726 PICTURE-WRITING OF THE AMERICAN INDIANS. 
equivalent to “Look out!” “You are surely going to destruction!” 
“Look out!” “Tei”-“‘tei?-“tei!” 
Now the mosquito-hawk is easily knocked down and caught and has 
a temptingly small neck. But woe to the man or woman or child who 
with the cruelty commonly practiced on all living things by Indians of all 
ages and states, dares to wring off his head. Whoever shall do this 
before the winter comes shall be beheaded by the detested Ojibwa. It 
is true, for long ago a reckless young warrior feeling annoyed or 
insulted by the infernal “ Tci”-“‘tei”-“ tei!” so unceremoniously uttered 
in explosive breaths near his ear, tried it, and his headless trunk was 
found ere he escaped from the swamp. 
The cross has its proper significance in this use not only in repre- 
senting quite faithfully the shape of the insect but also the angle of 
his approach. It is variously drawn, but usually as in Fig. 1227, a, or 
b, and in painting or embroidery, ¢, and sometimes d. 
One reason for the adoption of the dragon fly as a mysterious and 
supernatural being, is on account of its sudden appearance in large 
numbers. When in the still of the evening, before the shades of dark- 
ness come, there is heard from the meadow a hum as of the sound of 
crickets or frogs, but indistinct and prolonged; on the morrow the 
Susbeca will be hovering over it; it is the sound of their coming, but 
whence no man kens. See also Fig. 1165 and remarks. 
Among the Ojibwa of northern Minnesota the cross is one of the 
sacred symbols of the society of the Midé or shamans, and has 
special reference to the fourth degree. A neophyte who has been 
advanced to the third initiation or degree, is instructed in ritualistic 
chants purporting to relate the struggle between Mi’nabo/zho, the 
mediator between the Ojibwa and Ki/tshi Ma/nido, and the malevolent 
Bear spirit, which contest occurred when Mi/nabo/zho entered the 
fourth degree structure at the time when the first Indian was inducted 
therein for initiation. 
The structure as erected at this day is built in the form of an oblong 
square having openings or doors at the four cardinal points. At these 
openings Mi/nabod/zho appeared and shot into the inclosure charmed 
arrows, to expel the horde of demons occupying the sacred place, and the 
Bear spirit was the last to yield to his superior powers. The openings 
being opposite to one another, north and south and east and west, sug- 
gested to Mi/nabo’zho the cross, which is now erected whenever a third 
degree Midé receives this last and highest honor. 
The cross is made of saplings, the upright pole reaching the height 
of 4 to 6 feet, the transverse arms being somewhat shorter, each being 
of the same length as that part of the pole between the arms and the 
top. The upper parts are painted white, or besmeared with white clay, 
over which are spread small spots of red, the latter suggesting the 
sacred shell or mégis, the symbol of the order. The lower arm or pole 
is squared, the surface toward the east being painted white, to denote 
