The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-02-18

it's he enters a peculiar structure serV- /
ing the same purpose as the mediums |
cabinet This consists OF four high |
stakes, covered over with bark and |
cloth, Into this the spirits soon en- |
ter and the people outside hear them |
talk with the "tshisaqka" in varying |
voices, all of which. however, closely |
resemble that of the artful medium. |
The spirits are present in such great
numbers that they cause the structure
to rock to- and fro, as though blown
by a tempest. The evil spirit employed
by the sick mars enemy Is summoned
through the agency of a powerful and
good spirit who has the shape of a
turtle The turtle kicks the evil spirit
very soundly and then commands him
to restore the invalid to health. If he
promises, it is claimed, the sick man
always recovers. If he refuses, how
ever, the medium stabs him to death
with wooden knife, which is thrown
out to the crowd. with blood stains
upon the blade. The relative or friend
of the sicl; person near whom the knife
| falls is ordered to kill the supposed en-
| envy, who in a few days is always found
| dead in his wigwam.
The office of "Ran-maker" of the
| tribe is held by one of the "tshisaqkas.'
| When there is great drought the
| chief of the tribe commands this official
to create a shower. When too much
rain has fallen he is ordered to stop
the storm. And yet, after expending
thousand of dollars. Uncle Sam cannot
find a pale faced "tshisaqka" able to
| do this.
The "Wabeno" or MEN of the
| Dawn" constitute another order. The
mystic actions of these are prompted
by visions caused by fasting. They
furnish "hunting medicine" and love
powders" If the hunter, after using
the hunting medicine. is successful he
| must give the "Wabeno" who made it
a part of the game. He also invites
the "Wabeno" to a feast, where the
latter amuses the guests by numerous
acts of magic He handles red-hot
stones, burning brands, and bathes his
hands in boiling syrup. The hunter APP
| preciates that he must be good to the
! "Wabeno," for the latter has the pow
er to transform himself into any shape.
At night he is seen flying through the
air in the shape of ball of fire. He
may also become a wild beast and de-
yorr the enemies of those who pay
him sufficiently.
When a fond Menomoni swain is de-
srous of winning the heart of some
fair maid he goes to the "Wabeno"
and buys some "love powder" This
is made of vermillon and mica powder
and is placed in thimble. sealed and
worn about the body. That this will
have the desired effect the lover must
obtain from his desired one q hair,
-.
of clothing, to be placed in the thmble
with the powder.
The Menomoni believe that when
| Great Mystery, one of the supreme
spirits, made the earth he created num-
erous spirits in the forms of animals
and birds. Good Mystery, another of
the supreme spirits, created the first
man by transforming bear into an
Indian with light skin. This Adam
feeling lonely, transformed an eagle
into man and called him his brother.
Later various other animals We're ac-
cepted both by the bear-man and the
eagle-man as their brothers The first
woman was created from a beaver.
| GOD OF THE MENOMONI.
The hero god Of the Menomoni, who
!. |
mythical character known as Mana
bush. He has been worshiped by these
people and many of their neighboring
tribes since as far back as tradition
may be traced. Mother Earth had q
virgin daughter who gave birth tC
. twins The mother and one of the twins
died on the day of the latter's birth
The surviving son was Manabush. He
was d little white rabbit, his brother
who died having been a wolf. Mana
bush was sent to earth by the spirit!
l that he might teach the Indians to bet
ter their condition. He took the form
2 OF boy and was raised by his grand
S mother Earth. When he became a MAJ
= he proceeded to give the Indians SACRED
D medicine to create animals for then
and to make fire. He lived for many
= years. continuing to perform many 9th
= er useful things for the Indians, whom
= he called his uncles, they being the sons
n of his grandmother. The wanderinG'
t and heroic deeds of Manabush arr
= chanted and recited in all of the sacred
s ceremonies. They We're formerly reat
= from manuscripts made of bark, bu
= this custom is no longer adhered to.
= During the long winter nights, &C
= cording to Dr. Hoffman, the old men o
|
q nese which he has heard recited ac
: count for various phenomena of nature
!, For instance, the sun and moon are be
o. lieVed to be brother ana sister, VIII
f once lived together i'll wigWam IL
g the East. One day the sun went hunt
ing and stayed so long that his siste
became alarmed. She started out an,
searched for him twenty days, Whel
:, she died. In four days, however, Sin
- came back to life. and ever since ha
y. continued to come up from the sky an,
- travel for twenty days, remaining deat
for four days and then repeating he
journey.
The aurora borealis is supposed to b
= the torches of certain giants, one
t great friends of the Menomoni, VIII
!, now and then go out to spear fish /
n thir homes in the North. The meteor
u are stars which fall, leaving fiery tails
e When the drop they do not die, bu
g their spirits go back whence the
" dropped and shine again. The raccoo
d is supposed to be striped because on
e day, when he went out into the wood
= to fast and to dream voice told hr
IF that when he awakened he must pain
J. his face and body with bands of blac
g and white. When he cot home he di
y this and has since remained. The chan
Is acteristics of the other animals are aC
IS counted for in similar traditions
l. Another interesting tale told to D.
h Hoffman by an old Mcnomoni he SUP
Is poses to account for the first discover
y of these people by the French in 1863
IS when they occupied this same region