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    September 27,1856.] THE LEADER. 931

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    THE MYTH OF HIAWATHA. The Myth of Iliawa...

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    The New Translation Of The Bible. Revise...

    the first example , the intention of the new , as of the original translator , seems vague : —• . Are the consolations . of God small with Are the consolations . of God too little thee ? is there any secret thing -with for thee ; thee ? and the word that gently deals with . ¦• ¦ :: . . thee ? In the next , there is a palpable discrepancy between the two versions . The leading idea , in fact , is clianged : — The wicked man travaileth with pain All the days of the wicked man , he is all his days , and the number of years is in pain , hidden to the oppressor . , and the number of years that are laid up for the oppressor . For ¦ " He -wandereth abroad for bread , saying where is it ?• ' The new translator proposes " He wanders about for bread ; where is it ? " "Saying" is an obvious interpolation , the question being whether it was omitted by mere ellipsis , or whether the altered sense suggested by the revised form is the right one . The following is one of a large class of corrections : —

    Let not him that is deceived trust in Let . him not trust in evil ; , lie-is- devanity : for vanity shall be his recom- ceived , pense . ' for evil shall be his reward . " Vanity" in the old version is " evil" in the new . In the same manner " hell" and " the grave" are rendered indifferently " the under-world , " and for " the hypoerites" we read " the impure" : — For the congregation of hypocrites For the household of the impure is desosliall be desolate . . late . Some of the more remarkable revisions of the text may be quoted successively : — Shall vain words have an end ? Is there any end to words of wind ? They shall go down to the bars of the _ It will go down to the bars of the underpit , when < mr rest together { s ' . in the world , dust . so soon as there is rest in the dust . His strength shall he hunger-titten . His strength becomes famished . * ' Hunger-bitten" is infinitely preferable to " famished . "

    He shall neither have son no-r nephew He has no offspring and . no progeny among his people . ' ' among his people . I have heard the check of my reproach , My shameful chastisement must I hear ; xmd the spirit of my understanding and the spirit , from my understanding , causeth me to answer . will answer for rue . His children shall seek to please the His sons the weak shall oppress , poor . . ¦ . . ¦ . - ¦ . ¦¦ . ¦ ¦"¦ .. ; " " ] ' . ' ' ¦ ' : ¦ \ - .. ' . ''¦¦ He shall not see the rivers , the floods , He shall not look on the water-courses , ¦ the brooks of honey and butter . \ the flowing streams of honey and milk . They spend their days in wealth , au & In prosperity they spend their days ,

    an a moment go down to the grave . and m a moment go down to theunder-¦ ¦ ¦ .. ¦ ¦' ' '¦ .. ' : ¦ .. " '• . ¦ " . ' . ' . ¦ ¦ ' • world . ' . ' ¦' : ¦ ¦ ¦ . .. ';¦ ¦ ¦ ;¦ One dieth in his full strength , being One dies in his full prosperity ; .. wholly at ease and quiet . he is wholly at ease , and secure . His breasts are full of milk . His sides are full of fat . They are exalted for a little while , but They rise high ; a little while ,: and they Are gone and brought low ; they are are gone ! taken out of the way as all others , and they are brought low ; like all are they ¦ c ut off as the tops of the ears of corn . gathered , and . are cut off like the topmost ears of

    corn . How different " the topmost ears of corn" from "the tops of the ears of corn , " and how much more perfect the comparison .. Dead things are formed from under the The shades tremble , waters , and the inhabitants thereof . beneath the waters and their inhabitants ! He hath compassed the waters with A circling bound he drew on the face of bounds , until the clay and night come to the waters , an end . unto the limit of light with darkness . This is very noticeable .

    He divideth the sea with his power . By his power he quells the sea . : The flood breaketh out from the inha- He drives a shaft away from man's bitants ; even the waters forgotten of the abode ; foot : they are dried up , they are gono ; , forgotten of the foot , away from men . they swing suspended , far from men ! Ho bindeth the floods from overflowing . He binds up streams , that they drip not . For " pearls" we read " crystal , " for " saints" "holy ones" or " angels , " for " archers" " strong ones , " tor " corrupt" " consumed , " and so forth through a long succession of passages . The three texts are printed in parallel columns , with a minute running commentary beneath them .

