Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1891-02-14

The constellation of the Little Bear
and The pole star must have puzzled
the obseryant Indian; for while the rest
OF the stars were continually shifting
/ their position. this one star remained
immoyable. As the constellation OF
the Great Bear represented hunters in
pursuit OF bear. so the constellation
OF the Little Bear suggested another
party OF hunters guided by the pole
star. Long. long ago large party OF
Indians, while in search of rev hunt.
ing grounds, wandered on for MANY
moons, finding but little game. At
last they arrived at the banks of n
great river entirely unknown to them.
where they bad to stop, not having
material for building boats. Lost and
nearly famished with hunger, the head
chief decided TO hold a council and de-
wise means of returning to their homes.
During the dance preceding the
council, and while the tobacco (whose
Tunes are supposed to ascend as pray
ers to the gods) was burning. little
being like a child came to them and
said that she was sent to be their
guide, says n writer of Indian legends
in the ST. Louis Republic. According.
ly they broke up their camp and
started with her that night. Preced-
ing them, with only n gi-wab, or small
war club. she led them on until day.
light aud then commanded them TO
rest while she prepared their food.
They slept, and found on awakening
great banquet in readiness for them.
Then the little being babe them fare
we'll with assurance that she would re-
turn in the evening. True to her word,
she reappeared at evening, bringing
with her skin jug. from which she
| poured out some liquid into horn cup.
and babe each of the hunters drink.
At first they feared to do so. but. yield
| inaAsi last they drank and began to
feel very strong. She then told them
they bad long journey before them.
and, following her, they arrived at
great plain in the early morning.
There sne bade them rest during the
day, promising to return again at
nightfall, saying her own chief would
soon follow and explain to them how
they could reach their homes in safety.
Soon he arrived with a great num-
ber OF his race and they all held
council together and told the Indians
that they were now in the territory of
the pigmies. The latter would teach
them a sign already in the sky which
would be sure guide when they had
lost their way. The pigmies pointed
out the pole star and told the hunters
that IN the north where the sun never
goes, while other stars moved about
this particular star would stand still as
guide TO the Indians in their wander
ings. They were to follow its light
aud they would soon return TO their
tribe, where they would find plenty of
game and other good things.
The hunters thanked the good pig
mics and, following their directions.
soon reached their home in safety.
When they told the story of their adj
ventures the head chief held meeting
Of all the tribes and they resolved TO
give the star name. They called it
the star which never moves. by which
name it is known to this day. Now,
in the constellation of the Little Bear
thei: are four stars apart aud three
leading directly 10 the pole star. The
four stars apart were probably the
hunters, and the three leading to the
pole star were the two hunters and the
little child. The pigmies are intro
duced into the myth because their
mission is TO help hunters who have
lost their way or are in trouble.