et
everywhere present; he is an avenger and a searcher of hearts. (_Neill's
Hist. Minn_., p. 57). I suspect he was the chief spirit of the Dakotas
before the missionaries imported "_Wakan-Tanka_" (Great Spirit).

[52] The Dakotas believe in "were-wolves" as firmly as did our Saxon
ancestors, and for similar reasons--the howl of the wolf being often
imitated as a decoy or signal by their enemies the Ojibways.

[53] _Shee-sho-kah_--The Robin.

[54] The Dakotas call the Evening Star the "_Virgin Star_," and believe it
to be the spirit of the virgin wronged at the feast.

[55] Mille Lacs. This lake was discovered by Du Luth, and by him named Lac
Buade in honor of Governor Frontenac of Canada, whose family name was
Buade. The Dakota name for it is _Mde Wakan_--Spirit Lake.

[56] The Ojibways imitate the hoot of the owl and the howl of the wolf to
perfection, and often use these cries as signals to each other in war
and the chase.

[57] The Dakotas called the Ojibways the "Snakes of the Forest" on account
of their lying in ambush for their enemies.

[58] Strawberries.

[59] _See-yo_--The prairie-hen.

[60] _Mahgah_--The wild-goose. _Fox-pups_. I could never see the propriety
of calling the young of foxes _kits_ or _kittens_, which mean _little
cats_. The fox belongs to the _canis_ or dog family, and not the _felis_
or cat family. If it is proper to call the young of dogs and wolves
_pups_, it is equally proper to so call the young of foxes.

[61] When a Dakota is sick he thinks the spirit of an enemy or some animal
has entered into his body, and the principal business of the
"medicine-man"--_Wicasta Wakan_--is to cast out the "unclean spirit,"
with incantations and charms. See _Neill's Hist. Minn_., pp. 66-8. The
Jews entertained a similar belief in the days of Jesus of Nazareth.

[62] _Wah-zee-yah's_ star--The North-star. See note 3.

[63] The Dakotas, like our forefathers and all other barbarians, believe
in witches and witchcraft.

[64] The _Medo_ is a wild potato; it resembles the sweet-potato in top and
taste. It grows in bottom-lands, and is much prized by the Dakotas for
food. The "_Dakota Friend_," for December, 1850. (Minn. Hist. Col.)

[65] The meteor--_Wakan-denda_--Sacred fire.

[66] _Me-ta-win_--My bride.

[68] The _Via Lactea_ or Milky Way. The Dakotas call it _Wanagee
Tach-anku_--The pathway of the spirits; and believe that over this path
the spirits of the dead pass to the Spirit-land. See _