The doctrine of power through penance is
so simple and obvious in its origin that it would long precede
monotheism. A man exercises himself with great exertion in lifting
stones, as in an Eskimo tale, till he is strong; he practices shooting
arrows and running after them, as in the story of the Chief's Son, till
he can outrun them. Then the secret of such marvelous deeds is supposed
to exist in the bow, and it becomes a fetich.
A very important part of _m'teoulin_ is the materials employed. In
Old World magic these are exclusively objects which startle or disgust,
parts of the human body, dead reptiles, or things singular and rare.
Among the Indians, very commonplace articles are employed indifferently
with those of the former kind. The magic consists not in them, but in
the magician and his methods. He has had, let us say, his dreams, or
received, while alone in the forest, his inspirations, which have told
him what to do. He takes the objects suggested, and with them performs
his wonder works. Sometimes he tells others to do the same with the
same things, but in this case he is still the motive force; it is
_his_ enchantment. In illustration of this I give the following
legend:--
Far in the woods was an Indian town; near it lived two old people, who
had two beautiful daughters, and no son. The girls were very shy. They
seldom let themselves be seen.
Pages:
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379