Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1890-05-30
THECURSE OF MAHINGAN
A BIT OF INDIAN Legendary FROM
THE UPPER OTTAWA.

startling. The Indians mistook the sub
stance for the symbol, the objective for the
subjective. 1t Is not surprising therefore
that an Ogibeway chief, who once Travelled
In the early dawn of Canadian civilization
as far as Montreal, and met there Jesuit
missionary, having received from him
lamb as present, mistook it for the Lamb
of God, concerning whom the missionary
had talked much, and taking it with him
when he returned to his people, impressed
upon them the sacredness of this wonder
full, and to them, strange beast, enjoining
upon them the necessity of worshiping it
with honor and reverence. A small island
was chosen as suitable dwelling place for
this new Manitou, and the Indians were
happy In possessing an animal at once so
sacred and so easily kept.
THE "BAD INDIAN" WAS JEALOUS.
Unfortunately the owner was the object
of much jealousy on the part of one who
had always laid counter claim to the posi-
tion Of leader of the people, The name
Of this man was Mahingan. He was good
hunter and a bold man, but he had the
reputation of being what is called bad
Indian, /" very vague term of disapproba
ton, but very common amongst Indians
lit saw blldb bIt PONoNGoAOh VI NAAi' A'"iiiD
gave much power to his rival, and he de-
termined to deprive him of it; and being
somewhat of unitarian he considered
that the best way to do this was to eat it.,
which he did surreptitiously, and at night
On the following day CONSERVATION reigned
amongst the Indian camps; the sacred lamb
was gone
The owner was furious, but tried to turn
the mishap to account by stating that no
Manitou of such Importance would stay
where bad Indians" were allowed to live
with impunitg, which explanation was ac-
cepted as satisfactory until the bones of the
lamb were found, clean picked and bear
ing unmstakable evidence of having been
boiled. This upset the supernatural trans
lation theory altogether, and evidently
pointed to the murder of a Mahitou, but
the question arose, "Who was the sacri-
legious wretch who had dared to fill him
self with godY" Manahchinty, the owner,
openly accused Mnhingan to his face, but
Mahingan laughed at him, saying:
mo one can cat a real Manitou. The
Manitou would more likely eat him. II
your animal was II truth, then it would
have saved itself; If fraud then the sooner
1t was eaten the better"
So true did this saying appear that some
of the Indians sided with Mahingan, for
all recognized that il was he who had eaten
the lamb, and there were not wanting those
who began to murmur at Manahchinty for
inducing them to worship false gods; and
Manahchinty saw that strong measures
were necessary in order to maintain his
reputation of big Injun," 50 he toma-
hawked his rival on the sly, and the people
at once returned to their allegiance, proba-
bly, fearing lest they themselves should be
tomahawked. Strange TO say, after this
Manahchinty became listless and depressed;
some thought 1t was on account of the loss
OF his sacred lamb; but finally it leaked out
that Mahingan, before dying, had found
time to curse his murderer, TO threaten
him with his vengeance even though he
were dead, and to promise him that he
would pursue him and his heirs relentless
ly for many generations. Strange to re-
late, Manahchinty soon joined his victim,
having been upset from his canoe and
drowned during loon hunt. For several
generations his descendants in the male
line died violent deaths, and it was gener-
ally conceded among Indians that a curse
was upon them.
7END OF TIE CURSE
One evening about six years ago, during
the month of July, IA small band Of Indians
were encamped upon the island whereon
had lived and died the sacred sheep. The
ever encroaching white man had usurped
the heritage of the Indians, who now had
dwindcd into few families in place of the
powerful tribe who had once held undis
puted sway in the land. The curse of Ma
II Ill, ,4t fNt.ff ftaVf mn
that very evening Gs they sat around the
camp fire nm old crone with shaking heac
related to the younger folk in substance
that which have above written. Amongst
them stood boy intently listening will
more than an ordinary interest. He was {
direct descendant of Manahchinty. Scarce
w had she finished when "A liendish how
was heard in the bush close by
The Indians started to their feet in fright
and still another cry awoke the echoes o.
the summer night; ut the same time al
enormous dog, with eyes like balls of fire
bounded into the midst of them and, seiz
ing the boy, tho descendant of Manah
.chinty by the throat, bore him to thu
ground Luckily one man Mt least pre-
served his presence Of mind. lie snatchet
his rifle from his tent and With good ain
sent bullet crashing through the skull o
the weird beast 1t was all over in mo
ment and the boy rose up unhurt, excep
for the wound in his throat where the dos
had seized him.
That night the Indians did not sleep, bu
sat discussing the event until daylight
when one of them took the carcass of thu
dog and threw it to the pigs of n white MAJ
who lived close by. The pigs made shor
work of the dog and soon had it all de
yourei except the heart, which they lief
untoucheds and there it lay in the hot sum
mer sun for two consecutive days, until
impelled by curiosity, one of the Indian
examined 1t to find out why the pigs woul'
not eat II. 1t seemed to be rs hard as stone
and impelled still further by curiosity, h
took his ax and cut in two. What was hi
astonishment at finding It nothing but
so,Id lump of ice. The discovery sprea,
like <vtldfre, and cause n great sensation
among fudian circles.
The shaky headed crone at once pre-
nounced ii TO be Mahingan, and assures
the Indians that the vendetta was ended b
the death of the dog. or, rather, the secon
death OF Mahingati. Whether she was RICH
or wrong. she boy still lives, nor has he eN
perienced any great and especial Ill luck
So let us hope that Mahingan's curse ~
thing of the past, a mystery snulied out
n "Ninchcstcr" with the latest moder
improvements.
These things are hard to believe. ! my
self doubted II they were true, ana e>
pressed those doubts 20 my informant,
most respectable and pious Indian, q
Indians 90. even dared TO laugh, but h
assured me of their truth, and rebuked m
for Laughing, saying, 1T is not right I
laugh at such solemn, sacred things =
lake Temiscaininguo Quebec Letter i