SUPERSTITIONS OF AMERICAN INDIANS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2092, 29 May 1907, Page 1

SUPERSTITIONS OF AMERICAN INDIANS.

Many and curious are. the superstitious of the guides and hunters of the northern woods in Maine. Tho. other day, says a writer in the Now York Tribune, an old half-breed woodsman, who was in the load of a shooting party, stopped, after they bad travelled one hundred yards from the camp, with the declaration that his companion would direct the party that day, as he was obliged to return. At night, when tho sportsmen eamo back empty-handed, tho woodsman gave his reason for his failure, and also for their non-success. “I hoard the

chickadee singing right in front of us, and that always means bad luck, you know,” he said. Why the little, cheery black and white chirper should bo considered as tho harbinger of illfortune he could not tell. Ho had

always heard that it was, and always found tho tradition to bo true. On the other hand, the call of the wood pigeon, or wood dove, is “good medicine,” as tho Indians say. A great many creatures will die that day, if . the fortunate hunter hears its cooing i early in the morning. The worst of !it is that death may possibly strike some members of the party as well. The hoarse squark of the raven, again, often means good sport for hunters. Although a bird of evil omen, it is the game upon which the bad luck will fall, unless there arc other had signs noticed. For instance, if tho chickadee chirps when the raven calls, it means bad times for sportsmen. And if, on an ordinary trip through the woods, a raven is heard, look out for falls, breakages, or accidents of some more serious character. But, with gun on shoulder, and dog at heel, rejoice at the note of the raven, for many are the good chances of sport the day will afford.

The observant hunter will notice that, although the most common of trees in most shooting districts, poplar is never used about the camp. Many a time have young fellows on their first expedition undertaken to lend a hand in sotting up tho tents at night, and to that end have, brought in forked stakes of the clean, easilycut, white wood. For one reason or another these are almost invariably laid to ono side and tent-poles secured from another tree. Or a green hand will set up poplar sticks on which to sling the pot. The cook always has a reason ready for discarding this wood. If by any chance ho should not notice it and the pot tilts over, the bouillon burns, or the. tea is smoky, there will be a hearty malediction bestowed upon the unlucky poplar sticks. The men are by no means ready with an explanation for these superstitions, and when questioned will content themselves with the hall-laughing rejoinder, “Didn’t you know that? I thought that everybody kneiy that poplar always brings bad luck to the men who use it about a camp fire.” It is curious that among the Indian guides tho idea should prevail that the moose is supposed to oxert a malevolent influence in tho w’oods. If, as sometimes happens early in tho season, a big bull moose charges with a wild rush through tho camp, scattering firebrands and pots with its liugo feet, tlio Indian guides cower in terror before it. As likely as not they will refuse to go further with tlicir employers, and will beg to bo released from their "contract. The black boar is generally considered in ; tho light of tho clown of tho mona- ; gcrie. His appearance is hailed with ■ a chuckle, and though respected for I his strength and tenacity of life, ho ; may always be attacked and killed. : Good luck is pretty certain to come to the camp whore the carcaso of a : black boar is strung up. ,