    September 27,1856.] The Leader. 931

    September 27 , 1856 . ] THE LEADER . 931

    The Myth Of Hiawatha. The Myth Of Iliawa...

    THE MYTH OF HIAWATHA . The Myth of IliawalTia , ijc , if-o . By Henry R . Sclioolcraft , LL . D . Triibner and Co . Nations in their infancy differ hut little from individual children , They can form no idea of abstract notions . Effects must always be produced by visible and tangible causes . In all ages and in all parts of the earth primitive tribes agree in personifying the spiritual agencies . It is dangerous to allude to Hebrew lore , but the legends of Greece and Rome may be safely quoted to corroborate this trite remark : — The lively Grecian , in a land of hills , Rivers , ami fcrtilo plains , and sounding shores , Under a cope of variegated sky , Could find , commodious place for every god .

    Full of the same humilisvting weakness is the mythology of the East , and now \ ve learn that the Western World is not exempt from this universal imbecility of reason . But how came it that the Eastern nations were able to cast aside their superstition ? Is it really to Palestine that we must look for this clearing away of the dense vapours that obscured their mental vision ? Is it to the ancestors of the despised dealer in " old clo ' s" that the world is indebted for freedom from childish fables ? For long centuries , despite of philosophy , despite of exact science , despite of a noble literature , puerile and ignoble fancies formed the religion of refined and civilized peoples . In like manner , iix the thoa unknown regions of the far West , tho

    unconverted Indian even noAV clothes in mysterious garb the terrestrial phenomena he beholds but cannot understand . Birds and quadrupeds must be made to talk . "VVeeng is the spirit of somnolency in the lodge stories . He is provided with a class of little invisible emissaries , who ascend the forehead , armed with tiny war clubs , -with which they strike the temples , producing sleep . Panguk is the personification of death . He is aimed with a bow and arrows to execute his mortal functions . Hosts of a small fairy-like creation , called Ininees , little men , or Pukwudj Ininees , vanishing little men , iaiabit cliffs and picturesque and romantic scenes . Another class of marine or water spirits , called

    Nebunabaigs , occupy the rivers and lakes . There is an articulate voice in all the varied sounds of the forest—the groaning of its branches and the whispering of its leaves . Local Manitos , or fetishes , inhabit every grove ; and hence he is never alone . It may be said that all this " evinces imagination ; it is , at least , a prurient one . And yet this imagination , such as it is , alone distinguishes Bavage tribes from the mere animal creation in the midst of which they exist . Instinct might almost suffice to teach them to hunt and fish , and the kindlino " of fire was probably such an imitation of an accident as a monkey might be capable of . The reflection is little flattering to human reason . However , our present task is not to moralize , but to notice the salient points in Mr . Schoolcraft ' s key to the Indian legends illustrated in Hiaicatha-,

    In the first place , then , the Introduction is altogether too ambitious , too full of big-sounding words and phrases . The same blemish disfigures many of the simple tales , the principal charm of which might have laid in the artlessness of their delivery . Thus , we read that Hiawatha ' s grandmother was very careful in instructing her daughter from early infancy u to beware of the west wind , and never , in stooping , to expose herself to its influence . In some unguarded moment this precaution was neglected . In an instant , the gale accomplished its Tarquinic purpose ?* Nor is it pleasing to English ears to be told that such an animal " dove under the water , " or that " the flesh had bursted out under their finger nails , " or even that the word "luxuriant" should be used synonymously with" luxurious . " These , however , are minor defects , easily capable of removal should a second edition ever be

    called for : our chief surprise is excited by the iact that a first edition should ever have been deemed necessary . Mr . Schoolcraft himself acknowledges that no publisher could be induced to attempt the adventure until after the appearance of Mr . Longfellow ' s poem . VVe do mot wonder at it . The stories are too childish to interest grown persons , and too insipid and monotonous to amuse children . Hiavratha , too , is cruelly treated .. In the legend more especially assigned to him , he is described as a cheat , a liar , a braggart , and a bully . And the charming little episodes interwoven with the poem appear to have no reference to him whatsoever . For this enlightenment we tender no thanks . We cared not to know that our idol was made of clay . Should we ever fall in love , we trust Mr . Schoolcraft may not be nigL , ^—lie would certainly expose our false teeth , and pull our wig awry .

