Legends of The Kaw
Indian Folk Lore
de Voe

SCENE IN THE KANSAS VALLEY.

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.

CONTENTS.

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.—The transformation.—The burning earth.—Formation of the stars.—The Water-Maiden.—The Earth-Maiden.—Michabou.—Worship of the heavenly bodies.—Sacrifices.—Relation of dogs to the moon.—The Horned Serpent.—The Prince of Rattlesnakes.—Hiawatha, the Indian Messiah.—The Red Swan.—The Pipe of Peace.—Thunder and lightning.—The Storm Giant.—Rainmakers.—The Wild Parsnip.—The Spirit of Fire.—Fire legend of the Navajos.—The Shawnee and Delaware type of life.—The imagery of the red man.—Knowledge of the fundamental truths of nature.—Earliest record of the Middle West.—Dominant tribes.—The Paducas.—The emigrant nations.

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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 priests.—Belief in a prehistoric race.—Destruction of the giants.—Human sacrifices.—A Legend of Kansas.—Pit-a-le-shar'-u.—Hostilities against other nations.—Villages of the Iowas and Sacs.—War with the Iowas, 1839.—Battle amid the sunflowers.—Sale of Pawnee lands.—Removal to the Indian Territory.—Success in agriculture.

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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-keen-yan.—Unk-tay-he.—Chah-o-ter-dah.—Whitte-kah-gah.—Wa-hun-de-dan.—Fairies.—Giants.—Giant's party.—Feasts.—The Wa-keen.—Initiation of the medicine men.—War parties.—War Dance.— Sun Dance.—Moral code.—Degree of manhood.— Incidents in the Life of Ta-ton-ka-I-o-ton-ka.—Spotted Tail and Red Cloud.—Betrothal and death of daughter of Spotted Tail.—Water Carrier, the wife of Lone Elk.—Present condition of the Sioux.

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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.

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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 Hairless Bear.—Pictograph system.—Rafinesque.— Walam Olum.—Wanderings of the Delawares.—Tamenend.—The Lover's Leap.—Onoko.—Lenape in Kansas.—The Battle of the Plains.—Removal to the Indian Territory.

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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.—War with Cherokees—Chief Splitlog.—Last religious feast and dance of the Wyandots.—William Walker.—Silas Armstrong.—Matthew Walker.—Governor Walker.—Matthias Splitlog.—Emigration to Kansas.—Intelligence and education.—-Accomplishments.—Belle of the nation.—Sense of humor.—Elder Dennison and John Grayeyes.—The Triumph of Chudaquana over the Power of Witchcraft.—Romance of a Wyandot girl.—Present location of the people.—Tribal relations.—Absorption by the white race.

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