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Updated: May 29, 2025
What were the wide grass-like blades making green the plain? What were the vines that sent their runners all about? Carefully he tilled the field. The stems grew strong, and the broad leaves gleamed in the sunshine. Still he kept the secret, spending many hours in watching for his enemies. When summer drew near its close, Manabush paddled his canoe to the shore nearest the wrestling ground.
The man of the red feather was strong and active, but at last he was thrown to the earth. "I have thrown you! I have thrown you!" shouted Manabush. "You have gained a great gift for your people," said Mondamin, "for I am the spirit of the corn." Even as he spoke, a wonderful change took place. Gone was the man who had wrestled with such strength.
Before you can become a great warrior you must show that you are able to endure many hardships without complaint. "'Set forth on a long journey alone and without food. Travel through unknown forests, enduring hunger and thirst. Sleep on the cold ground, and pray for a vision that shall be your guide through life. "Manabush took his bow and arrows and went out into the forest.
"Manabush waded out into the water and beat the grain from the heads. So his fast was broken by the new food given in answer to his prayers in the forest. "And since that time, my children, the wild rice feeds thousands of our people every year. It grows without planting in the lakes and rivers of our forest land.
One night, as Manabush was lying on the ground in the thick woods, he heard strange voices. "This is no common enemy," he said to himself. But he lay motionless and listened. The evil spirits were plotting to take his life. By his magic power he was able to defend himself from their attacks, and they slipped away unseen. In the morning he went to the open shore.
They found themselves in their own country, with abundance all about them. Food was placed before them. Then the bags were opened. There were beaded dresses for the mother and war bonnets for the father. There were moccasins and warm blankets. There were skins as soft as the most skilled work could produce. Manabush built his parents a lodge near the cornfield and filled it with every comfort.
"Another story tells us that Manabush returned one day from a long hunt without game. The fire in front of his lodge was still burning, and a duck was sitting on the kettle eating boiled rice. "Manabush tasted the new food and found it good. He followed the bird to a lake not far away where wild rice had grown and ripened. Afterwards boiled rice became a common food among his tribe."
"So Manabush made a birch canoe and started across the great lake. When he reached land he pulled his light canoe out of the water and carried it on his back to a near-by thicket. Then he changed himself into a rabbit and hopped away into the long grass. "Soon there came up a great storm. The old man guarded the sacred fire with the utmost care until the rain was over.
Continuing, Souwanas said: "The moose encouraged the rabbit by saying, 'Nanahboozhoo's name was once Manabush, or Keche-Wapoose, Great Rabbit, and so I am sure he will be your friend, as I think he is a distant relation. "Not waiting for the council to close, away sped the rabbit along the route described by the moose, who had lately found out where Nanahboozhoo was stopping.
A tribe of Indians once lived on the beautiful islands of a large lake. They were driven from their homes by hostile tribes. Men, women, and children left everything they owned and paddled their canoes westward to the mainland. But Manabush, the bravest of the warriors, remained behind. It was his purpose to keep close watch of the enemy, and to send warning in time to prevent surprise.
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