SUPERSTITIONS OF AMERICAN. INDIANS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13488, 15 May 1907, Page 9

SUPERSTITIONS OF AMERICAN. INDIANS.

Many arid curious are the superstitions of the guides and hunters of t«e northern woods in. Maine. The other day, says« a writer in the New York Tribune, an old . half-breed woodsman, who was in the lead of a shooting party, stopped, after they had travelled one hundred yards from the camp, j with the declaration that his companion would direct the party that day, as he was i obliged to return. At night, when the sportsmen came back empty-handed, the j woodsman gave nis reason for his failure, and I also for their non-success. ;'-: " I heard the J chickadee singing right in front of us, and that always means bad luck, you know," jhe said. Why the little; cheery black and : white chirper should be considered as the I harbinger of ill-fortune he could not tell. j He had always heard that it was, and al- | ways found the .tradition to be true. On j the other hand, the call of the wood pigeon, or wood dove, is "good medicine," as the Indian says. A great many creatures will die that day, if the fortunate hunter hears its cooing early in the -morning.'-- The worst I of it is that death may possibly strike some member of the party as well. .-•;.-' The hoarse squawk of the raven, - again, ; often means good sport for hunters. Although a bird of evil omen, it is the game upon which 'the, kid -luck will fall, unless there arc other bad signs noticed. For in- . stance, if the chickadee chirps when the raven calls, it means bad times for sportsmen. v And if, on an ordinary; trip through the woods, a raven is':heard, look out tor falls-,. breakages, or accidents of some r more serious character. But, 'with gun■ on shoulder, arid dog' at heel, rejoice at' the note of the raven, , tor many are the good chances pi: sport fcJie day; -vMosds* >■- . ,, y, "'"~ "'.' : * The' observant hunter will notice . that, although the most common of trees in most shooting districts, poplar is never used about \ the cainp. Many a time have young fellows on-their first expedition; undertaken to lend a hand in setting up the tents at : night, and to that end s have brought in forked stakes of the clean, , easily-cut, white 'j wood. For one reason or another these i are almost invariably laid to.' one side and tent-poles' secured from another tree. Or a green hand will . set :up poplar sticks on which to sling the pot. The "cook always | has a reason ready for discarding this wood. If by any chance he should not notice it and the pot tilts over, the bouillon bums, or the tea is smoky, there will be a hearty malediction bestowed upon the unlucky poplar sticks. 'The men are by no means ready with an explanation for these superstitions, i and when questioned will content themselves I with the" half-laughing rejoinder, " Didn't ! you know that? I thought that everybody j knew that poplar always brings bad luck j I to the men who use, it about a camp fire." ! It is curious that among the Indian j guides the idea should prevail that the i moose is supposed to exert a malevolent influence in the woods. If, as sometimes happens early in the season, a big bull moose charges with a wild" rush through the camp, scattering firebrands ' and pots with its huge feet, the Indian guides cower in terror before it. v.; As likely as not they will, refuse to go further with their em,ployers, and will beg to be released from their contract. The black bear is generally considered in the light of the clown of the menagerie. His appearance is hailed with a chuckle, and though respected for his strength and tenacity of life, he may always be attacked and killed. Good luck is pretty certain to come to a camp where the .carcase or a black bear is. strung up. ' '"'