Malecite tales / by W.H. Mechling.

  • Mechling, W. H.
Date:
1914
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Malecite tales / by W.H. Mechling. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    32/150 page 22
    Gluskap arose and made an address, in which he said that no man shall get power who does not use it right. Gluskap, Groundhog, and their friends then returned to their camp. Gluskap then told Mikumwesu that he would leave him, but before doing so, he intended to seize the old man’s dogs and put sticks in their mouths, so that they could no longer bark. So Gluskap set out, taking his nephew, who was now quite grown, ■wdth him. Mikumwesu also left, so that Groundhog was left alone. When Mikumwesu reached the two mountains, he noticed that Gluskap had carried out his plans with regard to the dogs. Presently they arrived at a village, where it was soon known that strangers were in their midst. All came out to see the small Mikumwesu who had come over in a large canoe, and they marvelled at him. The old folks felt certain that the strangers were Mikumwesu and Gluskap, for no others could do their feats. The chief of the band happened at the time to be absent. But Turtle happened to be there, skinning and cutting up meat that he had trapped on a hunting trip. He was at this time drying it and doing other camp duties. While Fisher was away, Klu^ came with his partner to the hunter’s camp. They entered and said to Turtle “Kwe,” and Turtle answered, ''Kwe.” He knew that they were hungry and immediately procured them some dried meat. He met Turtle, whom he took with him, and they hunted together for some time. Turtle was lazy and stayed around camp and did the cooking and the smoking of the meat. But Fisher hunted hard and brought in a goodly lot of game. One day, when Fisher happened to be absent, the large bird Klu came to visit Turtle. Turtle brought out some smoked moose meat and pounded it up fine, then gave it without any water or other liquid to Klu. The latter choked on it, so Turtle cut him up and smoked him. The large wings he hung up. When Fisher came home and saw all the meat hanging up, he was pleased, and thought that Turtle must have been very industrious. But when he saw the wing of Klu, he felt very different and cried out, “Now you are going to get into trouble, you have killed the chief.” For Fisher knew that Klu was chief of a band of Indians who lived not far distant. He told Turtle that these would soon come in search of their chief 1 Eagle ? Buzzard ?
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3