Evening star., 1937-10-19

Watch out, come Halloween, for the
Wihtigos.
They are probably the worlds most
gruesome demons-giantS as big as tall
spruce trees who wear coats OF stone,
come out of the dark North with the
first blasts of Winter, and whose favorite
food is human flesh.
Rev. DR. John NJ. Cooper. professor OF
anthropology at the Catholic University
of America, found the fear of these
nightmarish creatures still very real
among the primitive Tetes de Boule
Indians along the St. Maurice River in
Quebec where he spent the Summer.
Even the most sophisticated Tetes de
Boule-those who have been away to
white schools and laugh at some of the
ancient superstitions of their race-stlll
talk fearsomely of the Wihtigos whom
thev believe to be lurking in the forests.
The Tetes de Boule have fallen upon
hard times of late. Hunting has been
poor and food scarce. The WlhtlgoS are
especially active in time OF famine. About
rs years ago, according to the legendary
of the tribe, was the last great fight
between a man and Wihtigo. The
man. through the aid of his familiar
spirits, was victorious. The demon was
slain with a great spruce tree. Then the
spirits predicted that if the tree failed
to grow again the monsters would remain
in the North. If it sprouted from the
stump and became a large tree they
would return Informed Tetes de Boule
know the exact tree. 1t has attained its
full growth.
These demons cover their bodies COM
pletely with spruce gum. Then they
roll over and over in the sand until
thev are encased in an invulnerable
armor of sandstone. There is only one
point which Wihtigo cannot reach
the small of his back.
That is the salvation Of the unfortu-
nate fellow attacked by one, if he has
the proper familiar spirits to aid him.
These supernatural beings are known as
poWagans and always remain invisible.
They are creatures of the clouds and sky
where there is an infinite supply OF
them. One obtains personal pOWagan
byfasting for nine days. A careful check
must be kept on the time and the fast
broken exactly at the end of this period.
Otherwise the faster himself will be-
come a Wihtigo and start eating his
neighbors. After feasting for few days,
however, he can start another nine-day
fast and secure himself another powagan.
In this way he can recruit as large
company of spiritual helpers as he deems
essential to protect himself against any
night-prowling, stone-coated, canabal-
istic monsters.
Since the last great battle, the Tetes
de Boule believe, the Wihtigos themselves
have fallen upon evil days. They are so
fond of flesh that they have started to
eat themselves, especially their own lips.
The common picture in the Indian mind
is of a creature with uncovered teeth.
The Wihtigo concept is common among
all Northeastern tribes and is believed
to be derived from folk memories OF
cannibalism in ancient days. This came
with the bitterly cold weather. This
brought ice Cannibalism was symbol
lied as an ice-clad monster. The words
for "ice" and "Stone" in several languages
are very similar AS the original symbols
became lost the demons survived as
"stone coats" The Tetes de Boule idea
of rolling in the sand is an effort to
explain how man might acquire coat
of stone.
If the Wihtigo seems little too grue-
some for q playful, non-alcoholic Amer
lean Halloween, Dr. Cooper found somA