Some Items of Algonkian Folk-Lore. 273
I mark "). Among the Sauteux, Cuoq tells us kikinonowin signifies J "annual course, completed year," while some other Algonkian tribes ' use it in the sense of " the first day of the year."
19. Kitcikanakwat, "the sky has wavy (dappled) clouds" (p. 177). To see such clouds in winter is a sign of rain. The Indian saying is : Kitcikanakwat, ta sokipo = " The sky is dappled, it is going to rain." The roots of kitcikanakwat are kitcik, "dappled," anakwat, "cloud."
20. Konas, "cover, blanket" (p. 184). These Indians have an-
- other weather-proverb. When the ice begins to crackle they say
i Andaokonasi mikzvam, ta sokipo = "The ice is seeking its blanket, I it is going to snow."
21. Makatekewin, "the fast of the pagan Indians to obtain good hunting from the manitou" (p. 199). The word is derived from makateke, " to blacken the face," — face-blackening was the sign of the fast. See No. 6.
22. Memegwcsiwak (plural of memegwesi), "a sort of sirens or water-nymphs, which, the Indians believe, live in the water and in hollow rocks '* (p. 43). They are said to steal very much and to speak with a nasal twang. There are many sayings about them. Cuoq tells us that "when, by mischance, when travelling by water, one has let fall anything into the river or lake, it is the custom to say memegwesi kat aian = " the memegwesi will have that," or "that is for the memegwesi." Certain rocks or stones having some resemblances to parts of the human body are called memegzvesi- wabik= " memegwesi-rock ; " and, in passing by these, the canoe-men, even now, " either in jest or in superstition, toss at them a piece of tobacco," etc. Of these "nymphs " the saying goes : Memegwesi ta kimotasapi, nitakimotiwak, memegwesiwak, " the memegwesi will rob the net; they are thieves, the memegwesi." The "nasal twang" of these creatures has furnished an expression of a figurative sort to the language in memegwesiko, " to speak with a nasal twang," liter- ally " to imitate the memegwesi."
23. Micipicitok, "a species of 'lion' said to live in the water" (p. 215), — the "water-tiger" of many myths and legends. The word is derived from mici, "big," and piciw, "lynx." Another fabulous creature is the micikinebik, "the great serpent," which is said to possess horns.
24. Minagosi, "to exhale (a bad) odor" (p. 224). Cuoq points out the curious fact that of a dead dog, or other carrion, the animate form of the word must be used — minagosi = "it smells (bad)," while of a dead man (whom one respects) the inanimate form must be em- ployed, — minagzvat, "it stinks."
25. Mindazvekackwe, "his nails say that he is discontented"
VOL. XIII. — NO. 51. l8
�� �
