Legends Of The Kaw: The Folk-Lore Of The Indians Of The Kansas River Valley
Carrie De Voe
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Legends of The Kaw Indian Folk Lore de Voe
Legends of The Kaw Indian Folk Lore de Voe
LEGENDS OF THE KAW THE FOLK-LORE OF THE INDIANS OF THE KANSAS RIVER VALLEY. BY CARRIE DE VOE. Franklin Hudson Publishing Co. , KANSAS CITY, MO. 1904. Copyright, 1904, by Franklin Hudson Publishing Co. , Kansas City, Mo....
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I. INDIAN MYTHOLOGY.
I. INDIAN MYTHOLOGY.
The heroes of Kansas in the early days.—The first inhabitants.—Pathos of Indian traditions and their tragic interest.—Interpretation of myths.—Tradition of the Mississippi Valley.—Theory of a dual soul.—Ancient religion of the North American Indians.—Ideas of Divinity.—Spirits.—Communication with the unseen world.—Description of heaven, found in the diary of Rev. S. M. Irvin.—Algonquin prayer to Father Allouez.—The totem .—The folk-lore of the Indian his literature.—Myth of a prehistoric world.—
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II. THE PAWNEES.
II. THE PAWNEES.
Wanderings in Kansas and Nebraska.—Origin.—The word "Pani."—Imitation of wolves.—Bands.—Tuhk-pah-huks-taht.—Skidi-rah-ru.—Tuh-wa-hok-a-sha.—Tu-hi-'ts-pi-yet.—Hunting in ancient times.—Weapons.—Utensils.—Government.—Dress.—Lodges.—Music.—Courtship and marriage.—Religious ceremonies.—The Buffalo Dance.—Departure for semi-annual buffalo hunt.—The surround.—Ti-rá-wa, the Pawnee Deity.—The Na-hú-rac.—Sacrifices.—The wonderful horse.—Homes of the Nu-hú-rac.—The Nu-hú-rac doctors.—Medicine men and prie
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III. THE SIOUX.
III. THE SIOUX.
Early home.—Wanderings in the Mississippi Basin.—Present location.—Origin of name.—Meaning of word "Dakota."—Pantomime.—Divisions of nation.—Relation of chief to people.—Disposition of bodies of the dead.—Eagle Eye and Scarlet Dove.—Slavery of women.—Vanity of men.—Language of the feather.—Decoration of the person.—Plural marriage.—Story of Anepetusa.—Belief in four souls.—A typical prayer.—Omens.—Worship.—Animals in Dakota theology.—O-an-tay-hee.—The creation.—Hay-o-kah.—Taku-shkan-shkan.—Wa-ke
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IV. THE KAWS AND OSAGES.
IV. THE KAWS AND OSAGES.
Origin.—Manners and customs.—Savage proclivities.—Village of American Chief.—Village of Fool Chief.—Removal to Council Grove.—The Victory that made Wa-hon-ga-shee a famous Chief.—The War Dance.—Paying off old scores.—Osages and Kaws on police duty.—Superstitions.—Funeral ceremonies.—Creation story of the Osages.—Territory.—Cessions.—Feasts.—Present condition. 89...
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V. THE DELAWARES.
V. THE DELAWARES.
Lineage.—Language.—The term "Lenape."—Subjugation by the Iroquois.—Peace treaty with William Penn.—Migrations.—Legends preserved by missionaries.—The virgin who fell from heaven.—Kikeron.—The tortoise in Algonquin pictography.—Symbol of the earth.—The pristine age.—The earth submerged.—The ancient turtle.—Rescue of the survivors.—Land supported by a turtle.—First home of the Lenape.—Travels and conquests.—Land of giants.—Fortifications of the enemy.—Mounds.—Divisions of the nation.—Legend of the
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VI. THE WYANDOTS.
VI. THE WYANDOTS.
Origin.—Location at the time of the discovery of America.—Alliance with the Senecas.—Termination of peace.—Hatred of the Iroquois.—Settlement at Detroit.—Settlement in Ohio and Michigan.—Clans.—Government.—Religion.—Gods.—Prayer of the Huron.—Legend of Sayadio.—The White Panther.—Hurons leaders in the councils of nations.—Keepers of the Council Fire.—Wampum belts.—Corn Dance.—Clan names.—Visions of the Wyandot maiden.—Wyandots in the War of 1812.—Roundhead.—Warrow.—Walk-in-the-Water.—Big Tree.—W
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VII. THE POTTAWATOMIES.
VII. THE POTTAWATOMIES.
Descent.—Alliances.—Branches.—Location.—Part in War of 1812.—Suna-we-wone.—Treaty of peace.— Cessions.—Emigration to Kansas.—Present location.—Belief in Kitchenonedo and Matchemondo.—First inhabitants of the earth.—Submersion.—New World.—Legend of the five young men.—Menweshma.—Encounter with the Pawnees.—Wa-baun-see.—Story of the Flat-Boat.—Defeat by the Osages.—Revenge upon the Osage chief.—Wa-baun-see's journey to Washington.—Death. 155...
