MALLERY.] OJIBWA MYTHIC ANIMALS. 481 
Fig. 669 is a reproduction of a drawing made by Niopet, chief of the 
Menomoni Indians, and represents the white bear spirit who guards 
the deposits of native copper of Lake Superior. According to the myth 
the animal is covered with silvery hair, and the tail, which is of great 
length and extends completely around the body, is composed of bright, 
burnished copper. This spirit lives in the earth, where he guards the 
metal from discovery. 
In a midé’ song, given by James Tanner (f), is the representation 
of an animal resembling the preceding, viz, the middle character of Fig. 
670, to which is attached the Ojibway phrase and explanation as follows: 
Che-be-gau-ze-naung gwit-to-i-ah-na maun-dah-ween ah-kee-ge neen-wa-nah gua- 
kwaik ke-nah gwit-to-i-ah-na. 
Tcome to change the appearance of the ground, this ground; I make it look dif- 
ferent each season. 
Fic. 669.—Menomoni. White Bear Ma/nido. 
This is a Manito who, on account of his immensity of tail, and other peculiarities, 
has no prototype. He claims to be the ruler over the seasons. He is probably 
Gitche-a-nah mi-e-be-zhew (great underground wild-cat). 
The ‘‘underground wild-cat” is again mentioned in the same work, 
page 377, with an illustration now presented as the left-hand character 
of the same Fig. 670, slightly different from the above, described as 
follows: 
A-nah-me be-zhe ne-kau-naw. 
Underground wild-cat is my friend. 
At the fourth verse he exhibits his medicines, which he says are the roots of shrubs 
and of We-ug-gusk-oan, or herbs, and from these he derives his power, at least in 
part; but lest his claim, founded on a knowledge of these, should not be considered 
of sufficient importance, he proceeds to say, in the fifth and sixth verses, that the 
snakes and the underground wild-cat are among his helpers and friends. The ferocity 
and cunning, as well as the activity of the feline animals have not escaped the notice 
of the Indians, and very commonly they give the form of animals of this family to 
those imaginary beings whose attributes bear, in their opinion, some resemblance to 
the qualities of these animals. Most of them have heard of the lion, the largest of 
the cats known to white men, and all have heard of the devil; they consider them 
the same. The wild-cat here figured has horns, and his residence is under the 
ground; but he has amaster, Gitche-a-nah-mi-e-be-zhew (the great underground wild- 
eat), who is, as some think, Matche-Manito himself, their evil spirit, or devil. Of 
this last they speak but rarely. 
10 ETH 31 
