--- title: In the Measure of Hiawatha, part 3 — Legends of the Northwest · full text with trees · page 2 description: In the Measure of Hiawatha, part 3, «Legends of the Northwest» by Hanford Lennox Gordon: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: [Footnote 3: Pronounced Wah-zeé-yah. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8122/20/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 3 # In the Measure of Hiawatha, part 3 · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8122/20/) **2** \[Footnote 22: See Mrs. Eastman's Dacotah, pp.[87](../../87/ "tree and pragmatics") 225-8, describing the feast to Heyóka.\][88](../../88/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 23: This stone from which the Dakotas have made their pipes for ages, is esteemed "wakân"--sacred.[89](../../89/ "tree and pragmatics") They call it I-yân-ska, probably from "íya," to speak, and "ska," white, truthful, peaceful,--hence, peace-pipe, herald of peace, pledge of truth, etc. In the cabinet at Albany, N.Y., there is a very ancient pipe of this material which the Iroquois obtained from the Dakotas.[90](../../90/ "tree and pragmatics") Charlevoix speaks of this pipe-stone in his History of New France.[91](../../91/ "tree and pragmatics") LeSueur refers to the Yanktons as the village of the Dakotas at the Red-Stone Quarry, See Neill's Hist.[92](../../92/ "tree and pragmatics") Minn., p. 514.\][93](../../93/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 24: "Ho" is an exclamation of approval—-yea, yes, bravo.\][94](../../94/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 25: Buying is the honorable way of taking a wife among the Dakotas.[95](../../95/ "tree and pragmatics") The proposed husband usually gives a horse or its, value in other articles to the father or natural guardian of the woman selected--sometimes against her will.[96](../../96/ "tree and pragmatics") See note 75.\][97](../../97/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 26: The Dakotas believe that the \_Aurora Borealis\_ is an evil omen and the threatening of an evil spirit, (perhaps Wazíya, the Winter-god--some say a witch, or a very ugly old woman).[98](../../98/ "tree and pragmatics") When the lights appear, danger threatens, and the warriors shoot at, and often slay, the evil spirit, but it rises from the dead again.\][99](../../99/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 27: Se-só-kah--The Robin.\][100](../../100/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 28: The spirit of Anpétu-sâpa that haunts the Falls of St. Anthony with her dead babe in her arms.[101](../../101/ "tree and pragmatics") See the Legend in Neill's Hist.[102](../../102/ "tree and pragmatics") Minn., or my "Legend of the Falls."\][103](../../103/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 29: Mee-coónk-shee--My daughter.\][104](../../104/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 30: The Dakotas call the meteor, "Wakân-denda" (sacred fire) and Wakân-wohlpa (sacred gift.)[105](../../105/ "tree and pragmatics") Meteors are messengers from the Land of Spirits, warning of impending danger.[106](../../106/ "tree and pragmatics") It is a curious fact that the "sacred stone" of the Mohammedans, in the Kaaba at Mecca, is a meteoric stone, and obtains its sacred character from the fact that it fell from heaven.[107](../../107/ "tree and pragmatics") 31: Kah-nó-te-dahn--The little, mysterious dweller in the woods.[108](../../108/ "tree and pragmatics") This spirit lives in the forest in hollow trees.[109](../../109/ "tree and pragmatics") Mrs. Eastman's Dacotah, Pre.[110](../../110/ "tree and pragmatics") Rem. xxxi. "[111](../../111/ "tree and pragmatics") The Dakota god of the woods--an unknown animal said to resemble a man, which the Dakotas worship; perhaps, the monkey."[112](../../112/ "tree and pragmatics") Riggs' Dakota Dic.[113](../../113/ "tree and pragmatics") Tit--\_Canotidan\_.\][114](../../114/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 32: The Dakotas believe that thunder is produced by the flapping of the wings of an immense bird which they call Wakínyan--the Thunder-bird.[115](../../115/ "tree and pragmatics") Near the source of the Minnesota River is a place called "Thunder-Tracks" where the foot-prints of a "Thunder-bird" are seen on the rocks twenty-five miles apart.[116](../../116/ "tree and pragmatics") Mrs. Eastman's Dacotah, p. 71.[117](../../117/ "tree and pragmatics") There are many Thunder-birds.[118](../../118/ "tree and pragmatics") The father of all the Thunder-birds--"Wakínyan Tanka"--or "Big Thunder," has his teepee on a lofty mountain in the far West.[119](../../119/ "tree and pragmatics") His teepee has four openings, at each of which is a sentinel; at the east, a butterfly; at the west, a bear; at the south, a red deer; at the north, a caribou.[120](../../120/ "tree and pragmatics") He has a bitter enmity against Unktéhee (god of waters) and often shoots his fiery arrows at him, and hits the earth, trees, rocks, and sometimes men.[121](../../121/ "tree and pragmatics") Wakínyan created wild-rice, the bow and arrow, the tomahawk and the spear.[122](../../122/ "tree and pragmatics") He is a great war-spirit, and Wanmdée (the war-eagle) is his messenger.[123](../../123/ "tree and pragmatics") A Thunder-bird (say the Dakotas) was once killed near Kapóza by the son of Cetan-Wakawa-mâni, and he there upon took the name of "Wakínyan Tanka"--"Big Thunder."\][124](../../124/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 33: Pronounced Tah-tâhn-kah--Bison or Buffalo.\][125](../../125/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 34: Enâh--An exclamation of wonder.[126](../../126/ "tree and pragmatics") Ehó--Behold! see there!\][127](../../127/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 35: The Crees are the Knisteneaux of Alexander Mackenzie.[128](../../128/ "tree and pragmatics") See his account of them, Mackenzie's Travels, (London 1801) p. xci. to cvii.