    " The cheap defence of nations" appears to be duly appreciated by the Indians . Medals ^ and . such like decorations , are frequently mentioned . Hiawatha , or Manabozho , having obtained some valuable information from tlie Kingfisher , desires the bird to approach that he may put a medal round its neck , as a reward for the information it had given . The bird unsuspectingly came near , and received a white medal , which can be seen to this day . " While bestowing the medal , he attempted slily to wring s the bird ' s head off , but it escaped him with only a disturbance of the crown feathers of its head , which are rumpled backward . He had found out all he wanted to know , and then desired to conceal the knowledge of his purposes by killing his informant . Clearly , Manabozho ought to have been an emperor . lie was more loyal

    in recompensing the woodpecker for a similar service . He took the blood of his conquered foe " and rubbed it on tlie woodpecker ' s head , the feathers of which are red to this day . " ..: ' ¦ ' ¦¦ The belief in a deluge prevails among these primitive tribes , and is associated with a victory over the Prince of Serpents . The attendant snakes gave chase to avenge their prince . Mauabozho fled with incredible speed over hill and valley , covering a mile at every stride . Nevertheless , his pursuers gained groundupon him , for they too were spirits , He ascended a very lofty mountain , and climbed to the top of the highest tree , when , looking down , he saw the whole country submerged , and tiie waters still rapidly rising .

    lie saw it reach the foot of the mountain , and at length it camo np to the foot of tlie tree , hut there was no abatement . Tlie ilood rose steadily and perceptibly . Ho soon felt the lower part of his body to be immersed in it . lie addressed the tree ! " Grandfather , stretch yourself . " The tree did so . Rut the waters still rose . Ho repeated his request , nml was again obeyed . He asked a third time , and wan again obeyed ; but the tree replied , " It is the last time ; I cannot get any higher . " The ¦ waters continued to rise till they reached up to his chin , at which point they stood , and soon began to abnte . Hope revived in Ins heart , lie then enst his eyes around the illimitable expanse , and spied a loon . " Dive down my brother , " he said to him , " and fetch up some earth , so that I can make a new earth . " Tho bird obeyed , but rose up to the surfaco a lifeless form . Ho then saw a musk-rat , " Dive ! " said he , " and if you succeed , you may hereafter live cither on land or water , as you please ; or 1 will give you a chain of henutiful little lakes , surrounded with ' rushes , to inhabit . " Ho ( love down , but ho floated up senseless . lie took this body and breathed in his nostrils , which restored him to life . " Try again , " said . he . Tho musk-rat did so . He came \\\\ senseless the second time , but clutched a little earth in one of Id ' s paws , from which , together with the carcase of the dead loon , he created a new earth as large as tho former had been , with all living animals , fo \ vl 9 , and nlantH .

    The metsunorphosis of a boy into a wolf establishes an affinity of thought between the North American Indians , the natives of Southern Africa , and the old fabulists of Europe . In the legend concerning tlie origin of Indian corn thcro is a curious point of resemblance to the story of Jacob wrcutUng with the angel . One having tlie semblance of a young man gaily apparelled descends from heaven , and wrestles till the sun goes down "with the future benefactor of the Indian race . Armorial bearings were so far known that most families adopted a particular bird , "beast , or fish as their " totem , " 01 ancestral mark . And hence , no doubt , arose many of the fables respecting tho achievements of the War Eagle , or the wonderful doings of tho Beaver & c . & c . As a general rule it may be understood that to bear the name oi any particular animal is equivalent to possessing its disposition , habits , oi attributes , But was it worth while to load our shelves with , another book or t his subject ?

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 27, 1856, page 19, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_27091856/page/19/