Algonquin Legends of New England | Page 2

and those of the
Eskimo could hardly be passed over, nor at the same time the identity
of the latter and of the Shaman religion with those of the Finns,
Laplanders, and Samoyedes. I believe that I have contributed material
not devoid of value to those who are interested in the study of the
relations of the aborigines of America with the Mongoloid races of the
Old World. This is a subject which has been very little studied through
the relations of these Wabanaki with the Eskimo.
A far more hazardous venture has been the indicating points of
similarity between the myths or tales of the Algonquins and those of
the Norsemen, as set forth in the Eddas, the Sagas, and popular tales of
Scandinavia. When we, however, remember that the Eskimo once
ranged as far south as Massachusetts, that they did not reach Greenland
till the fourteenth century, that they had for three centuries intimate
relations with Scandinavians, that they were very fond of legends, and
that the Wabanaki even now mingle with them, the marvel would be
that the Norsemen had not left among them traces of their tales or of
their religion. But I do not say that this was positively the case; I
simply set forth in this book a great number of curious coincidences,
from which others may draw their own conclusions. I confess that I
cannot account for these resemblances save by the so-called "historical
theory" of direct transmission; but if any one can otherwise explain
them I should welcome the solution of what still seems to be, in many
respects, a problem.

I am, in fact, of the opinion that what is given in this work confirms
what was conjectured by David Crantz, and which is thus expressed in
his History of Greenland (London, 1767): "If we read the accounts
which have been given of the most northerly American Indians and
Asiatic Tartars, we find a pretty great resemblance between their
manner of life, morals, usages, and notions and what has been said in
this book of the Greenlanders, only with this difference: that the farther
the savage nations wandered towards the North, the fewer they retained
of their ancient conceptions and customs. As for the Greenlanders, if it
be true, as is supposed, that a remnant of the old Norway Christians
incorporated themselves and became one people with them, the
Greenlanders may thence have heard and adopted some of their notions,
which they may have new-modeled in the coarse mould of their own
brain."
Among those who have greatly aided me in preparing this work I deem
it to be a duty to mention MISS ABBY ALGER, of Boston, to whom it
is cordially dedicated; the REV. SILAS T. RAND, of Hantsport, Nova
Scotia, who lent me a manuscript collection of eighty-five Micmac
tales, and communicated to me, with zealous kindness, much
information by letter; and MRS. W. WALLACE BROWN, of Calais,
Maine. It was through this lady that I derived a great proportion of the
most curious folk-lore of the Passamaquoddies, especially such parts as
coincided with the Edda. With these I would include MR. E. JACK, of
Fredericton, New Brunswick. When it is remembered that there are
only forty-two of the Hiawatha Legends of Schoolcraft, out of which
five books have been made by other authors, and that I have collected
more than two hundred, it will be seen how these friends must have
worked to aid me.

AUTHORITIES.
The authorities consulted in writing this work were as follows:--
PERSONS.

Tomah Josephs, Passamaquoddy, Indian Governor at Peter Dana's
Point, Maine.
The Rev. Silas T. Rand, Baptist Missionary among the Micmac Indians
at Hantsport, Nova Scotia. This gentleman lent me his manuscript
collection of eighty-five stories, all taken down from verbal Indian
narration. He also communicated much information in letters, etc.
John Gabriel, and his son Peter J. Gabriel, Passamaquoddy Indians, of
Point Pleasant, Maine.
Noel Josephs, of Peter Dana's Point, alias Che gach goch, the Raven.
Joseph Tomah, Passamaquoddy, of Point Pleasant.
Louis Mitchell, Indian member of the Legislature of Maine. To this
gentleman I am greatly indebted for manuscripts, letters, and oral
narrations of great value.
Sapiel Selmo, keeper of the Wampum Record, formerly read every four
years, at the kindling of the great fire at Canawagha.
Marie Saksis, of Oldtown, a capital and very accurate narrator of many
traditions.
Miss Abby Alger, of Boston, by whom I was greatly aided in collecting
the Passamaquoddy stories, and who obtained several for me among
the St. Francis or Abenaki Indians.
Edward Jack, of Fredericton, for several Micmac legends and many
letters containing folk-lore, all taken down by him directly from
Indians.
Mrs. W. Wallace Brown. Mr. Brown was agent in charge of the
Passamaquoddies in Maine. To this lady, who has