Includes bibliographical references (pages 301-317) and indexes.

From the past to the present -- Worldview -- The first Europeans -- Christianity -- Shamans and witches -- Ghosts and the devil -- Treasures -- Giants: Maushop and Squant -- Little people -- Windows to the past: dreams and shrines -- Conclusion: "There is a stream that issues forth." "Spanning three centuries, this collection traces the historical evolution of legends, folktales, and traditions of four major native American groups from their earliest encounters with European settlers to the present. The book is based on some 240 folklore texts gathered from early colonial writings, newspapers, magazines, diaries, local histories, anthropology and folklore publications, a variety of unpublished manuscript sources, and field research with living Indians."--Publisher's description.