hoffmas] ACCOUNT OF NANABOOJOO 207 



The following statement was given to the late Keverend Father 

 De Sinet 1 , by Potogojecs, a Potawatouii chief of reputed intelligence, 

 viz: 



" Many of us believe that there are two Great Spirits who govern 

 the universe, but who are constantly at war with each other. Oue is 

 called the Kchemnito, that is, the Great Spirit; the other Mchemnito, 

 or the Wicked Spirit. The first is goodness itself, and his beneticeut 

 influence is felt everywhere; but tbe second is wickedness personified, 

 and does nothing but evil. Some believe that they are equally power- 

 ful, and through fear of the Wicked Spirit, offer to him their homage 

 and adoration. Others, again, are doubtful which of them should he 

 considered the more powerful, and accordingly endeavor to propitiate 

 both by offering to each an appropriate worship. 



"A great manitou came on earth and chose a wife from among the 

 children of men. He had four sons at a birth ; the first born was called 

 Nanaboojoo, the friend of the human race, the mediator between man 

 and the < Treat Spirit; the second was named Ohipiapoos, the man of the 

 dead, who presides over the country of the souls; the third, Wabosso, 

 as soon as he saw the light, tied towards the north, where he was 

 changed into a white rabbit, and under that name is considered there 

 as a great manitou; the fourth was Cbakekenapok, the man of flint or 

 firestone. In coming into the world he caused the death of his mother. 



"Nanaboojoo, having arrived at the age of manhood, resolved to 

 avenge the death of his mother (for among us revenge is considered 

 honorable) ; he pursued Chakekenapok all over the globe. Whenever 

 be could come within reach of his brother he fractured some member 

 of his body, and after several rencounters finally destroyed him by tear- 

 ing out his entrails. All fragments broken from the body of this man 

 of stone then grew up into large rocks; his entrails were changed into 

 vines of every species and took deep root in all the forests; the flint- 

 stones scattered around the earth indicate where the different combats 

 took place. Before fire was introduced among us, Nanaboojoo taught 

 our ancestors how to form hatchets, lances, and the points of arrows, in 

 order to assist us in killing our enemies in war and animals for our food. 

 Nanaboojoo and his brother Chipiapoos lived together retired from the 

 rest of mankind and were distinguished from all other beings by their 

 superior qualities of body and mind. The mauitous that dwell in the 

 air, as well as those who inhabit the earth and the waters, envied the 

 power of these brothers and conspired to destroy them. Nanaboojoo 

 discovered and eluded their snares and warned Chipiapoos not to sepa- 

 rate himself from him a single moment. Notwithstanding this admoni- 

 tion, Ohipiapoos ventured alone one day upon Lake Michigan; the 

 mauitous broke the ice and he sank to the bottom, where they hid the 

 body. Nanaboojoo became inconsolable when he missed his brother 

 from his lodge; he sought him everywhere in vain; he waged war 

 • 



1 Oregon Missions and Travels over the Rock; Mountains, in 1845-46, New York, 1847, pp. 344, 345. 



