VI. 



QUAINT INDIAN LORE 



IN REGARD TO THE MYSTICAL POWER OF THE 

 BEAR AS A GREAT MEDICINE. 



This is a legend of the Ojibwa Indians as 

 told by Sikassige, the officiating priest of 

 the Ojibwas at White Earth, Minnesota: 



In the beginning were created two men 

 and two women. They had no power of 

 thought or reason. Then the Almighty 

 took them into his hands that they might 

 multiply, and he made them reasonable be- 

 ings. He paired them, and from this 

 sprung the Indians. 



Then when there were people the Great 

 Spirit placed them upon the earth; but he 

 soon observed that they were subject to 

 sickness, misery and death. Then the Man- 

 itou called upon the Sun Spirit (the Bear) 

 and asked him to instruct the people in the 

 Sacred Medicine. The Sun Spirit, in the 



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