Passamaquoddy texts / by John Dyneley Prince.

  • Prince, John Dyneley, 1868-1945.
Date:
1921
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Passamaquoddy texts / by John Dyneley Prince. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    While Kuloskap stands silently on the shore, he strings up his bow; he sees the low cloud which follows her, as she goes farther and farther away. V. Kuloskap and Sable. When it was long ago Kuloskap’s seven neighbors (were) all different animals: they take away his family, so he follows them even to Newfoundland, where he finds them at night; when he arrives, Sable is alone. He takes him to the woods to hunt; he gives his belt to the boy. This gives him magic power. Very much meat he gets by hunting. So then it happens next morning that Crow sees Sable drying meat on his wigwam; then quickly when they saw him satiated (full), they are afraid; they say: “Kuloskap has come.” Everyone went into his (own) house; he waits to die and indeed he (Kuloskap) has come. When he sees them frightened like rabbits when a wildcat comes, Kuloskup opens up, because he is good natured and he pities and forgives them. They were hungry; for he comes when they are in poor circum¬ stances, then he gives them much venison. So sorrow departs from the wigwam. Then as they left him aforetime, so he leaves them. When they did not know him, they leave him to die. Now indeed they know him; they are afraid lest they die, if he is not with them. He goes on other paths (but he sets out on other paths). Now he made a canoe. Kuloskap along with Sable and She-bear goes to a great river. It is broad and beautiful at first. So they sail down to the mouth. Then they come to great cliffs round about; but (these) close in, but the river runs always far below in ravines. It gets deeper until they dash into rapids round about rocks and ravines and waterfalls, so horrible to see that they think of death every time the canoe jumps. It becomes narrow water and more rapid. The river as it gets narrower is more terrible. Sable and She-bear now come upon fear; then they (almost) die of fright, but Kuloskap sits silent and sings magic songs. Then he passes on into the night, but once more he comes to where the