🧚 Opening, part 20 · page 2

Napch omach yot asinya gwandowanek wʾnachmoyo-wagʾnya.73 Napch sagem wʾkutomasin naga wisek-han sagmal sagmaskw wisekhod pili sagmal naga kiska-mek.74

Apch wespasakiwik naga okeptinen teboloman el-wigʾnʾk keswuk nihitanke yachihi wʾtliteboloma wataholoteh elitebolomoot sagem.75 Peskw na elipemket wut eli wisek-hot.76 Eli miloot oʾmanimwa aguami sagleyowal katik sagem napch wut piliwi sagem oskowiman naga onestomowan kesich pigak wutlokewagʾnowal miyawal tena okisajin otewepoosan mʾtewaguem.77 Nittle metewagʾn-mel osagmamwal nikt gaptinek wiwunik apwihtowatijil ya te chikihigʾnʾl kelnajit ayat na tan teppo yot kegus ewabligik quasijik kemenia pekusek wʾtachwi pekiyawal.78 Yot nit itmowin wʾtachiwi wulankeyowwowwal tan te quenowsiltil pemowsowagʾnawa te wʾtlipoonmʾnia.79 Wʾtachwi lipoonmenia opokenoom ya hotankeyowa tich-hi nihitanke yatgotachihi tan etuchi nesa naguak pechyamkotit.80 Chewi noteyik gaptinek woot sagem kislomot kitama kiseltumwawun wichipnusin ansa teppo wʾtankeyowa opemowsowinoom naga wʾnote genekmen tan gekw-nesanaguak pechiyak.81 Nit woot sagem naga otelitepsowinoom okisitpesotinia.82

Nit apch ketkil elok-hʾdimkil malemte nit welaguiwik nit yaka opemkanya tegio te apch echeguak enitespatek wʾtenkamhedoltinia.83 Enowdoltowuk epeskum-hʾdinya wʾkisik-apwelanya metewagwemel.84 Nit mʾsioo tan elitowtoltitit ek-hodasik tan woot neglo-wechik niktech wikw-nekik niltelkisek hodasikil.85 Nit elok-hʾdimʾk anquoch queneket nihi sente kessena te pes-kisoos.86

THE CEREMONY OF INSTALLATION87

When they reached home, however, and the embassies from the other _Wabanaki_ tribes had also returned, the people of the bereaved tribe were summoned to assemble before the messengers, who informed them of the success of their mission.88 When the delegates from the other tribes, who had been appointed to elect the chief, had arrived and the salutation and welcome ceremonies had been performed, an assembly was called to elect the chief.89

This took place about the second day after the arrival of the other _Wabanaki_ representatives.90 A suitable person, a member of the bereaved tribe, was chosen by acclamation for the office of chief.91 If there was no objection to him, a new flag-pole was made and prepared for raising, and a chief from one of the kindred tribes put a medal of wampum on the chief-elect, who was always clothed in new garments.92 The installing chief then addressed the people, telling them that another “eldest boy” had been chosen, to whom they owed implicit obedience.93 Turning to the new chief, he informed him that he must act in accordance with the wishes of his people.94 The main duties of a chief were to act as arbiter in all matters of dispute, and to act as commander-in-chief in case of war, being ready to sacrifice himself for the people’s good if need were.95

After this ceremony they marched to the hall, where another dance took place, the new chief singing and beating the drum.96 A wife of one of the other chiefs then placed a new deer-skin or bear-skin on the shoulders of the new chief as a symbol of his authority, after which the dance continued the whole night.97

The officers of the new chief (_geptins_) were still to be chosen.98 These were seven in number and were appointed in the same manner and with the same ceremonies as the chief.99 Their duties, which were much more severe, were told them by the installing chief.100 The flag-pole, which was the symbol of the chief, was first raised.101 The _geptins_ stood around it, each with a brush in his hand, with which they were instructed to brush off any particle of dust that might come upon it.102 This signified that it was their duty to defend and guard their chief and that they should be obliged to spill their blood for him, in case of need and in defence of the tribe.103 All the women and children and disabled persons in the tribe were under the care of the _geptins_.104 The chief himself was not allowed to go into battle, but was expected to stay with his people and to give orders in time of danger.105

After the tribal officers had been appointed, the greatest festivities were carried on; during the day they had canoe races, foot races and ball-playing, and during the night, feasting and dancing.106 The Indians would bet on the various sports, hanging the prizes for each game on a pole.107 It was understood that the winner of the game was entitled to all the valuables hung on this pole.108 The festivities often lasted an entire month.109