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VIII. THE SHAWNEES.
VIII. THE SHAWNEES.
First emigrant tribe in Kansas.—Ancient home of the nation.—Defeat by the Iroquois.—Flight southward.—Return.—Settlement near Cape Girardeau.—Removal to Kansas.—Removal to the Indian Territory.—Shawnees of Algonquin stock.—Gypsies of the wilderness.—Creation theory.—Doctrine of pre-natal existence.—An incident of war with the Pawnees.—Belief in descent from one of the lost tribes of Israel.—Holy of Holies.—Language.—Adventures of a trader.—Mauné, the Chippewa Girl.—A Fragment of History from the
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INTRODUCTION.
INTRODUCTION.
A legend, according to Webster, is any story, be it truth or fiction, which dates back to early days. In this connection, it may be of interest to the reader to know that the stories of adventure in this volume are founded upon real events; but, wherever it has seemed best, names have been changed. In committing to paper the histories of Maune´, the Chippewa girl, and Henry Rogers, there has been practically no deviation from the facts as related by their descendants. The incidents described in
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I. INDIAN MYTHOLOGY.
I. INDIAN MYTHOLOGY.
The history of Kansas has been of peculiar interest to the world at large, by reason of the struggles of ante-bellum days. The adventures of John Brown of Osawatomie and the achievements of General Lane, Governor Robinson, and other heroes of that period have formed the nucleus of many a story and song. All honor to the men who labored so successfully in the cause of freedom! There is another, equally brave, though less fortunate, race that wandered over the rolling prairies of the Sunflower Sta
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II. THE PAWNEES.
II. THE PAWNEES.
When the Territory of Louisiana was still the property of France; when the United States was endeavoring to subdue the savages within its own domain; a wild and unsophisticated people, to whom the vices of civilization were as yet unknown, traversed the broad prairies of Kansas and Nebraska. The Pawnees, or Pani, were, according to tradition, of southern origin. The white man found them established in villages along the Platte River, whence they sallied forth, roving over the entire region exten
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III. THE SIOUX.
III. THE SIOUX.
Although Minnesota has been called the "Land of the Dakotas," the Sioux, as well as the Pawnees, roamed over the entire Mississippi Basin, previous to its settlement; and were found, at different times, in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa. They are now located principally in South Dakota. The word "Sioux" is of French origin. The tribes to whom it was applied called themselves "Dakotas" meaning "allied," or "joined together." The Indians in general, alluded to them as "cut-throats," drawing t
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IV. THE KAWS AND OSAGES.
IV. THE KAWS AND OSAGES.
The Dakotas were strongly represented in the Kaw Valley and vicinity by the Kansas or Kaw Indians and the Osages. In some respects there was a similarity of manners and customs between these branches and the original stock, in others a radical difference was noted. The practice of shaving all of the head except a small place around the crown—the scalp lock, which was reserved for the enemy, should he be able to secure it—was adhered to by the Kaws and the Osages, while the old Sioux law seems to
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V. THE DELAWARES.
V. THE DELAWARES.
The Delaware Indians, or Lenape, as they called themselves, are of Algonquin lineage. Their language, which is soft and musical, bears a strong resemblance to that of the Shawnees and Pottawatomies, who are descended from the same people. The word Lenape has been translated "men" or "fathers of men." This bears some significance, since the early traditions of the Delawares declare them to be the parent stock. They were the natives with whom William Penn held council, on the ground occupied at th
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VI. THE WYANDOTS.
VI. THE WYANDOTS.
The Wyandots, or Hurons, are of Northern origin, and descended from a branch of the Iroquois. At the time of the discovery of America, their villages were located near the Senecas, on the banks of the St. Lawrence River. When Cartier appeared, a small band of Delawares first observed the ships of the Frenchmen on the gulf, and sent messengers to announce the presence of "great white-winged animals, spitting out fire and speaking with voices of thunder." The Wyandots and Senecas were closely alli
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VII. THE POTTAWATOMIES.
VII. THE POTTAWATOMIES.
The Pottawatomies were of Algonquin descent and were termed "Firemakers," in reference to their secession from the Odjibwas and becoming the makers of their own fires. The Odjibwa tradition says that there were two brothers at St. Mary's Falls. The fishing-rod of the younger was taken into the rapids by the other and accidentally broken. A quarrel ensued. The elder brother went south. This was the origin of a new tribe. The Pottawatomies of the Woods, located in Wisconsin and Michigan; and the P
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VIII. THE SHAWNEES.
VIII. THE SHAWNEES.
The capital of Kansas now occupies a portion of the former hunting-grounds of the Kaw and Shawnee Indians. The Shawnees were the first emigrant tribe to arrive in the Territory. The ancient home of the nation was near the Cumberland River. Early in the Seventeenth century, the Iroquois invaded that region and vanquished its owners, who fled south and became scattered, settling in Carolina and Florida. At a later period, the divisions of the tribe reunited and returned to the vicinity of their ol
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