d sacred,
Maujeekewis upbraided him for the arrows. He told him again he would
go; and next day, true to his word, he left them. After travelling a
long way he came to an opening in the earth, and descending, it led him
to the abode of departed spirits. The country appeared beautiful, the
extent of it was lost in the distance: he saw animals of various kinds
in abundance. The first he came near to were buffalo; his surprise was
great when these animals addressed him as human beings. They asked him
what he came for, how he descended, why he was so bold as to visit the
abode of the dead. He told them he was in search of magic arrows to
appease his brothers. "Very well," said the leader of the buffaloes,
whose whole form was nothing but bone. "Yes, we know it," and he and
his followers moved off a little space as if they were afraid of him.
"You have come," resumed the Buffalo Spirit, "to a place where a living
man has never before been. You will return immediately to your tribe,
for your brothers are trying to dishonor your wife; and you will live
to a very old age, and live and die happily; you can go no further in
these abodes of ours." Odjibwa looked, as he thought to the west, and
saw a bright light, as if the sun was shining in its splendor, but he
saw no sun. "What light is that I see yonder?" he asked. The all-boned
buffalo answered, "It is the place where those who were good dwell."
"And that dark cloud?" Odjibwa again asked. "Mud-jee-izzhi-wabezewin,"
(wickedness) answered the buffalo. He asked no more questions, and,
with the aid of his guardian spirits, again stood on this earth and saw
the sun giving light as usual, and breathed the pure air. All else he
saw in the abodes of the dead, and his travels and actions previous to
his return, are unknown. After wandering a long time in quest of
information to make his people happy, he one evening drew near to his
village or town; passing all the other lodges and coming to his own, he
heard his brothers at high words with each other; they were quarrelling
for the possession of his wife. She had, however, remained constant,
and mourned the absence and probable loss of her husband; but she had
mourned him with the dignity of virtue. The noble youth listened till
he was satisfied of the base principles of his brothers. He then
entered the lodge, with the stern air and conscious dignity of a brave
and honest man. He spoke not a word, but placing the magic arrows to
his bow