3 By doing so she became pregnant. Magical conception occurs in the culture-hero story of the Algonkian, Iroquoian, and Yuchi tribes. ↑
7 Rock-tripe, an edible fungus made into soup and eaten in time of famine. Nenebuc had this experience on a ledge near the eastern shore of Smoothwater lake (see map). ↑
8 This big snake became a high rocky ridge on the portage south of Smoothwater lake (see map above referred to). ↑
9 The lake is Smoothwater lake, Cųcawa′gami “smooth lake” (see map above referred to). This is the scene of the world transformation. ↑
10 The cave is in a high bluff on the west shore of Smoothwater lake. On the eastern shore is where Nenebuc fell down the rocks and made wa′kwan. ↑
12 Abi·ndəsa′gan “something to sit or lie on the water with.” The event occurred near the previously mentioned cave. ↑
13 This is called Koko‵kowikwe·‵tuɔk “Owl bay,” now known as Kokoko bay, the northeastern arm of Lake Timagami (see map). The event occurred on the western shore of the bay. ↑
15 This is a fragment of the culture-hero cycle of the Mattagami band of Ojibwa, which has become known among the Timagami people, but does not form a part of their own version. ↑
16 Every wigwam has horizontal poles crossing near the smoke hole. This is a drying rack and support for the pot hook. ↑
19 The Indians often had much trouble to get food in the winter and looked forward eagerly to spring, when the ice leaves the rivers, making “open water,” thus enabling them to seek new hunting places. ↑
22 By doing this he would prevent them from travelling and cause them to freeze or starve to death. ↑
24 The hole is a circle composed of seven stars (Pleiades). This was the first mite′win or “conjuring” lodge. Seven poles are necessary to build this lodge. Unless seven are used, the conjurer’s tent will not rock. The old woman tends the mite′win. When she moves from the hole, there is sure to be mite′win somewhere here below. The stars form the rim of the hole through which she lowered the two girls. ↑
28 In winter-time, the Indians keep a hole chopped through the ice near their camp for the water supply. ↑
30 It is the custom for a hunter returning to hand his game bag to his wife before he enters the wigwam, without speaking, so that she can see for herself whether he has had good luck or not. ↑
31 The constellation Ursa Major is called wətci·′gan·αŋg “Fishing Star.” The story accounts for this constellation name. ↑
32 This is the bend in the handle of the Great Dipper. The small star Alcor in this constellation is the wound. ↑
33 Night lines are set for lake fish. The hook of bone formerly was fastened into a shank of wood and this tied to a line by a leather leader which the teeth of the fish could not sever. Then the line was fastened to another line adjoining the two float sticks by a knot and wrapping, which would pay out after a little jerk. The float sticks were anchored by a stone. The bait was tied to the hook, which later was kept horizontal by a line running from the leader to a pin stuck in the bait. This ingenious device is shown in Figure 1. As the story mentions, when the float sticks are together it is a sign that a fish is on the hook. ↑
36 At this time Lynx testes habuit just like those of animals, but now they are like those of the cat, invisible. ↑
38 They used to suspend the beaver by a swinging string and roast him, saving all the bones from the dogs in order to throw them into the lake, as they thought that there would be just as many beavers there again in the autumn as the number of bones thrown in. This story explains the ceremonial treatment of beaver remains. ↑