\][129](../../129/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 36: Lake Superior.[130](../../130/ "tree and pragmatics") The only names the Dakotas have for Lake Superior are Medé Tânka or Tânka Medé--Great Lake, and Me-ne-yâ-ta--literally, \_At-the-Water\_.\][131](../../131/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 37: April--Literally, the moon when the geese lay eggs.[132](../../132/ "tree and pragmatics") See note 71.\][133](../../133/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 38: Carver's Cave at St. Paul was called by the Dakotas "Wakân Teepee"--sacred lodge.[134](../../134/ "tree and pragmatics") In the days that are no more, they lighted their Council-fires in this cave, and buried their dead near it.[135](../../135/ "tree and pragmatics") See Neill's Hist.[136](../../136/ "tree and pragmatics") Minn., p. 207.[137](../../137/ "tree and pragmatics") Capt.[138](../../138/ "tree and pragmatics") Carver in his \_Travels\_, London, 1778, p. 63, et seq., describes this cave as follows: "It is a remarkable cave of an amazing depth.[139](../../139/ "tree and pragmatics") The Indians term it Wakon-teebe, that is, the Dwelling of the Great Spirit.[140](../../140/ "tree and pragmatics") The entrance into it is about ten feet wide, the height of it five feet, the arch within is near fifteen feet high and about thirty feet broad.[141](../../141/ "tree and pragmatics") The bottom of it consists of fine clear sand.[142](../../142/ "tree and pragmatics") About twenty feet from the entrance begins a lake, the water of which is transparent, and extends to an unsearchable distance; for the darkness of the cave prevents all attempts to acquire a knowledge of it.[143](../../143/ "tree and pragmatics") I threw a small pebble towards the interior parts of it with my utmost strength.[144](../../144/ "tree and pragmatics") I could hear that it fell into the water, and notwithstanding it was of so small a size, it caused an astonishing and horrible noise that reverberated through all those gloomy regions.[145](../../145/ "tree and pragmatics") I found in this cave many Indian hieroglyphics, which appeared very ancient, for time had nearly covered them with moss, so that it was with difficulty I could trace them.[146](../../146/ "tree and pragmatics") They were cut in a rude manner upon the inside of the walls, which were composed of a stone so extremely soft that it might be easily penetrated with a knife: a stone everywhere to be found near the Mississippi.[147](../../147/ "tree and pragmatics") This cave is only accessible by ascending a narrow, steep passage that lies near the brink of the river.[148](../../148/ "tree and pragmatics") At a little distance from this dreary cavern is the burying-place of several bands of the Naudowessie (Dakota) Indians."[149](../../149/ "tree and pragmatics") Many years ago the roof fell in, but the cave has been partially restored and is now used as a beer cellar.\][150](../../150/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 39: Wah-kahn-dee--The lightning.\][151](../../151/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 40: The Bloody River--the Red River was so-called on account of the numerous Indian battles that have been fought on its banks.[152](../../152/ "tree and pragmatics") The Chippewas say that its waters were colored red by the blood of many warriors slain on its banks in the fierce wars between themselves and the Dakotas.\][153](../../153/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 41: Tah--The Moose.[154](../../154/ "tree and pragmatics") This is the root-word for all ruminating animals; Ta-tânka, buffalo—-Ta-tóka mountain antelope--Ta-hinca, the red-deer--Ta-mdóka, the buck deer—-Ta-hinca-ska, white deer (sheep).\][155](../../155/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 42: Hogâhn--Fish.[156](../../156/ "tree and pragmatics") Red Hogan, the trout.\][157](../../157/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 43: Tipsânna (often called \_tipsinna\_) is a wild prairie turnip used for food by the Dakotas.[158](../../158/ "tree and pragmatics") It grows on high, dry land, and increases from year to year.[159](../../159/ "tree and pragmatics") It is eaten both cooked and raw.\][160](../../160/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 44: Rio Tajo, (or Tagus), a river of Spain and Portugal.\][161](../../161/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 45:[162](../../162/ "tree and pragmatics") "\* \* \* \* Bees of Trebizond-- Which from the sunniest flowers that glad With their pure smile the gardens round, Draw venom forth that drives men mad."[163](../../163/ "tree and pragmatics") --\_Thomas Moore\_\][164](../../164/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 46: Skeé-skah--The Wood duck.\][165](../../165/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 47: The Crocus.[166](../../166/ "tree and pragmatics") I have seen the prairies in Minnesota spangled with these beautiful flowers in various colors before the ground was entirely free from frost.[167](../../167/ "tree and pragmatics") The Datotas call them frost-flowers.\][168](../../168/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 48: The "Sacred Ring" around the feast of the Virgins is formed by armed warriors sitting, and none but a virgin must enter this ring.[169](../../169/ "tree and pragmatics") The warrior who knows is bound on honor, and by old and sacred custom, to expose and publicly denounce any tarnished maiden who dares to enter this ring, and his word cannot be questioned--even by the chief.[170](../../170/ "tree and pragmatics") See Mrs Eastman's Dacotah, p. 64.\][171](../../171/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8122/20/) **2** - ← previous: [page 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8122/20/) - next →: [In the Measure of Hiawatha, part 4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8122/21/) - ↑ back to [Legends of the Northwest](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8122/)