Johann Georg Kohl - Kitchi-Gami ; Life Among the Lake Superior Ojibway

Kitchi-Gami

Kitchi-Gami

Life Among the Lake Superior Ojibway

JOHANN GEORG KOHL

Translated by
LASCELLES WRAXALL

With a new introduction by
Robert E. Bieder

and additional translations by
Ralf Neufang and Ulrike Bcker

MINNESOTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY PRESS
ST. PAUL

Borealis Books are high-quality paperback reprints of books chosen by the Minnesota Historical Society Press for their importance as enduring historical sources and their value as enjoyable accounts of life in the Upper Midwest.

Originally published in 1860 by Chapman and Hall, London. New material 1985 by the Minnesota Historical Society. All rights reserved. For information, write to the Minnesota Historical Society Press, 345 Kellogg Blvd. W., St. Paul, MN 55102-1906.

www.mnhs.org/mhspress

International Standard Book Number: 0-87351-172-7

E-book ISBN: 978-0-87351-676-1

Manufactured in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5

The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the American National Standard for Information Sciences-Permanence for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1984.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Kohl, J. G. (Johann Georg), 18081878.
Kitch-Gami: life among the Lake Superior Ojibway
Translation of Kitschi-Gami.
Originally published: London: Chapman and Hall, 1860.
1. Chippewa IndiansSocial life and customs.
2. Indians of North AmericaWisconsinSocial life
and customs.
I. Title.
E99.C6K713 1985 977.5 00497 8511499

Frontispiece : From Herman Albert Schumacher, J. G. Kohls
Amerikanische Studien (Bremen, Germany, 1885)
Additional translations : Ralf Neufang and Ulricke Bcker

CONTENTS.

.

Lake SuperiorLa PointeFrench MissionariesMeeting of the TribesAnnual PaymentThe WigwamAn Indian SquawFirewoodThe FrameworkThe PappoosesThe CradlePlaythingsLuxurious DressThe ApakwasCovering the HutBirch BarkSocietyIndian MatsThe ManufactureComfort of the HutsSummer Dwellings

.

The Indian AgentFace PaintingCurious PatternsValue of ColoursJoy and MourningA False IndianIndian DandiesThe ProcessionWar SongsHeroic DeedsIndian VanityWattab and his ScalpsThe War TrailA bold ExploitScalping a SiouxThe Calumet of PeaceSignal of WarThe Agents AdviceAn Enemy of DancingThe Discovery DanceA Disappointment

.

The CanoeIts AntiquityGeneral UseMaterials employedThe Birch-bark CanoeThe FrameworkThe Bois BlancDrying and PitchingWomens WorkBastLe Petit BonhommePaddlingLe GouvernailInvention of the CanoeAntoine GendronA French SavageThe Medicine-bagIndian DogsFirst ImpressionsBarbarityCanine LifeThe SacrificeFidelity

.

The Temple WigwamThe Order of the MidsAn Indian ChristeningThe High PriestThe Big DrumThe Evil SpiritThe Medicine-bagLife and DeathThe MusicThe Behaviour of the IndiansPresentation of the ChildThe DancesThe Mysterious ShellsWampumTobaccoReceiving the PresentsMagic and MysteryMaize BrothFinale

.

A PalaverA Knotty PointRed and WhiteGold Chains and RagsA bad BargainArgumentum ad HominemPleasant EveningsIndian SuperstitionsProtecting SpiritsDryads and OreadsThe Great SpiritThe PosesOtamigan SacrificesReverence shown to CopperThe Story of Keatanang

.

Indian GenerosityBehaviour of the ChiefsCharacter of the WarsThe PillagersSafety of EuropeansLife at La PointeCommunismAppeals to the Great SpiritHospitalityThe Indian SquawThe Bread WinnerCurious CeremonyGrace before MeatThe Swift RunnerThe Land SurveyorAn Indian PassThe Sauvages des TerresThe TradersAdvances to the IndiansA Noble ReturnThe Chippeway ChiefFive Hundred Dollars in JeopardyA Hard WinterFresh AdvancesConfidence for ConfidenceCivilisation retarded

.

Indian Sports and PastimesThe Game of the BowlThe Pieces and PawnsMode of PlayingAn angry NativeThe Game of PinsTopsSauvagerieSociability of the NativesA FumerieSmoke IncenseThe First BirdA Medicine FeastIndian Sing-SongsStorytellersCurious LegendsHiawathaBall PlayRaquets and BallsPrairie de la CrosseConspiraciesThe Throwing GameSports on the Ice

.

