--- title: Menabozho, or the Great White Hare — Wigwam stories told by North American Indians · full text with trees description: Menabozho, or the Great White Hare, «Wigwam stories told by North American Indians» by Mary Catherine Judd: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: From the east side to the west side of America the Algonquin Indians all have their stories of Menabozho. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg73136/69/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Wigwam stories told by North American…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg73136/) / Menabozho, or the Great White Hare # Menabozho, or the Great White Hare Menabozho, or the Great White Hare of «Wigwam stories told by North American Indians» by Mary Catherine Judd: the whole text, 54 sentences and 1006 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. From the east side to the west side of America the Algonquin Indians all have their stories of Menabozho.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") When the story is of some great deed of Nanabush, or of Missaba, you must remember that these names are only another way of speaking of Menabozho.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") In the different Indian tribes the languages are different; but those who have been most among these many tribes of red men find that nearly all have some name for this Great Manitou, or Spirit.[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") Whatever was the first cause of their belief in such a being, there is no way of knowing.[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") All people, no matter how wild, believe in God; but the wilder the people the more gods they believe in.[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") It is so with the Indian.[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") The red man seemed to believe every stone, every bush, and almost every animal had its manitou or spirit.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") These manitous were something to be feared, and to which prayer ought to be offered.[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") So we will call them the gods of the Indians.[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") But these gods were ruled over by greater ones that had wonderful powers.[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") The Indians watch the sun, moon, and stars a great deal and know much more about them than many white people who have no time for such study.[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") When they saw the power of the sun in bringing life out of the earth in the shape of growing plants from hidden seeds, then the sun seemed like a living spirit to them.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") The name Menabozho has been found to mean in the Indian language the Great White Hare.[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") It has been found to mean more than that.[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") Some one who has studied into the meanings of Indian words says that it means the “god of light,” or “ruler of the sun.” When you read marvelous stories of Menabozho remember then that the Indians who told these tales first had in mind one of their strong gods,—one who was swift and powerful as the light of the sun; one who was as kind as the sun is to the earth, bringing food and blessing to every one.[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") The sun hides away every night; so Menabozho often rested.[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") The sun is often troubled by clouds and storms; and Menabozho has many troubles, but usually comes out very bravely from every hindrance.[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") This manitou could take many forms.[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") He very often appeared upon the earth as a man, for that is the highest form of all life.[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") He is said to have many homes.[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") Some say Menabozho’s home is in the east.[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") He rules over the east wind and watches the sun that it may follow the right path through the sky.[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") He rules the sun. It could not leave the east without him.[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") The Indians in some nations have a kind of picture to represent Menabozho.[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") It looks something like a child’s picture of a rabbit.[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") People have thought of many reasons why the red men should have called him the Great White Hare.[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") The Indians themselves do not seem to explain why they did it.[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") We know from many Indian customs and from their records, for they have kept many records, that the red men lived in America for hundreds of years before Columbus came.[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") Where the first Indians came from the most learned white man cannot tell.[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") He can only guess.[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") Some of the Indian stories tell that the red man was created here in America.[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") That is not strange for them to say, for they have no remembrance of another land.[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") If they came from across the great ocean at the west, or drifted across the one at the east, they may have brought this story of Menabozho, the god of light, with them.[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") Early travelers found some tribes expecting the Great Spirit to come among them again in the shape of palefaced men.[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") The same belief was found far south in Mexico.[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") It seems very strange to us.[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") Many have thought that it was the coming of Menabozho the red men expected when the white men came.[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") This same Great Spirit who was to come was kind and good.[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") He would be a brother to all creatures, man and beast.[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") Menabozho called everything his brother.[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") Stories that the Indians are telling of him to-day speak of him as calling the trees his brothers.[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") Those who are much among the Indians now, as the hunters in the northern forests are, tell of how real this kindly manitou is to the red man in his every-day life.[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") There is a certain little black swimming bird that looks much like a duck, which is called a diver.[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") When this bird rushes from the reeds by the river into the water, the Indian who sees it often cries out, “There goes the bird Menabozho kicked.”[44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") If the white fisherman tells a story of some great fish that he has caught, or that nearly came into his net, then the Indians, among themselves, grunt and scoff at his story.[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") They can tell of a larger fish than any white man ever saw or brought to shore.[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") Menabozho sailed into its mouth in his canoe.[47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") And so this same being is as real to them as any we have learned of in our childhood’s days.[48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") The stories recently collected are interesting in showing how alive is all Nature to those who live nearest to her.[49](49/ "tree and pragmatics") The Indian still seems to understand with the heart of a poet the voices of trees, stones, and brooks.[50](50/ "tree and pragmatics") We are glad to know that many whites have learned that the red men have a strong love for justice and truth and can show mercy to those who have been merciful.[51](51/ "tree and pragmatics") The Indian is not a dull-minded being.[52](52/ "tree and pragmatics") His wits are keen, and his judgment as fine as many a civilized man can claim.[53](53/ "tree and pragmatics") But he lives a life far apart from the busy city or town life of the white man, and it is hard for each to understand the life of the other.[54](54/ "tree and pragmatics") - ← previous: [Introductory—the Indians’ Present Condition](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg73136/68/) - next →: [I. Menabozho and His Three Brothers](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg73136/70/) - ↑ back to [Wigwam stories told by North American Indians](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg73136/)