Native American Legends
Mashenomak, The Fish Monster
A Menomini Legend
A fish water-monster frequently caught Indian fishermen. He dragged
them down into the lake and there devoured them. The people were
in great fear and distress. They appealed to Manabush to help them.
This he promised to do. He asked his grandmother to hand him his
singing sticks. He told her he was going to allow himself to be
swallowed by the giant fish. He was going to destroy him. He built
a raft and floated out into the lake. As he floated he sang, "Mashenomak,
come and eat me; you will feel good." The monster saw Manabush
and told his children to swallow him. One of the young Mashenomak
darted to swallow the demi'god who said, "I want Mashenomak
to swallow me." This made Mashenomak angry, and he swallowed
Manabush. He became unconscious. When he recovered he found that
his brothers, Bear, Dear, Porcupine, Raven, Pine Squirrel and others
were also prisoners in the water monster's belly.
Manabush then sang his war song. He asked them to sing and dance
with him. As the dancers passed around the belly of the Mashenomak
it made him reel. As Manabush passed he thrust his knife into his
heart. This caused the monster to have convulsions. Manabush thrust
his knife three times into his heart. After this he said, "Mashenomak,
swim toward my wigwam." The monster's body quaked and rolled
so violently that all again became unconscious. When Manabush returned
to consciousness all was motionless and quiet. The monster was dead.
He was lying on shore. Manabush cut a hole in the body and saw daylight.
Then he took his singing sticks and began to sing. As he continued
to sing his brothers recovered. He cut a larger hole and all emerged
from the body. All thanked Manabush and went to their wigwams. Thus
the fish monster Mashenomak was destroyed.
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