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power ill water, in the tree that spread out its leafy branches, in the 
rock that man trampled beneath his feet. Even if the power lay 
dormant, yet every now and then it manifested itself in unmistakable 
g;uise. The placid water arose in tempestuous waves, and the rock 
split with a noise like thunder tiefore it tumbled down the mountain- 
side. Birds had the jiower of flight, and of beholding from their aerial 
vantage-point things that were hidden from human eyes. The fish 
explored the secret waters. Of the animals some were strong, some 
weak, some ferocious, and some timid, some slow of foot, and some 
speedy ; but each species had its own peculiar powers, and each in its 
wanderings acquired a special knowledge. Maids powers were great, 
but none knew better than he their limitations. Air and water were 
closed domains to him. He could run, but many an animal could 
outstrip him. He could fashion tools and wea])ons, but he could not 
ensure the accuracy of his marksmanship nor the safety of his canoe. 
He could plan a course of life, but forces unforeseen might change the 
issue. In a battling-ground of manifold forces or powers he stood 
alone, striving with the limited powers at his command to win a 
happy livelihood for himself and his kindred. 
The Indian, however, had neither the inclination nor the training 
for metaphysical speculations. Although this theory of the universe 
supported the whole fabric of his religious life, it is doubtful whether 
he ever formulated it clearly in his mind, or expressefl it in words, 
any more than the ordinary European comprehends or expresses all 
the philosophical ideas implied in Christian rites and ceremonies. 
For the Indian, like maidvind elsewhere, concerned himself less with 
the nature of things around him than with their effect on human wel- 
fare; and recognizing that some things exerted a greater influence 
than others, he tended to magnify the former at the expense of the 
latter. It was not the quietly running stream that arrested his 
attention, but the foaming cataract; not the gentle zephyr, but the 
thunder; not the insignificant porcupine, but the mighty buffalo. 
For power, though universal jierhaps, was graded, and whatever had 
little power could safely be neglected. Thus he peopled his world 
with numerous “ powers ”, some great, mysterious, and awe-inspiring, 
some small and of little or no account. Furthermore, following man’s 
tendency everywhere, he gave them such anthropomorphic traits as 
speech and knowledge, even asci'ibed to them human or partly human 
86950 — 12 ?; 
