It is plainly set forth in the Edda that Cold may be overcome by a
magic spell. Thus Groa (Grougaldr, 12) promises her son a rune to
effect this:--
"A seventh (charm) I will sing thee:
If on a mountain high
frost should assail thee,
deadly cold shall not
thy body injure,
nor draw it to thy limbs."
_How Glooskap made a Magician of a Young Man, who aided another to
win a Wife and do Wonderful Deeds_.
(Micmac.)
It is well known unto all Indians who still keep the true faith of the
olden time that there are wondrous dwellers in the lonely woods, such
as elves and fairies, called by the Micmacs _Mikumwessos_, and by
the Passamaquoddies _Oonahgawessos_. And these can work great
wonders, and also sing so as to charm the wildest beasts. From them
alone come the magic pipes or flutes, which sometimes pass into
possession of noted sorcerers and great warriors; and when these are
played upon, the woman who hears the melody is bewitched with love, and
the moose and caribou follow the sound even to their death. And when
the _Megumawessos_ are pleased with a mortal they make him a
fairy, even like themselves.
_N'Karnayoo_. In old times there was an Indian village, and in it
were two young men, [Footnote: According to another Micmac version of
this legend, the elder of these pilgrims was Keekwahjoo, the Badger,
and the younger Caktoogwasees, or Little Thunder.
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