492 PICTURE-WRITING OF THE AMERICAN INDIANS. 
writers on the subject. The severe Puritan and the ardent Catholic 
both considered that the exhibitions were real, and the work of Satan. 
It is also worth mentioning that one of the derivations of the name 
“Micmac” is connected with the word meaning sorcerer. The early 
known practices of this character, which had an important effect upon 
the life of the people, extended from the extreme east of the continent 
to the Great Lakes. They have been found later far to the south, and 
in a higher state of evolution. 
It was obvious in cross-examining the old men of the Algonquians that 
the performances of jugglery were exhibitions of the pretended mirae- 
ulous power of an adventurer whereby he obtained a reputation above 
his rivals and derived subsistence and authority by the selling of 
charms and pretended superhuman information. The charms and 
fetiches which still are bought from the few shamans who yet have 
a credulous clientele are of three kinds—to bring death or disease 
on an enemy, to lure an enemy into an ambush, and to excite a return 
to sexual love. 
Among the Ojibwa three distinct secret societies are extant, the mem- 
bers of which are termed, respectively and in order of their importance, 
the Mide’, the Jés’/sakid, and the Wabéno. The oldest and most influ- 
ential society is known as the Midé/wiwin’, or Grand Medicine, and the 
structure in which the ceremonies are conducted is called the Mideé/wi- 
gan, or Grand Medicine lodge. 
The following statement of the White Earth Mide’ shaman presents 
his views upon the origin of the rite and the objects employed in con- 
nection with ceremonies, as well as in the practices connected with 
medical magic and sorcery : 
When Minabo/sho, the first man, had been for some time upon the earth, two great 
spirits told him that to be of service to his successors they would give to him sev- 
eral gifts, which he was to employ in prolonging life and extending assistance to 
those who might apply for it. 
The first present consisted of a sacred drum, which was to be used at the side of 
the sick and when invoking the presence and assistance of the spirits. The second 
was a sacred rattle, with which he was enubled to prolong the life of a patient. The 
third gift was tobacco, which was to be an emblem of peace; and as a companion he 
also received a dog. He was then told to build a lodge, where he was to practice 
the rites of which he would receive further instruction. 
All the knowledge which the Midé’ have, and more, Minabo’sho received from the 
spirits. Then he built a long lodge, as he had been directed, and now even at this 
day he is present at the Sacred Medicine lodge when the Grand Medicine rite is per- 
formed, 
In the rite is incorporated most that is ancient amongst them, songs and traditions 
that have descended, not orally alone, but by pictographs, for a long line of genera- 
tions. In this rite is also perpetuated the purest and most ancient idioms of their~ 
language, which differs somewhat from that of the common, every-day use. 
It is desirable to explain the mode of using the Midé/ and other bark 
records of the Ojibwa and also those of other tribes mentioned in this 
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