--- title: In the Measure of Hiawatha, part 2 — Legends of the Northwest · full text with trees · page 2 description: In the Measure of Hiawatha, part 2, «Legends of the Northwest» by Hanford Lennox Gordon: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: So from Sunny Isles returning, From the Summer-Land of spirits, On the poles of Panther's wigwam Sang Opeé-chee--sang the rob --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8122/19/page/2/) [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/) / [Legends of the Northwest](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8122/) / In the Measure of Hiawatha, part 2 # In the Measure of Hiawatha, part 2 · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8122/19/) **2** Dead she tossed upon the billows; For the Nébe-nâw-baigs knew her, Knew the crafty, wicked woman, And they cast her from the waters, Spurned her from their shining wigwams; Far away upon the shingle With the roaring waves they cast her.[60](../../60/ "tree and pragmatics") There upon her bloated body Fed the cawing crows and ravens, Fed the hungry wolves and foxes.[61](../../61/ "tree and pragmatics") On the shore of Gitchee Gumee, Ever young and ever handsome, Long and happy lived the Sea-Gull, Long and happy with the Panther.[62](../../62/ "tree and pragmatics") Evermore the happy hunter Loved the mother of his children.[63](../../63/ "tree and pragmatics") Like a red star many winters Blazed their lodge-fire on the sea-shore.[64](../../64/ "tree and pragmatics") O'er the Bridge of Souls together \[1026\] Walked the Sea-Gull and the Panther.[65](../../65/ "tree and pragmatics") To the far-off Sunny Islands-- To the Summer-Land of Spirits, Where no more the happy hunter Feels the fangs of frost or famine, Or the keen blasts of Kewâydin.[66](../../66/ "tree and pragmatics") Where no pain or sorrow enters, And no crafty, wicked woman, Sea-Gull journeyed with her husband.[67](../../67/ "tree and pragmatics") There she rules his lodge forever, And the twain are very happy, On the far-off Sunny Islands, In the Summer-Land of Spirits.[68](../../68/ "tree and pragmatics") On the rocks of Gitchee Gumee-- On the Pictured Rocks--the Legend Long ago was traced and written, Pictured by the Water Spirits; But the storms of many winters Have bedimmed the pictured story, So that none can read the legend But the Jossakeeds, the prophets.[69](../../69/ "tree and pragmatics") \[1027\][70](../../70/ "tree and pragmatics") MINNETONKA[71](../../71/ "tree and pragmatics") Note: The Dakota name for this beautiful lake is \_Me-ne-a-tan-ka\_--Broad Water.[72](../../72/ "tree and pragmatics") By dropping the a before tánka, we have changed the name to \_Big Water\_.[73](../../73/ "tree and pragmatics") I sit once more on breezy shore, at sunset in this glorious June.[74](../../74/ "tree and pragmatics") I hear the dip of gleaming oar.[75](../../75/ "tree and pragmatics") I list the singer's merry tune.[76](../../76/ "tree and pragmatics") Beneath my feet the waters beat and ripple on the polished stones.[77](../../77/ "tree and pragmatics") The squirrel chatters from his seat: the bag-pipe beetle hums and drones.[78](../../78/ "tree and pragmatics") The pink and gold in blooming wold,--the green hills mirrored in the lake\![79](../../79/ "tree and pragmatics") The deep, blue waters, zephyr-rolled, along the murmuring pebbles break.[80](../../80/ "tree and pragmatics") The maples screen the ferns, and lean the leafy lindens o'er the deep; The sapphire, set in emerald green, lies like an Orient gem asleep.[81](../../81/ "tree and pragmatics") The crimsoned west glows like the breast of \_Rhuddin\_ \[a\] when he pipes in May, As downward droops the sun to rest, and shadows gather on the bay.[82](../../82/ "tree and pragmatics") \[a\] The Welsh name for the robin.[83](../../83/ "tree and pragmatics") In amber sky the swallows fly, and sail and circle o'er the deep; The light-winged night-hawks whir and cry; the silver pike and salmon leap.[84](../../84/ "tree and pragmatics") The rising moon, the woods aboon, looks laughing down on lake and lea; Weird o'er the waters shrills the loon; the high stars twinkle in the sea.[85](../../85/ "tree and pragmatics") From bank and hill the whippowil sends piping forth his flute-like notes, And clear and shrill the answers trill from leafy isles and silver throats.[86](../../86/ "tree and pragmatics") The twinkling light on cape and height; the hum of voices on the shores; The merry laughter on the night; the dip and plash of frolic oars,-- These tell the tale.[87](../../87/ "tree and pragmatics") On hill and dale the cities pour their gay and fair; Along the sapphire lake they sail, and quaff like wine the balmy air.[88](../../88/ "tree and pragmatics") 'Tis well.[89](../../89/ "tree and pragmatics") Of yore from isle and shore the smoke of Indian teepees \[a\] rose; The hunter plied the silent oar; the forest lay in still repose.[90](../../90/ "tree and pragmatics") The moon-faced maid, in leafy glade, her warrior waited from the chase; The nut-brown, naked children played, and chased the gopher on the grass.[91](../../91/ "tree and pragmatics") The dappled fawn, on wooded lawn, peeped out upon the birch canoe, Swift-gliding in the gray of dawn along the silent waters blue.