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"The Origin of the Big Ojibway Drums"

"Some twenty or thirty years ago. among the Dakota tribe of indians an out break arose and on one occassion. of a battle between the United States troops and a band of Dakota Indians. the whole band engaged in this encounter were killed by the troops save one native woman. who saved herself by wading in the water of a lake and placing a water lillie leaf on her head. which shielded her from the observation of the soldiers. She remained for four successive days and nights without food. The cause of her remaining so long in the water was the camp of the soldiers at this spot on the bank of the lake. On the morning of the fifth day she heard a voice calling to her. in her native tongue and being alarmed she dove out of sight for a moment but on again appearing she observed an old man on the shore with gray flowing beard who told her not to be afraid, but bade her come ashore. which she did. The old man asked her if she was hungry and she replied she was. Then he [?] he go to the soldier's camp and have her breakfast and said she must not be alarmed as he would cause her to be invisible so that the soldiers could no see or harm her. After partaking of her meal the old man again called to her to follow him and bring along with her the wash tub. that she observed. lying in her pathway. On arriving a short distance from the encampment they halted. There the old man told her he was the Great Spirit. and that he saw and knew that she was in the water during the four days she was hiding but he could not come to her assistance as he was planning and regulating a religion which he would then relate to her. Presenting her with a short stick he bade her strike the tub which she did and immediately the tub was transformed into a most beautiful drum. (From this circumstance the Ojibway make all their Big Drums out of birch tubs or in lieu thereof a half barrel) and to this day. a tribe cannot make a new drum unless they have authority from this woman