet, in the grove at our back. and high
overhead-not singly and in succession, but
several together, forming chorus. as 1t were.
Beetles, katydids. grasshoppers bees and a
variety of other insects buzzed, whirred and
chirped, and birds, many of them rare to the
region, sung and uttered their accustomed notes.
Then came the larger creatures; bears erowed.
wolves howled, wapiti stays beloved and
roared. dogs and foxes barked. caribou clat-
tered hoofs and horns, moose talked" and the
cat-tribes spat and swore. These were fol-
lowed by third medley made up of the sounds
of small quadrupeds, like marmots, hares, and
squirrels. the piping and croaking of frogs,
hootne of owls, and cries of various species of
wild fowl.
All this time the chant and its monotonous ac-
commandment ever droned from within the
medicine tent" IL the most magnifcens
specimen of ventriloquism. il ventriloquism it
was that ever came to my kno wledge.
Finally, when the sounds had all ceased, Wa
au-poos appeared at the entrance of the tent
freed from his bonds. which he declared had
been removed and borne away by Pa-ah-kuk, the
Great Game Medicine;" and though 6iligent
search was made they could nowhere be found