DENSMORE] PLANTS USED IN ARTS 385 
He was told that if he could find Winabojo he would learn the way 
to the spirit land, for Winabojo was the only one who could tell him. 
So he talked it over with the other Grand Medicine man, and five of 
them said they would go to the spirit land with him if they could 
first find the way to Winabojo. They went to the graves of their 
friends and called to their spirits. Finally they got a response. 
They asked, “Can we find Winabojo?” And the spirits of their 
friends answered, “ Yes, for he is still on the earth.” Then the 
spirits told them how to find him. They went until they came to 
this island, far in the great lake (Superior). There they found 
Winabojo. He was too old to travel, and on his head was a beautiful 
cedar tree. Winabojo wore the cedar tree as an ornament and its 
roots were all around him. Beside him was a great round stone. 
One of the men asked if he could live always, as Winabojo was 
doing. Winabojo replied, “No. You can only live your allotted 
years. The only way you can become perpetual is by becoming a 
stone.” The man said, “ Yes. I will do so.” Then the man became 
a stone and remained with Winabojo. The others wanted to go to 
the spirit land. Winabojo gave each of them a “snake chain” *** and 
told them to be sure not to untie these chains from around their 
waists. He said, “ You must stay only four days and four nights. 
You will not see the spirits by day, but at night they have a dance 
in the long wigwam.'* Go in quietly and sit down.” To the father 
he said, “ Your daughter is there. Watch for her at the dance of the 
spirits in the long wigwam. Perhaps she will come and you will see 
her. Carry a bag with you. Put her in the bag and hold her tight. 
This is the only way in which you can get her.” 
The Grand Medicine men did as Winabojo told them to do. There 
were only five remaining, as one had been turned into a stone. They 
went to the land of the spirits and sat quietly, watching the dance of 
the spirits in the long wigwam. All went well until the second day 
when one of the men wanted to untie his “snake chain” and see 
what would happen. He did this, and in a moment he became a. 
spirit and his friends never saw him again. The remaining four 
men went to the dance every night and the father watched for his 
daughter. On the fourth night toward morning he saw her come 
into the wigwam. Her head was covered by her blanket but he 
recognized her, and when she came near he grasped her in his arms. 
She struggled, but by the help of his friends he got her into the bag. 
Then they all returned to Winabojo, and he told them how they could 
get her back to the earth. He told them to start on their way, and 
when night came they were to tie the bag in a safe place, then retrace 
18a This is a plaited chain worn as a protection against reptiles or other harm. 
4 This refers to the long dome-roofed structure in which the Midewiwin held its meet- 
ings. Cf. beliefs concerning the northern lights, p. 379. 
