🧚 Opening, part 6 · page 2

[19] This is oddly like the declaration of the Beaver Killer in The Hunting of the Snark, in fact, it is almost identical with it.46 But the Rand MS. in which it occurs was written many years before the latter work appeared.47

III48

KULÓSKAP AND THE FOOL49

[_Micmac_]50

_Kes saak: Nigumaach ut Agunudumâkun Klûskâbel.51 _[20]52

“Of the old times the tale is, A story of Kulóskap,” Unto whom there went full many When they heard that all could have Whatever they desired; And truly he gave them all Whate’er it was they asked for, But whether they got their wish Depended on the wisdom Which they showed when it was won.53

Now the Master liked it not If, when he had plainly told What it was that one must do, That man should double on him Or quibble, or disobey.54 So then it came to pass That a certain fool of the kind Who never can do aught Without a twist or a turn In his own peculiar way, Went a long journey to ask A favor of the Lord.55 His trials were many and sore; He came unto a chain Of mountains exceeding high, In a dark and lonely land Wherein no sound was heard; And the ascent was hard As climbing a slippery pole.56 And the going down Or descent on the other side Was more ungrateful still, For ’twas all a precipice With broken, crumbly edge Which overhung a gulf; Yet it was worse beyond.57 For there the road led on Between the hideous heads Of two great serpents, which Did almost touch their lips, And darted terrible tongues At those who went between.58 And yet again ’twas worse When the way passed under a wall, The awful Wall of Death Which hung like a dreadful cloud Over a dismal plain, Rising and falling at times; Yet when, no one could know.59 So those who were beneath When it fell and struck the ground Were ever crushed to death.60

Yet he escaped all this And came to the Master’s home Where he was well received, And dwelt for many days; And when the Master asked What ’twas that he would have?61 He answered, “If my Lord Will give me a medicine Which will cure me of every ill, I shall be well content.”62 And he asked for nothing more.63 Then the Master gave to him A little package, and said: “Herein is that which thou seek’st But I charge thee solemnly That thou lettest not thine eyes Behold what is therein, Till thou shalt have reached thy home.”64 So he thanked the Lord, and left.65

Yet he was not far away Ere he longed to open the gift, And test the medicine, And still more the Master’s truth.66 And so he said to himself: “If this be all deceit, It was very shrewdly planned, To bid me not open it Until I should be at home.67 Tush!68 If the medicine Is really what I required It cannot lose its power.69 In truth I will test it now.”70 So he opened it--when lo!71 All that which was therein Fell to the ground and spread As water, everywhere, And then like a summer mist As quickly melted away.72 So when he returned to his home He was mocked by one and all.73

FOOTNOTES:74

[20] This is a story about Kulóskap of long ago.75

IV76

THE THREE BROTHERS WHO BECAME TREES77

[_Passamaquoddy and Micmac_]78

_Nequt nikt nsapihioak udelabasinia unachihonamihánia Kelhosilichil naga omsnamnia eli-bawatmotit uch negum.79 _[21]80

There were three brothers, who Had made the pilgrimage To seek the Lord of Life, And win their wishes.81 One Was wondrous great and tall, The tallest in the land; Of this he was right proud, For he was one of those Who slyly put soft clay Into their moccasins That they may be admired By folk of lesser size, And win the love of squaws.82 And his hair was plastered up To stand on high, and on The summit of it was A very long turkey tail; But what this man desired Was to be taller still.83 The second brother asked That he might ever live Where he might behold the land And all the beauty of it, And do naught else save rest In peace forever more.84 And the third one asked to live Unto a great old age, And ever be in health Till he should pass away.85

Now when they came to the isle They found three lodges there, And in two of them were men Who are not spoken of In any of the tales Which I have ever heard: In one dwelt Kulpujot-- A wondrous one indeed!86 For there is not a bone in him, Yet every spring and autumn He is “rolled over with hand-spikes” By order of the Lord; And this is what his name Means in the Micmac tongue.87 In the autumn he is turned Over towards the West, But in spring towards the East; And the meaning of it all Is the seasons of the year As they follow in their course.88

He with his breath alone Can sweep all armies forth, And with his looks alone Perform most wondrous things; This means what weather can do With sunshine, frost and ice, Which are felt in everything.89

And in the other dwelt Kuhkw, which in Micmac means, The Earthquake.90 This great man Can pass beneath the ground, And make the mountains shake, And tremble by his power.91

Now when the Lord had heard What it was that they desired, He bade the Earthquake come And put them with their feet Fast planted in the ground.92 And when ’twas done, the three At once were turned to trees; To pines, as one tale tells, Or cedars, as some say; In either case each man Received what he required.93

Thus, he who would be tall Became exceeding great, For his head rose o’er the wood Even as a giant pine; Nor was the top-feather forgotten; It waves in the wind to this hour.94 And on a summer day Who listens in a pine wood, May hear the trees a murmuring In the soft Indian tongue All of the olden time: (“_Î nĭl etuchi nek mʾkilaskîtap Î nĭl etuchi nek mʾkiluskíjin_”) “Oh, I’m such a great man!95 Oh, I’m such a big Indian!”96

And the second brother, who wished To remain in peace in the land, So stays, for while his roots Are in the ground he _must_ do so; And the third, who fain would live To the end in perfect health, Unless they’ve cut him down Is standing as of yore.97

FOOTNOTES:98

[21] Once there were three brothers who went to see the Lord of Life and get their wishes from him.99

V100

KULÓSKAP AND THE WISE WISHERS101

[_Micmac_]102

_Kes saak; kes saak.103 _[22]104

All of the olden time.105 Now when ’twas noised abroad That whoever sought the Master Could obtain the wish of his heart, There were three men who said: “Let us seek the Lord and see If this be truly so.”106 So they left their home in the spring When the bluebird began his song, And walked till the autumn frosts, And then into the winter, Ever steadily onward Till the next midsummer came; And being in a forest They found a winding path Which they followed till they came To a very beautiful river Which led to a great fair lake; And still they kept to the path, Yet where it failed, the trees Were blazed, or the bark removed On the side of the trunk, but ever Opposite to the place Where the wigwam or village lies Towards which the pathway leads, So the mark can aye be seen As the traveller goes to the goal, But not while leaving it.107