Pipes 



143 



From this stone their pipes were and are made. 

 From the legend that the stone was the flesh of their 

 common ancestors the quarry is considered sacred 

 and neutral ground, and belonging equally to all 

 tribes. Thus their differences and quarrels are for- 

 gotten at the tomb of their fathers ; the stone from 

 which their pipes were fashioned was the flesh of 

 the ancestors transformed to stone by the Great 

 Spirit. Thus, whilst smoking there or elsewhere, 

 their pipes reminded them of their common humanity, 

 and bred peace and amity. 



Longfellow opens ' The Song of Hiawatha ' with 

 the legend of the institution of the peace-pipe : 



' On the Mountains of the Prairie, 

 On the Great Red Pipe-stone Quarry, 

 Gitche Manito the Mighty, 

 He the Master of Life descending 

 On the red crags of the quarry, « 



Stood erect and called the nations, 

 Called the tribes of men together. 



' From the red-stone of the quarry 

 With his hands he broke a fragment, 

 Moulded it into a pipe-head. 

 Shaped and fashioned it with figures ; 

 From the margin of the river 

 Took a long reed for a pipe-stem 

 With its dark green leaves upon it. 

 Filled the pipe with bark of willow. 

 With the bark of the red willow. 



' And erect upon the mountains 

 Gitche Manito the Mighty 

 Smoked the Calumet, the Peace Pipe, 

 As a signal to the nations.' 



