NA-WI-QUA. 



A METOVVAC LEGEND. BY ELIZABETH OAKES SMITH. 



" When Che-che-qua had finished his legend, I could not help asking him 

 whence came the plants and animals which had sprung into existence since the 

 days of this Chippewa Deucalion. These, he answered, have been subsequently 

 created in various ways." — Hoffman's forest and prairie. 



Every student, in examining the materials which are here- 

 after to supply our American literature, must be impressed 

 with the abundant resources to be found amongst the legends 

 of the Aborigines. Innumerable as have been the books, 

 through which is seen stalking the " stoic of the woods," we 

 rarely meet the red man, such as he really is. We find sketch- 

 es of fancy, bold and graphic it is true, but not a portraiture 

 of the primitive man. 



In connection with this subject, the writer recalls with 

 melancholy pleasure, since the object is no more, a brief 

 acquaintance with one,* descended from the royalty of nature, 



*The late Mrs. H. R. Schoolcraft. 



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