Some Items of Algonkian Folk- Lore. 277
• the sky accidentally fell through a hole and reached the earth un- hurt. He was surprised to find that the people were asleep, and noticing one who slept more than the others, he made a little bow and arrow. Then, approaching the man who slept, he let loose an arrow at a cloud of insects that were flying about him, and were the cause of his sleeping too much. Some of these flies were killed and
! others driven away. The sleeper awoke and the celestial visitor then gave the Indians much advice. He foretold that when the bearded
- > men should come amongst them they would commence to die off,
and that when the women of the bearded race settled in their country they would be near their ruin."
51. Wisakedjak, "the great Manitou of these Indians, to whom they attributed the formation of the earth," also known as Nenabojo (p. 442). To-day, however, these Indians " no longer pronounce the name of Wisakedjak, except in derision, since they have been Chris- tianized. With them Wisakedjak, as well as Nenabojo, is now almost a synonym of monkey, in the figurative sense of that word. Of any one who imitates what he sees done, it is said : He is a wisa- kedjak.
Particularly interesting in the above list are those items relating to sacrifice (Nos. 1, 41) ; fairies, elves, spirits, and other fabulous creatures (Nos. 22, 23, 37, 38, 49, 50, 51) ; games (Nos. 11, 36, 40) ; rites, ceremonies, etc. (Nos. 3, 4, 8, 15, 21) ; superstitions, omens, etc. (Nos. 19, 20, 25, 30, 34, 39). A point of considerable importance is the meaning which many of the Indian words have acquired since the aborigines have been more or less Christianized. Examples of such change are seen in Nos. 6, 46, 51. A comparative study of the Indians before and after Christianizing would be of great value to the psychologist and to the folk-lorist.
- Alex. F. Chamberlain.
1 Clark University, Worcester, Mass.
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