NIBOWE ELDAKEWAGʾN NʾKANSOSWEI110

Tan etuchi wʾskinoos pewatek oniswitijil en wʾtakin-wetowan wʾnikigo naga tan yotʾl pawatgil nika nio nitaskowtitiesil netch woot kʾtakw-hemoos wʾtakinwetuwan wʾtelnapem nit skawen waplithodmuk nittech tekw-chetunia.111 Nit woot kʾtakw-kʾmoosimilan kelwasilipil pileyal mowinewiyul kessena odook kessena quabitewiyul.112 Nutch woot oskinoos omachep-hon odeneksonel yot nackskw wikowak netch nitponan woot neksonel nowtek wigwamek; yote ebonel nisnol naga nowtek naga kʾsoshone.113 Nit elichpi milipitasik elawigwam nit kisekelat wʾdoneksonel.114 Woot loo nackskw omitakwsel otakin-wetuwan otelnapem malemte kisi-mowemat wʾnestowan eliwisilit wʾskinosel pechipowat matonijanel wʾniswinya.115 Nit skawen wablitthodmuk nittech woot kitakw-pʾmoos wʾtelkiman wʾtusel nowtek pemekpit eneksone nittech nit kisit piye nipwoltin nitan elikwusitasik wigopaltin mawemitsoltin ayot pemkamik neskow hʾdimʾk.116 Anquotch quenatkʾt pemlokemkil.117

THE MARRIAGE CEREMONY118

_The Ancient Rite_119

It was the duty of the young Indian man who wished to marry to inform his parents of his desire, stating the name of the maiden.120 The young man’s father then notified all the relatives and friends of the family that his son wished to marry such and such a girl.121 If the friends and relations were willing, the son was permitted to offer his suit.122 The father of the youth prepared a clean skin of the bear, beaver or deer, which he presented to his son.123 Provided with this, the suitor went to the wigwam of his prospective bride’s father and placed the hide at the back of the wigwam or _nowteh_.124 The girl’s father then notified his relations and friends, and if there was no objection, he ordered his daughter to seat herself on the skin, as a sign that the young man’s suit was acceptable.125 The usual wedding ceremonies were then held, viz., a public feast, followed by dancing and singing, which always lasted at least a week.126

NIBOWE ELDAKEWAGʾN YOT PILIOO YOT KISI MAWETASIK127

Tan etuchi wʾskinoos ketwakatek wʾtachwich na kinwettwa wʾnikiko wʾnestowan nackskwyil powatkil.128 Netch woot kʾtakw-hemoos omaweman wʾtelnapemwa nit skatwen waplit-hodmuk.129 Nitch wʾdakinwettowania nojikelol welijil nitch omacheptunia nequotatkeyi wapap nittech nit milatit woot nackwesk omitakw-sel naga tan te kisikesitit kesosejihi najichik lutkig wapap egitasik nibowei.130 Liwitasso kʾlelwewei yotech wʿtetlegitmʾn elgitnuwik wʾnestowalch na eli-wisilit oskinosel nit pawatek nitʾl nackskwuyil oniswinya.131 Nittech nit metewestakw nittech weswi yapasinia yot wʾskinoos wigek.132 Nittech-et-laskowasooltitit tegio asittemoot.133 Nittech na woot nackskw omitakw-sel omaweman otelnapemwʾl nittech skatwen wablithamagw nitʾl pechi kelolwelijil nittlowen kegw kʾchi chitwat ewabligik wʾmestomʾnch.134 Nittech sagesso kʿtinipwooltimkepn.135 Nittlo mʾsioo li wulit-hodmotit nit etepkisitpiye.136 Nit neke oskichinwuk kisi papatmotit nitch patlias onipwik-han.137

Nittech nittʾl nibowe eldakewagʾnʾl elok-hʾdim.138 Wutech wʾskinoos omilwan pileyal elquootewagʾnʾl nit kissewett woot pilkatek netch omach-yapasinia oniswitijil wigwek netch wʾnatlasikwan wʿniswitijil wenachi sekeptinenan wʾniswitijil naga kesosejihi.139 Yot nit eliwittasik eldakewagʾn wulisakowdawagʾn.140 Nit weswesit wikwak nutch nut holpiyanya yohot na pechi kesosejihi quesquesoos naga pilskwessis naga gana wʾskittapyik.141 Wutech na wʾskinoos na onagʾnl makeslasikasijihi nittech omach-yapasinia wʾnachi-sekeptinenya.142 Malemtech metlasikowdoltin.143 Nittech uletonya kʾchi mawepoltimek wutech nackskw towipootpoonek liwitass natpoonan oskittapyik epijik pechi te wasisek.144 Wutech na wʾskinoos soksagw kotch meketch tlagw-te mijwagʾn malemch kisakwtek.145 Nit wikopaltinya netch wʾgagalwaltinya kʾwaltewall.146 Mʾsitte wen wʾnestem nit.147

Nit omache-guaskoltinia natchi teppam wan wikopalan.148 Mechte nibowattimek meskw metekto.149 Nitte otlas-hewhodlusooltinya naga omach-yapasinia gwandowanek.150 Malemte pachaswook gwandowanek pechi kesosejihi.151 Nitte kes yapasitit nitte pesgowat peskutenil ech-wechi kʾchich yot lusoweskw eliyit kis gwandowanek.152 Nit ne oskinoo-lusoo.153 Ena negum omach-yapasinia kesooswechihi malemte petapaswuk kesyapasittit nit apch peskw-tay peskowat.154 Nitte gaptin omachep-han omachi-ostook kegania oniswitijil.155