DENSMORE] 



PLANTS USED IN ARTS 



385 



He was told that if he could find Winabojo he would learn the way 

 to the spirit land, for Winabojo was the only one who could tell him. 

 So he talked it over with the other Grand Medicine man, and five of 

 them said they would go to the spirit land with him if they could 

 first find the way to Winabojo. They went to the graves of their 

 friends and called to their spirits. Finally they got a response. 

 They asked, "Can we find Winabojo?" And the spirits of their 

 friends answered, " Yes, for he is still on the earth." Then the 

 spirits told them how to find him. They went until they came to 

 this island, far in the great lake (Superior). There they found 

 Winabojo. He was too old to travel, and on his head was a beautiful 

 cedar tree. Winabojo wore the cedar tree as an ornament and its 

 roots were all around him. Beside him was a great round stone. 

 One of the men asked if he could live always, as Winabojo was 

 doing. Winabojo replied, " No. You can only live your allotted 

 years. The only way you can become perpetual is by becoming a 

 stone." The man said, " Yes. I will do so." Then the man became 

 a stone and remained with Winabojo. The others wanted to go to 

 the spirit land. Winabojo gave each of them a " snake chain " 13a and 

 told them to be sure not to untie these chains from around their 

 waists. He said, " You must stay only four days and four nights. 

 You will not see the spirits by day, but at night they have a dance 

 in the long wigwam. 14 Go in quietly and sit down." To the father 

 he said, " Your daughter is there. Watch for her at the dance of the 

 spirits in the long wigwam. Perhaps she will come and you will see 

 her. Carry a bag with you. Put her in the bag and hold her tight. 

 This is the only way in which you can get her." 



The Grand Medicine men did as Winabojo told them to do. There 

 were only five remaining, as one had been turned into a stone. They 

 went to the land of the spirits and sat quietly, watching the dance of 

 the spirits in the long wigwam. All went well until the second day 

 when one of the men wanted to untie his " snake chain " and see 

 what would happen. He did this, and in a moment he became a 

 spirit and his friends never saw him again. The remaining four 

 men went to the dance every night and the father watched for his 

 daughter. On the fourth night toward morning he saw her come 

 into the wigwam. Her head was covered by her blanket but he 

 recognized her, and when she came near he grasped her in his arms. 

 She struggled, but by the help of his friends he got her into the bag. 

 Then they all returned to Winabojo. and he told them how they could 

 get her back to the earth. He told them to start on their way, and 

 when night came they were to tie the bag in a safe place, then retrace 



I3a This is a plaited chain worn as a protection against reptiles or other harm. 

 14 This refers to the long dome-roofed structure in which the Midewiwin held its meet- 

 ings. Cf. beliefs concerning the northern lights, p. 379. 



