The tendency of the lower
class of Americans, especially in New England, to raise and emphasize
the voice, to speak continually in italics and small and large
capitals, with a wide display, and the constant disposition to chaff
and tease, have contributed more than any other cause to destroy
confidence and respect for them among the Indians.
Since writing the foregoing paragraph, I have read The Abnakis, by Rev.
Eugene Vetromile. In his chapter on the Religion and Superstition of
these Indians he gives this story, but, as I think, in a corrupted
form. Firstly, he states that Pamola (that is, Bumole), who is the evil
spirit of the night air, was the Spirit of Mount Katahdin. Now these
are certainly _at present_ two very distinct beings, which are
described as being personally quite unlike. Secondly, in Vetromile's
story the mother and child disappear in consequence of the child having
_inadvertently_ killed an Indian by pointing at him. It will be
seen that this feeble, impotent conclusion utterly spoils the manifest
meaning of the whole legend.
Of this story Vetromile remarks that "it is, of course, a superstitious
tale, made up by the prolific imagination of some Indians, yet we can
perceive in it some vestiges of the fall of the first man in having
transgressed the command of God, and how it could be repaired only by
God.
Pages:
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284