🧚 Opening, part 4 · page 2

The stranger replied, “They may go Around by land and meet us.”62 “That cannot be,” said the other, “No dogs could run such a distance, Not even in weeks of running.”63 But as there was no answer He paddled, saying nothing, Over the bay to the landing, And there the dogs were waiting!64 But when he turned his head He found the stranger had vanished, And then he said to himself: “Now have I seen Kulóskap, The Lord of Beasts and Men.”65

And yet at a later day At a place afar in the North, There were many Indians assembled When there came a strange commotion.66 The ground was heaving and rumbling, The rocks were shaking and falling, And even the boldest among them Felt faint at heart with terror; When lo, they saw before them The Lord of all, Kulóskap!67 And he said to them: “Lo, I am here, And when you feel the ground Trembling again as to-day, Then know that I have returned.”68 So it is that man will know When the last great war shall be, The war of the Final Day!69 For then Kulóskap the Lord Will make the plain and the mountains Shake with an awful noise.70

The Beaver had been the foe Of the Lord in the beginning; Hence it came that Kulóskap slew Full many of the tribe.71 Away up in the Tobaic Are two salt water rocks-- That is, they stand by the ocean Near a fresh water stream-- A spot which to the Beaver Had ever been forbidden.72 But one day when far away, So far that none could see Who had not the magic vision, Kulóskap saw the Beaver Defying his injunction, And drinking from the stream.73 Then with his might, in anger, The god tore up a rock And hurled it at the Beaver.74 It was many leagues away, The Beaver deftly dodged it-- Few beasts are so quick at dodging-- But when another boulder Came after the first one, Kwâbît Ran deep into a mountain From which he came forth no more.75 But the rocks which the Master threw, And the mountain and the fountain, Are shown unto this day; And the Indians say in reverence; “Kulóskap once was here!”76

FOOTNOTES:77

[14] Kulóskap was the greatest one who ever came into our land.78

III79

THE ORIGIN OF THE RATTLESNAKES80

[_Passamaquoddy_]81

_Ntʾladwewâgʾnuk aʿtosis yut the snake.82 _[15]83

You know Aʿtosis, the Snake?84 Truly all snakes are evil, But worst among them all Is the Rattlesnake their master.85 Well!86 In the olden time, The Rattlesnakes were Indians, And they were very saucy: Men said they were all face, And never could be frozen; They could not be put down by much, And they rose for very little.87 When the Great Flood was coming, Kulóskap the awful prophet, Gave them full warning of it.88 They answered, “They did not care.”89 He told them that the water Would rise o’er the heads of all; They said, “Should this come to pass, We shall all be very wet.”90 He bade them be good and quiet, And pray to escape from drowning; They whooped and hurrahed to mock him.91 He said, “The Great Flood is coming!”92 They gave three cheers for the Flood.93 Then he added, “’Twill drown you all!”94 The Indians whooped again, And got out all their rattles, Which were made of turtle shell Containing little pebbles, And rattled with all their might In a daring dance to the Flood.95

Yes, ’twas a rattling dance!96 The rain began to fall, But the Indians danced on.97 The thunder roared, and they answered With rattles and with war-cries The Indians danced on.98 To the flash and crash of lightning Amid the rising waters The Indians danced on!99

Then Kulóskap was angry Yet in the rising flood He did not drown a soul, But for their arrogance Changed all to serpent form-- That of the Rattlesnake, Which crawls about the rocks, And so unto this day, Whene’er they see a man, They lift their heads and hiss; And move them up and down-- That is the way snakes dance, Shaking their rattles, too, As we do when we dance.100 How do you like the sound?101 L.102

FOOTNOTES:103

[15] In my language _aʿtosis_ is the snake.104

IV105

HOW KULÓSKAP NAMED THE ANIMALS, AND DISCOVERED THAT MAN WAS THE LORD OF THEM ALL106

[_Passamaquoddy_]107

_Wut ktagʾnodʾmul uch Kulóskap.108 _[16]109

This is an ancient tale of the Lord, Told ’mid the tales of the spirit time, How the Master of Beasts and Men Was born in the Sunrise land, The land of the Wabanaki; Though other traditions tell That he came from across the ocean In a great stone canoe, A barque which was all of granite, Covered with trees for masts.110 When the great Lord of All, The Chief of Beasts and Men, Descended from this ark, He went into the land Of the Wabanaki, The children of the Light; And calling all the Beasts Gave unto each a name: Unto the Bear, Mūūin; And as he gave it, asked: “Oh Bear, what would’st thou do, If thou should’st meet a man?”111 To which Mūūin replied Simply and honestly: “I fear him and should run.”112 “Well spoken,” said the Lord, “Man should be feared by all.”113

Now at that time, Miʿko, The Squirrel, was as great, Or, some say, far more great Than even the Northern Bear; So the Lord Kulóskap Took Miʿko ’neath his hands, And softly smoothed him down; And as he felt the touch Miʿko grew less and less, And dwindled until he Was what we see him now.114 Howbeit in later days, Miʿko was Kulóskap’s dog, And, when the Master willed, He oft grew large again Touched by the Master’s hand, And slew his fiercest foes.115 But, being asked what he Would do if chased by Man, Miʿko at once exclaimed: “I would climb up a tree As fast as legs could run.”116

“Well answered,” said the Lord, “And therefore, I ordain That from this day henceforth Thou and thy kind at large Shall ever dwell in trees.”117

The Moose was standing by, Intently looking on, With great, soft, staring eyes, Attending to it all With deepest interest.118 Calling then Kchi Mūs, Big Moose, the Master said: “But say what would’st thou do If thou should’st meet with Man?”119 “In faith,” replied Kchi Mūs, “I’d canter through the woods Fast as my legs would fly.”120 “Well spoken,” said the god, “So shalt thou ever live In shade and forests wild.”121

The Beaver being asked What he would do, replied That he would seek a stream Ere he would face mankind.122 So the great Lord perceived That of all creatures born Who walked upon the earth The first and best was Man.123 L.124

FOOTNOTES:125

[16] This I will tell you about Kulóskap.126

=Canto Second=127

THE MASTER’S KINDNESS TO MAN128

I129

WHAT KULÓSKAP DID FOR THE INDIANS130

[_Passamaquoddy_]131

_Piche mesogw Kulóskap nemiquosikw.132 _[17]133

In the very olden time Before Kulóskap the Master, The Lord of Beasts and Men, Had come into the world, Or man was by him instructed, All lived in wonderful darkness; Men could not even see To slay their enemies; But the Lord brought light unto them, The daybreak and the dawn.134 Therefore, for this his people Are known as the Wabanaki, The Men of the Early Dawn.135