Evening star., 1893-12-04
QUEER STORIES TOLD BY INDIANS.
How Tobacco First Came Into Use
The Hunter Who Melted the Snow.

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The Hunter Who Melted the Snow.
Take cigar" said the ethnologist to The
Star reporter, pushing over the box, 'and
smoke a few puffs, while tell you how to-
bacco was first obtained by man, accord
Ing to the traditions of the Menominee In
dams
"one day the god-hero Manabozo was on
journey, when he perceived a delightful
coor. 1t seemed to come from a crevice in
the cliffs high up on a mountain side On
going closer. he found a cavern which was
occupied by giant. In fact, the giant
was the tenant of the mountain, and from
the mouth of the cave a passage led down
into the very center of the hill, where there
was a large chamber. Around the cham
Der were stacked great quantities of bags
rlied with curious dried leaves. From the
leaves proceeded the delicious fragrance.
These leaves were tobacco. Once a
year. the giant explained, all of the spirits
came to the mountain for the purpose of
smoking this exquisite weed But it was
not possible to give any of it away Never
theless, Manabozo watched for an oppor-
tunity and, snatching up one of the bags,
fled. closely pursued by the giant The
thief leaped from peak to peak, but the
giant followed so fast as finally to overtake
him. SO Manabozo turned upon him. and
upbraiding him for his stinginess trans
formed him into a grasshopper.
Ihat is the reason why the grasshopper
is Always chewing tobacco. Manabozo took
the bas-full of leaves and distributed them
among his friends, the ancestors of the
Indians of today. Since then they have
mad the use and enjoyment of the plant
Inc tradltion among the Menominee as
10 thelr hrst meeting with the whites is
quite interesting. At that time they lived
on the shore of Lake Michigan and one
day, while looking out upon the water. they
saw some huge and wonderful boats. Ali
az once there was terrific explosion as of
thunder. which startled them greatly
From the boats light-skinned men alighted
They had hair on their faces and carried
heaVy sticks ornamented with shining
metal: Ihey approached the Indians. who
supposed that the leader was a great spirit.
Ihe strangers appeared friendly, and Of
fered vessel containing a liquid.
Inc warrors were afraid to drink of the
lquld; but four of the oldest and most use
less members of the tribe were selected 10
make the experiment. If they died, IL
would not matter much. They partook Of
the stun, and soon began to act strangely,
dizzy, and finally becoming unconscious
Then the Indians said to one another: Now
they are dead; see what We escaped by not
drinking! But soon the four old men re-
covered and declared that they had enjoy
ed themselves very much
50 the chief Of the strangers gave to
them some flour and gun, showing them
how to use both. Then he brought oIt soroa
kettles and explained how 10 hoiI u,a.or a.
them. But the kettles were too large and
heavy to carry about, SO the Indians asked
Tor small ones as big as a fist, as they would
grow to be large ones by and by Thev ont
what they asked for, but, singular to relate
the cups never grew to be kettles
me Menominee folk lore embraces many
curious stories. One of these tells of a hunt
er whose feet were frozen one day by Knn
snow he
ty of snow and buried IL in a deep hole
covering the hole with sticks and leaves In
order to keep the snow a prisoner till slpn-
iner. Nhen summer came he removed the
leaves ana sticks and permitted the sun to
shine upon the snow. Thus the snow, being
unable to run away. melted and was pun
lshed. But kon on his side was determined
10 ger satisfaction. though he had to wait
until the next winter
1T was very cold night, and the hunter
was looking out at the door of his wigwam
when ne saw stranger approaching The
latter had very large head and an I'M
mense white beard He entered on being
invited. but Ii seemed strange that he yould
not go near the fire. This puzzled the host
ana ne Kept poking the fire. observing at
tne same time that perspiration broke out
on Tie guests forehead and trickled down
through his beard. Soon the strangers head
ana body began to diminish in size because
ne was thawing. So the hunter kept ND the
nre until he had entirely melted Kon, the
the hunter and his family. But man is
more powerful than the snow, and thus
kon perished.
tradition states that the Menominee
We're at one time much distressed bv a
water monster, or giant fish, which frequent-
~ caught fishermen, dragging them into the
Iake and there devouring them. So Mama
bozo the god hero, built a small raft and
hoated out upon the lake, singing all the
while: %, monster, come and eat me: Won
will find me goodr Then the giant fish
swallowed Manabozo. On reaching the
monsters belly, the hero found himself in
company with the bear, the deer the nor
cupine, the raven, the squirrel. and many
other living animals. But Manabozo thrust
his knife into the heart OF the fish. which
was afterward thrown up on shore so that
he was able to make his escape by cutting
his way out
In the direction OF the place where the
north wind dwells. the Menominee say, live
giants OF an amiable and peaceful race
Ihey are great hunters and fishermen. and
whenever they are out with their torches
to spear fish. ii is known by a bright light
IN the sky This light is called by the white
man the aurora borealis"