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Chapter 6
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· 139 · CHAPTER 6 At sunrise, as we were sitting on a rug, of sweetgrass and rushes made, Lonidaw sitting close beside me, with “Zowan” (the dog) in front, “ningaw” (her mother) opened wide the door to let the sunlight in.There, just outside, facing us, stood the sacred deer; but he was a mere skeleton of his former self. Motionless he seemed to stand, with head drooped low and hair upturned, with wounded nose and frothing mouth, with lolling tongue and wilted ears, with sunken eyes and antlers gone,—there he stood the very personification of “gawewin” (jealousy).1 Springing to my feet in haste, I said, “Is that your deer, or otchibai (his ghost).” “Do not leave me,” she said, “but let us walk out in front of him onindjima onindjima (hand in hand), for he must learn to control tchigawe odaw (that jealous heart of his); if not, when kineshkan (his antlers) again are grown, he may nishiwe win etawaw (kill us both).” So we joined hands, and with Zowan walking between us, we boldly marched out, and stood in front of him! He shook his head, turned about, stepped a few feet away, there a moment stood, then turned around, facing us with 1. With our people, “shegog” (the skunk) represents jealousy, from the fact that its odor is not only awfully offensive to other creatures, but frequently when tormented, it suffers death from its own stink. · 140 · Simon Pokagon the most forlorn look I ever beheld; “the green-eyed monster” trembled in despair, and walked sullenly away, as if he hated “kawkinaw kekog” (all things) and himself. He never after could be found—though hunters oft, in after years, would tell how they had bent “omitigwab” (their bow) to shoot a deer of red, when lo! their hands were stayed; and to their great surprise Lonidaw’s sacred deer of white before them for a moment stood, then vanished out of sight! After eating our simple morning meal of “mandamin” (corn-cakes) in “giwagamisigan” (maple syrup) dipped, and pudding of “manomin” (wild rice) and “ajawemin” (beechnuts) made, I proposed to Loda to go with me and visit Uncle Kawbenaw. After getting “mawkokonson” (a small bark box) with salt therein for the old man, we started, she leading the way through dark “kagagiwang” (hemlock) and “ajawemin mitig” (beech woods). As we were passing quietly along, I said, “Loda, as I lay concealed among the tall ferns by mikawnaw (the trail) side near kinibiwin (your camp) last summertime, you passed along that way, chattering ausawnawgogoggog (the squirrels’) sneezing, scolding bark. While you were yet scarce out of sight,followed by your deer,squirrels red,black,and gray came following on your track, and flocked about the trail where you had passed along. Then I thought it strange indeed; but when Kawbenaw came after you, he told me how you could gather, by your alluring call, monatoawk (wild beasts) and bineshog (fowls); then I knew how came so many squirrels there. I have noticed, as we have passed along, many flocks of omemeog (wild pigeons) passing and repassing high in air; come, now, please do show nin kingashkuwisiwin (me your power) in calling these birds together.”With pensive look and downcast eyes, modestly she replied, “Simaw, to please you I will try.” So saying, she stepped aside, and found a bare spot of ground in an opening where “kesus” (the sun) had melted “sagipo” (the snow) away. Here she raked off the leaves, exposing “aki” (the ground) to view, and sprinkled salt thereon; then with evergreen branches she trimmed my clothes and hers, and we both sat down on “mitig” (a log). She then said, “Minotam, penaw, penaw” (Keep still and listen). She then commenced a lively chattering, reminding me somewhat of several “kitchi pakaakweg” (old hens) all calling their broods at the same time, to partake of their morning meal; but her notes were longer, more varied, and musical. One pigeon after another dropped on the bare spot of “aki” (earth), until Queen of the Woods· 141 · they piled on top of each other like starving “amog” (bees) upon a piece of “amosisibiakwat” (honeycomb), all chattering in harmony with her musical voice,creating a novel concert,somewhat like that of unnumbered “omakakig” (frogs) in springtime, in early morning. Still they continued to increase in numbers, pouring in from all directions, filling every bush and tree, and alighting on the ground. Looking up, I saw high above the trees...