1G2 THE MENOMINI INDIANS [eth.ann.u 



scope of the ritual of the Mitii'wit, although .some of the older mita'wok 

 believe that at some time in the past they were part of the instruction 

 given to the candidate. There appears to have been a time, according 

 to both the Ojibwa and Menomini Indians, when Ma'nabush became 

 degraded on account of his foolish actions. In the Ottawa dialect 

 Ma'nabush signifies a "foolish fellow," because of the ridiculous per- 

 formances of this demigod previous to his final departure from the 

 Indian country. 1 



Some of these myths will be recognized as having, at some time in the 

 past, formed part of the cosmogonic ritual of the Menomini, but wheu 

 and how they became separated and so altered as to have lost their 

 reverential character it is impossible even to surmise. 



TIIE TRAVELS OF MA'NABUSH 



When Ma'nabush had completed the erection of the mita'wiko'mik, 

 and had made the presentation to his uncles of the mysteries of the 

 Mitii'wit, he decided to go on a journey to visit his brothers (some of 

 the mita'wok who had been so constituted by him), because there were 

 many evil ma'nidos, the Aua'maqki'u, who were constantly endeavoring 

 to destroy them. 



The following is a translation of the myth given by Shu'nien: 



One time after a long journey Ma'nabiish thought he heard some 

 singing, and thinking there were some people having a dance, he went 

 forward and soon beheld a multitude of dancers, greatly interested in 

 t heir ceremony, lie saw the headfeathers moving about in every direc- 

 tion, but as it was late in the evening he could not distinguish those 

 about him. Receiving no friendly greeting from anyone, he said, "My 

 brothers, 1 have come to join you in the dance," but he had scarcely 

 uttered these words wheu he heard some one derisively laughing at him. 

 The same voipe then spoke, "We have fooled Ma'nabiish," whereupon 

 he knew that some of the ana'inaqki'u were the authors of the decep- 

 tion and that he had mistaken the tall reeds with leathery plumes for 

 well-clad warriors with eagle-feather headdresses. 



When Ma'nabiish looked about and saw how he had been deceived, 

 he was very angry; so he said to the ana'maqki'ii, "That is all well for 

 you, but I shall remember this occurrence." He left the place and 

 continued to walk for a long time, when he again heard the sounds 

 of music and dancing. Approaching near enough to see that he was 

 not deceived a second time, he observed a large number of birds, of 

 many kinds, dancing round in a circle. Ma'nabiish said to them, "My 

 brothers, I have brought some songs with me, and will sing for you 

 while you dance, but you must all keep your eyes closed as you dance, 

 for otherwise it will not be so enjoyable." The birds began to dance, 

 and as one would come within easy reach of Ma'nabush he would 



'According to verbal information received from Mr A. J. Blackbird, an educated Ottawa obief and 

 interpreter of Micbigau. 



