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.

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    While they were preparing things for the feast, Gluskap told Turtle (whom he had changed into a young man) to go up to his bride and get her to come down, as there were a couple of canoes that were to cross over to the island to get some berries for the wedc^ng. So she got ready and got some girls to accompany her. They went across to the island. Gluskap was paddling one canoe and Turtle’s brother-in-law, the chief’s son, was paddling another. Gluskap had the girls who accom- panied the bride with him. With his brother-in-law was the bride, her husband, and a few others. After they had obtained the berries, Gluskap advised them to get back before it blew very hard. On the way home he decided to have some fun by letting his uncle do some tricks. ‘Whatever I imagine him to do, let him do,” he said to himself. The canoes were going side by side. Turtle got up and put one foot on one and the other on the other. Just as Gluskap saw his uncle doing this, he shoved the canoe away. Overboard went Turtle. They did not stop, but went right on ahead. One said, “What is that that just went overboard?” “That,” replied Gluskap, “is my uncle.” The bride felt very much ashamed. They went back and found him floundering around and had great difficulty in getting him into the canoe. Then Gluskap said, “You ought to be ashamed of yourself, trying to do these tricks and finally falling overboard.” They returned, and when the third day arrived they had a great wedding feast\ That evening they had their wedding dance. They were dancing until the bride and groom came in, and they danced the short horn dance.^ About the middle of the night they took the bride and groom to the camp of the chief and put them to bed. The next morning the old chief’s wife got up and looked on the opposite side of the camp, where her daughter and son-in-law lay, and saw the Turtle’s back sticking out from under one of the blankets. She picked up a poker and began to jab him in the back. She said, “What is a turtle doing there beside my daughter?” not knowing that it was her son-in-law. The chief informed her who it was. Before that Turtle had asked his nephew what he 1 In those days it was not necessary to eat in one place. Each man brought his plate and the food was given to him. This he took home and ate. An Indian goes out and shouts, Waldewak ”— Bring your plates.” {Walet is plate.) * In those days the horn was made of bark.
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