Page:Journal of American Folklore vol. 12.djvu/622

 274 Journal of American Folk-Lore.

(p. 226). The Indian belief is that the little white spots, so often seen on the finger-nails, are a sign of discontentedness. The word is derived from mindawe, "to be discontented, to sulk," and kackwe, "nail."

26. Mosewabite, "to have bad teeth, to have toothache" (p. 241). This word signifies literally "to have a worm in one's teeth {bit)." The name mose is given to a worm that gnaws wood.

27. Nakwetagewin, "the chorus, or refrain in response to the orator's song" (p. 252). The word is derived from nakwetage, "to respond, to chant heh ! heh ! " An older name for such responses is tcingtvaamagezvin. See No. 14.

28. Nangandama, "to lighten one's load by eating it" (p. 258). This is said of the Indians on the hunt, " who, when they arrive at a portage, have not the courage to carry their provisions on their backs, but try to dispose of as much as possible by eating before the voyage is resumed."

29. Nenabojo (see No. 51). This word is used figuratively also: Nenabojonsiwi Sivionh = " Simon is a little Nenabojo."

30. Nogweivitamok, " the thunder stops, is not prolonged in its rumblings" (p. 285). This is a sign of cold. The saying is : Nog- wewitamok, ta kisina, " the thunder stops rumbling, it is going to be cold." When the thunder is prolonged, they say "it will be fine weather."

31. Nonimotewesi, "chrysalis of a butterfly" (p. 287). When the Indians find one of these they say : Audi k'okomis endate ?— " Where is your grandmother?" In figurative language nonimotewesi is ap- plied to a taciturn individual.

32. Nwatcimangwete, "the loon-hunter" (p. 289). The name of a certain constellation, — from notcimangive, " to hunt the loon (mang)."

33. Odjikanang, " star of the fisher " (p. 294). The constellation of the Great Bear is called by these Indians after the "fisher" {odjig), — Martes canadensis.

34. Onwadfikewin, "prognostic from trembling" (p. 305). Among the prognostics from the trembling or shuddering of parts of the human body are the following : Head, one will have a heavy burden to bear ; upper lip, one will get angry ; lower lip, one will have a feast ; eyebrows, one will receive a pleasant visit ; eyelids, one will shed tears ; clieeks, it will be very cold ; ears, there will be snow ; hands, one will skin an animal ; legs, one will make a long voyage. Con- cerning these, Cuoq observes that "they exist now only in the remembrance of a few old people " (p. 306). The " medicine-men " made much of these things.

35. Opikwanic, "the constellation of the Little Bear" (p. 307). This

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