The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-03-29

Hiawatha, boys and girls in America
have been interested in Indian legends
These tales are often grotesque and
Wild to the last degree, but there is q
strange fascination in them; and some
OF the most curious are still current
among the savages of the Pacific
coast.
Among the Indians. winter is story
telling time. A great log fire is kindled
ana a circle OF figures crouch around IL.
passing the hours in planning future
expeditions or listening to the grooming
tale or story teller-some old brave
VINO knows all the legendary lore of
MS people. Where this stun originated
OF how II has been preserved, is n
wonder to a white man. Indians sell
dom talk about these things TO a white
person unless he has lived with them
Tor a long time. But IL he is familiar
with their ways and customs. he NAV
De asked TO join the circle. when the
story teller is at work. Stories among
the Indians take the place of newspa-
pers, churches and theaters
When story is suggested, the fire is
rebuilt: and the narrator. probably a
very old man, comes forward and be-
gins. He talks just as long as the fire
burns, then stops. Nothing can induce
him to continue longer. A big fire and
a silent circle of listeners seem to be
indispensable.
The legends have a great variety of
subjects. They deal with the creation
OF the world. account for geographical
features, explain the present conditions
OF Things and answer, in a rude way. a
thousand questions that the savage
mind asks. The Tah-mah-na-wis belief
runs through all the tales the Indian
easily placing the responsibility for all
unaccountabie occurrences at the door
OF the Tah,mah-na-wis. or the gods.
Among the Indians of the coast the
uoings or the Spee-ow, the maker or
changer, from the subjects of a num-
Der or popular stories. These tales treat
or the beginning of the world, and are
extremely interesting. The history of |
Spee-ow, as / heard II by the fiIckering
light OF log fire. runs thus, though IL |
Is difficult to give exactly the Indian |
rendering:
A long. long time ago there was no |
light In the world; IL was always night
and the people went about in darkness
The chief Tah-mah-na-wis was a tall
man with long white beard. He was
never seen, but was known to the peo-
pie by his deeds. His name was Spec
ow, the Maker. BY his magic he found
that there was another country. he
yond the sky. ruled over by the spider.
This spider chief was very large and
carried long rope with him TO helm
him In his travels about the land. one
udy Nnen ne was on n journey he came
TO place where the ground, which Is
our sky. had cracked open a little.
Not knowing what this meant. the
spider tyee Cyee means chieO, let down
his rope to ascertain how deep the
hole was. He let down so much rope
that he was unable TO pull IL up again;
so he tied IL to tree. and went TO get
help.
While he was gone the blue Jay. who I
Is always prying into other peoples
business, came along. and seeing the
rope. flew down the hole TO learn what
was there. He followed the rope until
he came TO the country below, where
we live. There. by his noise. he at
Lracted the attention OF Spee-ow. Spec
wv Immediately investigated the mat
Ier. and saw the blue Jay, who had
alighted on the rope. The great Tab .
at once started TO climb up
Ind catch the bird; but when he APP
preached the jay. assembled a little way
Ind again alighted. up climbed Spec
w, and up flew the jay. until both
passed through the hole in the sky and
we're In the country OF the spider.
This place Spee-ow found 10 be a fine
and. much like what our world now is:
md he thought ne would look around .
md learn how TO make his own domain u
esemble the new region. AS he did not 2