.OTc1.NjIyNTY

2 spoke of the white bear, of his great sagacity, and cunning, his prodigious strength, and his knowledge of the past and the future.

           Ish-pau-bi-kau came into the louge, and although yet a very

young man, his great reputation as a Brave, and a Hunter, entitled him to enter into conversation with the old men; whilst-it-was the duty of other young men of the same age to hear the words of old age and be silent.

          Ish-pau-bi-kau sneered of the tales which the other men told

of the white bear; he had met single-handed, all the beasts that roamed over the plains of his country, and had invariably came off conqueror; but the white bear he had never yet seen; fear was a stranger to his heart, and constant sweeps had made him vain, therefore he laughed at the old men's sotries, and said that he hoped he might some day meet a white bear on the prairie; and though he might have no weapon with him but his knife, yet would he bring home the hide of the bear, to place on his bed, and his squaw should bring in his flesh for the tribe to feast on.

        Then an old grey headed cheif whose name was Ozah-wush-

kwah-no-kwut, or the Blue Cloud, said to Ish-pau-bi-kau; "My son, be careful how you speak; the spirits of the rocks and trees, who know all that we do, and all that we say, will carry your words to the White Bear; The white bear will not be insulted with impunity, and you may pay the penalty of your idle words with your life. Take my advice my Son, tomorrow morning blacken your face with charcoal; eat nothing until the Sun disappears in the west, and sing to the spirits of the rocks and the trees, that they may forget your words, and it shall be well with you."

          But Ish-pau-bi-kau would not black his face, nor fast; he would

not retract his words, but insisted he was able to cope single handed and alone, with no weapon but his knife, with the best white bear that ever roamed in their hunting grounds.

  Image?        The Ojibways believe that the white bear, as well as many other

animals, are not only intimately acquainted with passing events but also possess a knowledge of the past, and a prophetical insight into the future.