Indians of North America; Indians of North America -- Folklore
The Indians tell that, in a time so long ago no one can tell when, four
brothers were born on this earth.
The first was Menabozho, who is the friend of all the human race. The
second was Chibiabos, who cares for the dead and lives in the Country
of Souls. The third was Wabose. He ran far away to the north and was
changed into a rabbit, but is still very powerful. The fourth was
Chokanipok, the Man of Flint.
Menabozho did not love his fourth brother, the stone man, and had many
battles with him. These battles were long and terrible. Traces of them
can be found to this day. Chokanipok’s body was as large as a mountain.
In one of these battles Menabozho’s arrows tore off many pieces of
flesh from him. These changed into flint stones when they touched the
earth, and men made fire by striking two of them together.
At last Menabozho conquered, for he had more love for man in his heart
than had his brother, and the great firestone giant fell, and his
pieces are scattered everywhere.
This gave Menabozho courage, and he traveled all over the earth
teaching men how to use stone and bone. He taught them how to make
stone axes. He showed them how to make snares and traps so as to catch
fishes and birds. He taught the women how to weave mats and beautiful
baskets.
While he traveled he saw the huge creatures whose bones are now dug up
from far under the ground. Menabozho slew these animals himself and hid
them away. He opened the pathway for the rivers between the hills and
mountains. He made the earth ready for the Indian.
Menabozho placed four spirits at the four sides of the heavens. The
spirit which he put in the north sends snow and ice so that the Indian
may hunt during the cold moons. The spirit in the south sends the warm
wind and gives the red man corn, melons, and tobacco. The spirit that
stands in the west sends the rain, and the spirit in the east gives
light to the earth.
Some Indian legends say that Menabozho now lives on an ice mountain in
the great sea. If he, by any chance, were driven from his home all
things would burn if he should touch his feet to the ground to spring
into the air. The end would come, for the sun could never shine again
without Menabozho to guide it from the east to the west.
When this great manitou walked on the earth his steps measured as long
as the steps one tribe would take in one day. He could step over
mountains and think they were only ant-hills. He could step over a
large lake. If he wished, he could make himself as short as a man. He
had great power.
It is told that a little child once outwitted him. The boy was playing
outside his mother’s lodge and dared the manitou to do as he did. The
manitou loved the child and waited to see what it did. The boy lay down
and put his toe into his mouth. Menabozho tried to do this same thing
and could not.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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