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Practically all the flint arrow…heads that we see in museums and elsewhere
were picked up or ploughed up； while some have been dishonestly sold by
trafficking Indians and others； embedded in trees and bones。
We had neither devil nor hell in our religion until the white man
brought them to us； yet Unk…to…mee； the Spider； was doubtless akin to that
old Serpent who tempted mother Eve。 He is always characterized as
tricky； treacherous； and at the same time affable and charming； being not
without the gifts of wit； prophecy； and eloquence。 He is an adroit
magician； able to assume almost any form at will； and impervious to any
amount of ridicule and insult。 Here we have； it appears； the elements of
the story in Genesis； the primal Eden； the tempter in animal form； and the
bringing of sorrow and death upon earth through the elemental sins of
envy and jealousy。
The warning conveyed in the story of Unk…to…mee was ever used with
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success by Indian parents； and especially grandparents； in the instruction
of their children。 Ish…na…e…cha…ge； on the other hand； was a demigod and
mysterious teacher； whose function it was to initiate the first man into his
tasks and pleasures here on earth。
After the battle with the animals； there followed a battle with the
elements； which in some measure parallels the Old Testament story of the
flood。 In this case； the purpose seems to have been to destroy the wicked
animal people； who were too many and too strong for the lone man。
The legend tells us that when fall came； the First…Born advised his
younger brother to make for himself a warm tent of buffalo skins； and to
store up much food。 No sooner had he done this than it began to snow；
and the snow fell steadily during many moons。 The Little Boy Man
made for himself snow…shoes； and was thus enabled to hunt easily； while
the animals fled from him with difficulty。 Finally wolves； foxes； and
ravens came to his door to beg for food； and he helped them； but many of
the fiercer wild animals died of cold and starvation。
One day； when the hungry ones appeared； the snow was higher than
the tops of the teepee poles； but the Little Boy Man's fire kept a hole open
and clear。 Down this hole they peered； and lo！ the man had rubbed ashes
on his face by the advice of his Elder Brother； and they both lay silent and
motionless on either side of the fire。
Then the fox barked and the raven cawed his signal to the wandering
tribes； and they all rejoiced and said： 〃Now they are both dying or dead；
and we shall have no more trouble！〃 But the sun appeared； and a warm
wind melted the snow…banks； so that the land was full of water。 The
young man and his Teacher made a birch…bark canoe； which floated upon
the surface of the flood； while of the animals there were saved only a few；
who had found a foothold upon the highest peaks。
The youth had now passed triumphantly through the various ordeals of
his manhood。 One day his Elder Brother spoke to him and said： 〃You
have now conquered the animal people； and withstood the force of the
elements。 You have subdued the earth to your will； and still you are
alone！ It is time to go forth and find a woman whom you can love； and
by whose help you may reproduce your kind。〃
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〃But how am I to do this？〃 replied the first man； who was only an
inexperienced boy。 〃I am here alone； as you say； and I know not where to
find a woman or a mate！〃
〃Go forth and seek her；〃 replied the Great Teacher； and forthwith the
youth set out on his wanderings in search of a wife。 He had no idea how
to make love； so that the first courtship was done by the pretty and
coquettish maidens of the Bird； Beaver； and Bear tribes。 There are some
touching and whimsical love stories which the rich imagination of the
Indian has woven into this old legend。
It is said； for example； that at his first camp he had built for himself a
lodge of green boughs in the midst of the forest； and that there his reverie
was interrupted by a voice from the wildernessa voice that was
irresistibly and profoundly sweet。 In some mysterious way； the soul of
the young man was touched as it had never been before； for this call of
exquisite tenderness and allurement was the voice of the eternal woman！
Presently a charming little girl stood timidly at the door of his pine…
bough wigwam。 She was modestly dressed in gray； with a touch of jet
about her pretty face； and she carried a basket of wild cherries which she
shyly offered to the young man。 So the rover was subdued； and love
turned loose upon the world to upbuild and to destroy！ When at last she
left him； he peeped through the door after her； but saw only a robin； with
head turned archly to one side； fluttering away among the trees。
His next camp was beside a clear； running stream； where a plump and
industrious maid was busily at work chopping wood。 He fell promptly in
love with her also； and for some time they lived together in her cosy house
by the waterside。 After their boy was born； the wanderer wished very
much to go back to his Elder Brother and to show him his wife and child。
But the beaver…woman refused to go； so at last he went alone for a short
visit。 When he returned； there was only a trickle of water beside the
broken dam； the beautiful home was left desolate； and wife and child were
gone forever！
The deserted husband sat alone upon the bank； sleepless and faint with
grief； until he was consoled by a comely young woman in glossy black；
who took compassion upon his distress and soothed him with food and
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loving attentions。 This was the bear…woman； from whom again he was
afterward separated by some mishap。 The story goes that he had children
by each of his many wives； some of whom resembled their father； and
these became the ancestors of the human race； while those who bore the