--- title: In the Measure of Hiawatha, part 4 — Legends of the Northwest · full text with trees description: In the Measure of Hiawatha, part 4, «Legends of the Northwest» by Hanford Lennox Gordon: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: [Footnote 49: Prairie's Pride.--This annual shrub, which abounds on many of the sandy prairies in Minnesota, is sometimes cal --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8122/21/) [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 4 # In the Measure of Hiawatha, part 4 In the Measure of Hiawatha, part 4 of «Legends of the Northwest» by Hanford Lennox Gordon: the whole text, 172 sentences and 2821 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8122/21/page/2/) \[Footnote 49: Prairie's Pride.--This annual shrub, which abounds on many of the sandy prairies in Minnesota, is sometimes called "tea-plant," "sage-plant," and "red-root willow."[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") I doubt if it has any botanic name.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") Its long plumes of purple and gold are truly the "pride of the prairies."\][3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 50: The Dakotas consider white cedar "Wakân," (sacred).[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") They use sprigs of it at their feasts, and often burn it to destroy the power of evil spirits.[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") Mrs Eastman's Dacotah, p. 210.\][6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 51: Tâhkoo-skahng-skang.--This deity is supposed to be invisible, yet everywhere present; he is an avenger and a searcher of hearts.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") (Neill's Hist.[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") Minn., p. 57.)[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") I suspect he was the chief spirit of the Dakotas before the missionaries imported "Wakan Tânka"--(Great Spirit).\][10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 52: The Dakotas believe in "were-wolves" as firmly as did our Saxon ancestors, and for similar reasons--the howl of the wolf being often imitated as a decoy or signal by their enemies, the Ojibways.\][11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 53: Shee-shó-kah--The Robin.\][12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 54: The Dakotas cail the Evening Star the "\_Virgin Star\_," and believe it to be the spirit of the virgin wronged at the feast.\][13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 55: Mille Lacs.[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") This lake was discovered by DuLuth, and by him named Lac Buade, in honor of Governor Frontenac of Canada, whose familyname was Buade.[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") The Dakota name for it is Mdé Waksân--Spirit Lake.\][16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 56: The Ojibways imitate the hoot of the owl and the howl of the wolf to perfection, and often use these cries as signals to each other in war and the chase.\][17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 57: The Dakotas called the Ojibways the "Snakes of the Forest," on account of their lying in ambush for their enemies.\][18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 58: Strawberries.\][19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 59: Seé-yo--The Prairie-hen.\][20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 60: Mahgâh--The Wild-goose.[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") \_Fox-pups\_.[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") I could never see the propriety of calling the young of foxes \_kits\_ or \_kittens\_, which mean \_little cats\_.[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") The fox belongs to the \_canis\_, or dog family and not the \_felis\_, or cat family.[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") If it is proper to call the young of dogs and wolves \_pups\_, it is equally proper to so call the young of foxes.\][25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 61: When a Dakota is sick, he thinks the spirit of an enemy or some animal has entered into his body, and the principal business of the "medicine man"--\_Wicasta Wakan\_--is to cast out the "unclean spirit," with incantations and charms.[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") See Neill's Hist.[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") Minn., pp.[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") 66--8.[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") The Jews entertained a similar belief in the days of Jesus of Nazareth.\][30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 62: Wah-zeé-yah's star--The North-star.[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") See note 3.\][32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 63: The Dakotas, like our forefathers and all other barbarians, believe in witches and witchcraft.\][33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 64: The Medó is a wild potato, it resembles the sweet potato in top and taste.[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") It grows in bottom-lands, and is much prized by the Dakotas for food.[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") The "Dakota Friend," for December, 1850.\][36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 65: The meteor--Wakân denda--Sacred fire.\][37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 66: Meetâhwin--My bride.\][38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 67: Stoke--The body of a tree.[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") This is an old English word of Saxon origin, now changed to \_stock\_.\][40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 68: The \_Via Lactea\_ or Milky Way.[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") The Dakotas call it \_Wanagee-Tach-anku\_--The path-way of the spirits and believe that over this path the spirits of the dead pass to the Spirit-land.[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") See Riggs' Tah-koo Wah-kan, p. 101.\][43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 69: Oonk-táy-hee--There are many Unktéhees, children of the Great Unktéhee, who created the earth and man and who formerly dwelt in a vast cavern under the Falls of St. Anthony.[44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") The Unktéhee sometimes reveals himself in the form of a huge buffalo-bull.[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") From him proceed invisible influences.