A new version of the beautiful and popular legend of the first spring flower, making the visitant to the old man's lodge a maiden, and identifying the blossom as the trailing arbutus, was told by Hon. C. L. Belknap of Michigan before the Folk-Lore Society in Washington, Dec., 1891.
THE SEA-GULL.
[18] Kay-óshk is the Ojibway name for the sea-gull.
[19] Gitchee—great,—Gúmee—sea or lake,—Lake Superior also often called Ochipwè Gitchee Gúmee, Great Lake (or sea) of the Ojibways.
[20] Né-mè-Shómis—my grandfather. "In the days of my grandfather" is the Ojibway's preface to all his traditions and legends.
[21] Waub—white—O-jeeg—fisher (a furred animal). White Fisher was the name of a noted Ojibway chief who lived on the south shore of Lake Superior many years ago. Schoolcraft married one of his descendants.
[22] Ma-kwa or mush-kwa—the bear.
[23] The Te-ke-nâh-gun is a board upon one side of which a sort of basket is fastened or woven with thongs of skin or strips of cloth. In this the babe is placed and the mother carries it on her back. In the wigwam the tekenâgun is often suspended by a cord to the lodge-poles and the mother swings her babe in it.
[24] Wabóse (or Wabos)—the rabbit. Penáy, the pheasant. At certain seasons the pheasant drums with his wings.
[25] Kaug, the porcupine. Kenéw, the war-eagle.