child, perhaps two children,
very light of foot, and whose height shall scarce exceed that of a
squirrel. She must approach them, but they will run from her, nor will
her utmost speed enable her to overtake them. They will fly to thy
protection, nor must thou deny it--they must be received into thy
bosom. The chill of their cold hiding place will destroy them, and
their souls will enter into the womb of the suppliant woman, and she
will become a fruitful and honoured mother.'

"These were the words of the Great Spirit; and often has the power he
imparted to that hill been felt to the taking away the reproach from
the barren women. Namata-washta, go thou, and do likewise. Follow the
directions I have given thee, and, if the having children will render
thee happy, thou shalt be happy--if to be the mother of a more
numerous offspring than any wife in thy nation may make thee an
honoured woman, thou shalt be honoured."

With these words, the Spirit departed from before the eyes of
Namata-washta, who never beheld her again. She returned to the cabin
of her husband, obeyed the words of the stranger, and saw the results
take place which had been foretold. She became the mother of a more
numerous progeny than any woman of her nation, took the lead in the
lodge of her husband, and was more beloved by him than any other of
his wives. She became as much honoured by the people as she had been
before despised by them, and died with the reputation of having been
the greatest benefactress of the nation that had lived since the days
of the two wise boys who discovered the upper world[A].

[Footnote A: See the Tradition vol. i., p. 201.]

The faculty which this hill possessed of imparting fruitfulness was
retained till the wickedness of the Minnatarees became so crying,
that the Great Spirit, deeming that there would be full enough of
these bad people, if left to their natural means of increase, withdrew
it, and has never restored it.

TALES OF A WHITE MAN'S GHOST.

I. GARANGA.

If the feet of my brother from the distant land have ever carried him
to the spot where the Oswegatchie joins with the river called by the
people of his nation the St. Lawrence, he must have seen a broken wall
of stone, which that same people built very soon after they had taken
possession of the High Rock, and made it the great village of the pale
faces. At that time the red men of the wilderness were not very well
disposed towards the strange