[92](../../92/ "tree and pragmatics") In yonder tree the great \_Wanm-dee\_ \[b\] securely built her spacious nest; The blast that swept the land-locked sea \[c\] but rocked her clamorous babes to rest.[93](../../93/ "tree and pragmatics") By grassy mere the elk and deer gazed on the hunter as he came; Nor fled with fear from bow or spear;--"so wild were they that they were tame."[94](../../94/ "tree and pragmatics") \[a\] Lodges.[95](../../95/ "tree and pragmatics") \[b\] Wanm-dee--the war-eagle of the Dakotas.[96](../../96/ "tree and pragmatics") \[c\] Lake Superior.[97](../../97/ "tree and pragmatics") Ah, birch canoe, and hunter, too, have long forsaken lake and shore: He bade his father's bones adieu and turned away forevermore.[98](../../98/ "tree and pragmatics") But still, methinks, on dusky brinks the spirit of the warrior moves; At crystal springs the hunter drinks, and nightly haunts the spot he loves.[99](../../99/ "tree and pragmatics") For oft at night I see the light of lodge-fires on the shadowy shores, And hear the wail some maiden's sprite above her slaughtered warrior pours.[100](../../100/ "tree and pragmatics") I hear the sob on Spirit Knob \[a\] of Indian mother o'er her child; And on the midnight waters throb her low \_yun-he-he's\_ \[b\] weird and wild.[101](../../101/ "tree and pragmatics") And sometimes, too, the light canoe glides like a shadow o'er the deep At midnight, when the moon is low, and all the shores are hushed in sleep.[102](../../102/ "tree and pragmatics") \[a\] Spirit Knob is a small hill up on a point in the lake in full view from Wayzata.[103](../../103/ "tree and pragmatics") The spirit of a Dakota mother whose only child was drowned in the lake during a storm, many, many years ago often wails at midnight (so the Dakotas say), on this hill.[104](../../104/ "tree and pragmatics") So they called it \_Wa-na-gee Pa-ze-dan\_--Spirit Knob.[105](../../105/ "tree and pragmatics") (Literally--little hill of the spirit.)[106](../../106/ "tree and pragmatics") \[b\] Pronounced \_Yoon-hay-hay\_--the exclamation used by Dakota women in their lament for the dead, and equivalent to "woe is me."[107](../../107/ "tree and pragmatics") Alas--Alas!--for all things pass; and we shall vanish, too, as they; We build our monuments of brass, and granite, but they waste away.[108](../../108/ "tree and pragmatics") FOOTNOTES:[109](../../109/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 1: Called in the Dakota tongue "Hok-sée-win-nâ-pee Wo-hàn-pee"--Virgins Dance (or Feast).\][110](../../110/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 2: One of the favorite and most exciting games of the Dakotas is ball-playing.[111](../../111/ "tree and pragmatics") A smooth place on the prairie, or in winter, on a frozen lake or river, is chosen.[112](../../112/ "tree and pragmatics") Each player has a sort of bat, called "Tâ-kée-cha-psé-cha," about thirty two inches long with a hoop at the lower end four or five inches in diameter, interlaced with thongs of deer-skin, forming a sort of pocket.[113](../../113/ "tree and pragmatics") With these bats they catch and throw the ball.[114](../../114/ "tree and pragmatics") Stakes are set as bounds at a considerable distance from the centre on either side.[115](../../115/ "tree and pragmatics") Two parties are then formed, and each chooses a leader or chief.[116](../../116/ "tree and pragmatics") The ball (Tâ-pa) is then thrown up half way between the bounds, and the game begins, the contestants contending with their bats for the ball as it falls.[117](../../117/ "tree and pragmatics") When one succeeds in getting it fairly in the pocket of his bat he swings it aloft and throws it as far as he can towards the bound to which his party is working, taking care to send it, if possible, where some of his own side will take it up.[118](../../118/ "tree and pragmatics") Thus the ball is thrown and contended for till one party succeeds in casting it beyond the bound of the opposite party.[119](../../119/ "tree and pragmatics") A hundred players on a side are sometimes engaged in this exciting game.[120](../../120/ "tree and pragmatics") Betting on the result often runs high.[121](../../121/ "tree and pragmatics") Moccasins, pipes, knives, hatchets, blankets, robes and guns are hung on the prize-pole.[122](../../122/ "tree and pragmatics") Not unfrequently horses are staked on the issue, and sometimes even women.[123](../../123/ "tree and pragmatics") Old men and mothers are among the spectators praising their swift-footed sons, and young wives and maidens are there to stimulate their husbands and lovers.[124](../../124/ "tree and pragmatics") This game is not confined to the warriors, but is also a favorite amusement of the Dakota maidens who generally play for prizes offered by the chief or warriors.[125](../../125/ "tree and pragmatics") See Neill's Hist.[126](../../126/ "tree and pragmatics") Minn. pp 74-5; Riggs' "Tâkoo Wakân," pp 44-5, and Mrs Eastman's Dacotah, p 55.\][127](../../127/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8122/19/) **2** - ← previous: [page 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8122/19/) - next →: [In the Measure of Hiawatha, part 3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8122/20/) - ↑ back to [Legends of the Northwest](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8122/)