THE BEAR MAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 228, 26 September 1928, Page 19

THE BEAR MAN.

This Is one of the stories that Pawnee Indian babies hear at their grandmother's knee.

A Pawnee Indian was once going through the woods when he saw a little bear cub. It was so small and puzzledlooking that the man pickcd it up, played with it, and then tied a gift of beads round its neck.

"I will let yon go," he said, "and Tirawa, the great spirit, will care for yon. May your folk spare my children if ever they fall into the bears' power!"

So saying, he went home and told his wife, who often pondered it. Shortly afterwards a son was born to thein. When he began to talk and crawl the child was always playing at being a bear, and he could imitate one very well.

When he was a youth he led a war party ot' Pawnees into a rocky bearhaunted place. They were surprised by some Sioux in a cedar grove, outnumbered, and slain to a man. Then their enemies scalped the bodies, robbed them, and went away.

Presently the bears came out, sniffing angrily at the smell of blood which polluted their territory. But a she-bear suddenly cried out:

"Oh, what is this? Our brother is here, our brother whose father in - m'ercy spared the life of our child! He is killed I We must bring him back to life so that he may return to his parents."

"It is difficult," said the Bear Chief, "but we will sec what we can do!"

So they warmed his body with their own bodies, and prayed to the great spirit Tirawa. He was moved by the earnest entreaties of the animals, and summoned the man's soul from the land of spirits back to its body.

When they saw that he breathed again the bears carried him tenderly to their cave, where they brought him food and healing herbs. They also taught him bear wisdom, and bade him ever worship Tirawa, who has made the bears wise, powerful, and noble creatures.

At length he was well enough to return to his own people, and he was almost sorry to go, so well did he love the great creatures who hud saved him.

After he had rejoiced in his parents' amazement and thanksgiving the man went hack to the bears to give them, as a small return for their kindness, meat, tobacco, beads and other Indian treasures.

When they parted again the Bear Chief embraced him with his mighty forepaws, saving: "As my fur has touched you, you will be great; as my hands have touched your hands you will be fearless; and as my mouth touches your mouth you will be for ever wise."

The man afterwards became chief of the I'h\vnee Indians. He invented the Diuiiv. which they practice in honour of (iiD-c animals, and he t'iuglit thein to revere the nobility of the hears and to worship the great Spirit who made them.