“Ces Peuples ne connoissent pas mieux la nature du Tonnerre; quelques
uns le prenoient pour la voix d'une espéce particuliere d'Hommes, qui voloient
dans les airs: d'autres disoient que ce bruit venoit de certains Oiseaux,
qui leur étoient inconnus. Selon les Montaguais, c'etoit l'effort, que faisoit
une Génie pour vomir une Couleuvre, qu'il avoit avalée; et ils appuyoient
ce sentiment sur ce que, quand le Tonnerre étoit tombé sur un Abre, on y
voyoit une figure assez approchante de celle d'une Couleuvre.”—Charlevoix, iii. 401.
The other superstitions referred to in this stanza, being local, and some
of them belonging, moreover, to the Hurons, are far-fetched for an Incantation
of the New-England Powaws.—Transcant cum cæteris. “Nearly half
way between Saganaum Bay and the north-west corner of the Lake, lies another,
which is termed Thunder Bay. The Indians, who have frequented
these parts from time immemorial, and every European traveller that has
passed through it, have unanimously agreed to call it by this name.”—Carver,
91. “One of the Chipeway chiefs told me that some of their people,
being once driven on the island of Maurepas, found on it large quantities of
heavy, shining, yellow sand, that, from their description, must have been
gold dust. Being struck with the beautiful appearance of it, in the morning,
when they re-entered their canoe, they attempted to bring some away; but
a spirit, of an amazing size, according to their account, sixty feet in height,
strode in the water after them, and commanded them to deliver back what
they had taken away. Since this incident, no Indian that has ever heard of
it will venture near the same haunted coast.”—Idem, 85. This island is
known by the name of Manataulin, which signifies a Place of Spirits, and is
considered by the Indians as sacred as those already mentioned in Lake Superior.
Two small islands near Detroit were called “les Isles de Serpens à
Sonnettes;” Charlevoix says, “on assûre qu'elles sont tellement remplies de
ces Animaux, que l'Air en est infecte.” Serpent worship was common to
all the Indians, but more peculiarly cultivated among some nations, as the
Malhomines.—Charlevoix, 291.
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