xx INTRODUCTION

of evil, and the Indians feared these creatures of the imagination all the more because they believed that they were men who had been transformed into giants because of their evil deeds.

The Micmacs believed in necromancy. Boo- 5ins (wizards) appear frequently in their atook- wolmms. The Boob'm could fly through the air; he could pass through the earth; he could remain under water as long as he wished; and he could perform many other feats of magic. The Megumoowesoo was a magician of a higher type, a man endowed with super- natural powers, which he always used for good. The Indians of Dr. Rand’s day believed as firmly in all these creatures of the fancy as did those of the olden times.

Like all primitive peOples the Micmacs were the possessors of many animal stories, which often show both keen sense of humour and rare worldly wisdom. Ableegumooch, the lazy rab— bit, plainly exemplifies the lazy Indian, and he is well punished for his fault; while in his transformation of character and final retalia- tion upon the Otter by his magic, he is repre- senting the Indian’s belief in the power of the will to carry man to greater heights.

There are other types of stories among the legends recorded by Dr. Rand. There are his- torical tales which show the irresistible craving