An Indian SheherazadeThe Story of Otter-heart and his two Wives, which suffers the same Fate as that of the Bear and the Fiddle.

.

Death of a ChildThe Medicine-manFear of DeathFuneral CeremoniesThe ConsolersThe Doll of MisfortuneAffecting CustomA sad AccidentThe lofty Fir-treeFamily AffairsTreatment of the AgedPolygamyMarriage with SistersMourningIndian ArithmeticPayment of the TributeLiving RegistersA Receipt in FullA Drunken SquawSorrow of her ChildNovel Use for a Cap.

.

Indian GeographyAstronomyThe Polar StarA Natural ClockThe MonthsIndian TravellersRunningHunting down GameThe Old Man of the SkyA Bear baffledFemale RunnersThe Maids RevengeA fresh ScalpIndian TradersThe Fur TradeHints on EtiquetteStoicismJewish Descent of the IndiansThe Shell TradeWampum FactoriesIndian Knowledge of the OceanCurious Tradition

.

The Language of SignsSymbolic WritingSpecimens of SignsThe Nomadic and Settled TribesUniversality of SignsA Grammar of SignsAdmirationOrigin of Picture-writingThe English AlphabetTents and BlanketsHieroglyphicsBirch-bark BooksLoon-footA Family TreeAntiquity of the CranesThe Medicine LodgeThe Path of LifeA Song of the SeasonsAn Indian TombstoneFood for the DeadA Couple of PillagersTobacco at a DiscountValue of Birch-bark BooksA Trial of Generosity

.

LAnseKeweena PromontoryThe VoyageurPortagesWalk through a ForestIrish SquattersSpruce-beerThe Torch LakeBear TrapsThe Bark CanoeLe Petit FranoisScanty FareMisreA Winter JourneyAlone on the IceThe Great TraverseThe MissionaryThe Cross of the TraverseThe LoupesBear PotatoesLe BourgeoisMusk-ratsThe Loon BirdThe VoitureSandstone RocksBeautiful SceneryThe MirageThe MissionThe Reception

.

Catholic MissionsSeed by the WaysideKagagengsIndian StoriesChristianity and PaganismThe Creation of MankindKitchi-ManitouMani createdIndian ParadiseThe TemptationThe FallThe Bible and the Birch-bark BookA SoireThe Dream of LifeThe Little Ravens StoryVisit to the SunPresentsTrue PredictionsReturn to Earth

.

The Indian ParadiseThe Far WestThe PrairiesThe Great ForestsHunting a ToilThe European ParadiseEast and WestPoetical MeaningThe Course of the SunThe Path of the DeadThe JourneyThe StrawberryThe BridgeThe Fate of ChildrenThe Indian StyxLost SoulsThe Hunter who returned from ParadiseDescription of his JourneyParadise as he saw itDangerous ReturnRecoveryOrpheus and Eurydice

.

The Protestant MissionThe Great FastThe Dream of LifeThe Indian BlacksmithThe WigwamVisit to the Shining CloudHis Dream of LifeThe FailureThe Bed in the TreeEffect of FastingThe SpiritMigrations of the SoulThe VisionThe Great CouncilThe Ladder to HeavenReturn to LifeThe Prediction fulfilled

.

Traditions about the EuropeansThe DreamThe DeputationOjibbeway SongsSpecimensA Mourning SongA Love StrainSongs of VengeanceVoyageurs SongsChansons a lAvironThe Oar and the PaddleSir George SimpsonThe Governors CanoeThe Song of la Belle RoseComplaintesOvids TristiaThe Half-breedsThe Story of Jean CayeuxIntercession of the VirginThe Great Calumet FallPursuitThe IroquoisDeath of CayeuxPopularity of the Complainte

.

Indian GluttonyA Story with a MoralPunishment of CrimesAuthority of the ChiefsCities of RefugeFriendshipInsults rememberedInsolence punishedChoice of NamesEducation of ChildrenA Paternal WarningAn Indian DreamThe Christian ParadiseSpirit-rappingPoisoningPipestone QuarriesThe Pipe-makerKinni-kannikIntroduction of Tobacco

.

Indian MusicThe Spotted FeatherPicture-writingMysteriesThe Song of the Steam BathThe Song of InitiationDoubtful ExplanationsMusic under DifficultiesBirch-bark BooksHieroglyphicsReligious SongsA TomahawkThe Dream of LifeAn Indian WarriorMeaning of the SymbolsReticenceNext page