[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") The Great Unktéhee created the earth. "[47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") Assembling in grand conclave all the aquatic tribes he ordered them to bring up dirt from beneath the waters, and proclaimed death to the disobedient.[48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") The beaver and otter forfeited their lives.[49](49/ "tree and pragmatics") At last the muskrat went beneath the waters, and, after a long time appeared at the surface, nearly exhausted, with some dirt.[50](50/ "tree and pragmatics") From this, Unktéhee fashioned the earth into a large circular plain.[51](51/ "tree and pragmatics") The earth being finished, he took a deity, one of his own offspring, and grinding him to powder, sprinkled it upon the earth, and this produced many worms.[52](52/ "tree and pragmatics") The worms were then collected and scattered again.[53](53/ "tree and pragmatics") They matured into infants and these were then collected and scattered and became full-grown Dakotas.[54](54/ "tree and pragmatics") The bones of the mastodon, the Dakotas think, are the bones of Unktéhees, and they preserve the with the greatest care in the medicine bag."[55](55/ "tree and pragmatics") Neill's Hist.[56](56/ "tree and pragmatics") Minn., p. 55.[57](57/ "tree and pragmatics") The Unktéhees and the Thunder-birds are perpetually it war.[58](58/ "tree and pragmatics") There are various accounts of the creation of man.[59](59/ "tree and pragmatics") Some say that at the bidding of the Great Unktéhee, men sprang full grown from the caverns of the earth.[60](60/ "tree and pragmatics") See Riggs' "Tah-koo Wah-kân," and Mrs Eastman's Dacotah.[61](61/ "tree and pragmatics") The Great Unktéhee and the Great Thunder-bird had a terrible battle in the bowels of the earth to determine which should be the ruler of the world.[62](62/ "tree and pragmatics") See description in Legend of Winona.\][63](63/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 70: Prononced Ahng-pay-too-wee--The Sun; literally the Day Sun, thus distinguishing him from Han-yé-tuwee (Hahng-yay-too-wee) the night sun, (the moon).[64](64/ "tree and pragmatics") They are twin brothers but Anpétuwee is the more powerful Han-yé-tuwee receives his power from his brother and obeys him.[65](65/ "tree and pragmatics") He watches over the earth while the Sun sleeps.[66](66/ "tree and pragmatics") The Dakotas believe the sun is the father of life.[67](67/ "tree and pragmatics") Unlike the most of their other gods, he is beneficent and kind; yet they worship him (in the sun-dance) in the most dreadful manner.[68](68/ "tree and pragmatics") See Riggs' "Tah-koo Wah-kân," pp.[69](69/ "tree and pragmatics") 81-2, and Catlin's Riggs' "Okee-pa."[70](70/ "tree and pragmatics") The moon is worshipped as the representative of the sun; and in the great Sun-dance, which is usually held in the full of the moon, when the moon rises the dancers turn their eyes on her (or him).[71](71/ "tree and pragmatics") Anpétuwee issues every morning from the lodge of Han-nan-na (the Morning) and begins his journey over the sky to his lodge in the land of shadows.[72](72/ "tree and pragmatics") Sometimes he walks over on the Bridge (or path) of the Spirits--Wanâgee Ta-chan-ku,--and sometimes he sails over the sea of the skies in his shining canoe; but \_somehow\_, and the Dakotas do not explain how, he gets back again to the lodge of Hannanna in time to take a nap and eat his breakfast before starting anew on his journey.[73](73/ "tree and pragmatics") The Dakotas swear by the sun. "\_As Anpé-tu-wee hears me, this is true\_!"[74](74/ "tree and pragmatics") They call him Father and pray to him --"\_Wakan\![75](75/ "tree and pragmatics") Ate, on-she-ma-da.[76](76/ "tree and pragmatics") \_" "Sacred Spirit,--Father, have mercy on me."[77](77/ "tree and pragmatics") As the Sun is the father, so they believe the Earth is the mother, of life.[78](78/ "tree and pragmatics") Truly there is much philosophy in the Dakota mythology.[79](79/ "tree and pragmatics") The Algonkins call the earth "\_Me-suk-kum-mik-o-kwa\_"--the great-grandmother of all.[80](80/ "tree and pragmatics") Narrative of John Tanner, p. 193.\][81](81/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 71: The Dakotas reckon their months by \_moon\_.[82](82/ "tree and pragmatics") They name their moons from natural circumstances.[83](83/ "tree and pragmatics") They correspond very nearly with our months, as follows:[84](84/ "tree and pragmatics") January--Wee-té-rhee--The Hard Moon, i.e.--the cold moon.[85](85/ "tree and pragmatics") February--Wee-câ-ta-wee--The Coon Moon.[86](86/ "tree and pragmatics") March--Istâ-wee-ca-ya-zang-wee--the sore eyes moon (from snow blindness.)[87](87/ "tree and pragmatics") April--Magâ-okâ-da-wee--the moon when the geese lay eggs; also called Wokâda-wee--egg-moon, and sometimes Wató-papee-wee, the canoe moon, or moon when the streams become free from ice.[88](88/ "tree and pragmatics") May--Wó-zu-pee-wee--the planting moon.[89](89/ "tree and pragmatics") June--Wazú-ste-ca-sa-wee--the strawberry moon.[90](90/ "tree and pragmatics") July--Wa-sun-pa-wee--moon when the geese shed their feathers, also called Chang-pâ-sapa-wee--Choke-Cherry moon, and sometimes--Mna-rchâ-rhca-wee--"The moon of the red blooming lilies", literally, the red-lily moon.[91](91/ "tree and pragmatics") August--Wasú-ton-wee--the ripe moon, i.e. Harvest Moon.[92](92/ "tree and pragmatics") September--Psin-na-ké-tu-wee--the ripe rice moon.[93](93/ "tree and pragmatics") October--Wà-zu-pee-wee or Wee-wa-zú-pee--the moon when wild rice is gathered and laid up for winter.[94](94/ "tree and pragmatics") November--Ta-kee-yu-hrâ-wee--the deer-rutting moon.[95](95/ "tree and pragmatics") December--Ta-hé-cha-psung-wee--the moon when deer shed their horns.\][96](96/ "tree and pragmatics") \[Footnote 72: Oonk-tó-mee--is a "bad spirit" in the form of a monstrous black spider.[97](97/ "tree and pragmatics") He inhabits fens and marshes and lies in wait for his prey.[98](98/ "tree and pragmatics") At night he often lights a torch (evidently the \_ignis fatuus\_ or Jack-a-lantern) and swings it on the marshes to decoy the unwary into his toils.\][99](99/ "tree and pragmatics") **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8122/21/page/2/) - ← previous: [In the Measure of Hiawatha, part 3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8122/20/) - next →: [page 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8122/21/page/2/) - ↑ back to [Legends of the Northwest](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8122/)