These few examples will suffice to shew you that they have different methods of bewitching and also different ways of clearing themselves. And the faith and dread they have of this is scarcely credible, and the consequences are often too uncommonly distressing.
[Stories of the Hairy Breasts and Nayhanimis]
[North Wind's Challenge]
I shall now give you of the Story of the Hairy Breasts. Near the days of Noah, nations were few and small. Wee-suck-ā-jāāk (Noah, I shall call him for abbreviation sake) had a son, as I told you before, whose name was Nay-hân-nee-mis [Nayhanimis]. Being strait'ned for provisions, he went out to angle with some of the Hairy-Breasts. They came to a lake, pierced several holes, but the North (or North Wind, as you chuse) being envious of Nayhanimis froze the water down to the very ground so that in the deepest parts they found but earth. And after much digging, at last [they] reached the bottom. But behold that also was frozen—and who knows to what depth in the Earth!
Finding this to be the case Nayhanimis, addressed his friends thus.
I see this is the doing of the North Wind. (Now by rights the North Wind ought to have been his maternal Grand Father—but what cannot envy do?) He is envious of us and wants to make us die of hunger. But he shall not! I have to propose to you to cut off my head, rip up my body, beginning at the throat. You must not hurt nor break any single one of my bones, but carefully take off all the flesh, dry it, and make pounded meat of it. Of this you must sprinkle a little in every one of the holes. You must also chop up my heart into very small pieces and throw a few of these pieces also into each hole. Then put in your lines, and you'll take as many fish as you please. But my bones you must put in a heap, carefully by themselves.
Mind! Upon your faithful observance of all these commands depends our mutual safety. The North thinks himself sole master, and would wish to crush us because we begin to have a little knowledge. But he shall know me!
They [did] accordingly, and accordingly also they took abundance of fish. North perceived this. He came to see, and finding himself thus frustrated, inquired how it came about. They told [him]. He challenged Nayhanimis who by this time had revived. And besides, a beautiful large feather he had sticking in his cap, or head, which none durst wear but such as have given incontestible proofs of their manhood [and] bravery. He likewise had a smoking bag of the skin of a badger. Nayhanimis accepted the challenge.
"It seems, Nayhanimis, you are a great man, a man of extraordinary power and abilities! Let us have a trial, and see which of us has the most, for I also have some knowledge."
Nayhanimis answered, "No! I have but little power. But that little I employ as much as I can to the general benefit of my fellows. Let us see what you can do, which if I cannot, then you will certainly be superior to me."