IX. Kuloskap and Turtle.
How Kuloskap turns his uncle Mikchich (Turtle) into a great person and how he marries him; how he gets him a wife; about turtles' eggs; how Kuloskap drove away the wizards by merely smoking red-willow bark.
Kuloskap, when he goes from Newfoundland, uses a canoe; he comes to Pictou; he comes to an Indian village; there he finds his uncle Turtle. He is very lazy and he goes slowly. They say: "He is certainly Kuloskap's uncle," but others think this is by adoption.
Tan w't'liyin, wut nikani w'skinosis kis-alkam'n (kesena: w'kisunok-temin) eli-pawatkil etutci-wulmatakw, nit Kuloskap musadcwi-wikwelal. W't'li-ponan sakli (kesena: m'likiknewi) w'skitapyil. Nit-li sapye-asektakewakuk, eli-n'mit'wuk.
Eli-petciyeyok Piktuk pemiketit (kesena: wiki‛tit) akwam'k nekw'-tat'k wikwam'l; Kuloskap wiski wulapewiw nisiu elkwiu-eli-sak'mawit; kisi-musalkweso; kat wakesi musalkwesiu m'si-te epidcik. M'si-te (kesena: m'si-ayate) w'pawatmowan wikwak; w't-usaha w'na-nimiyan; w'nisininyal w'nidcalkol, asek'matwul; medcimiu ankanadcmo w'k'tci-wulustowal.
K'ti k'ciyawi mauyun naka papaltin, kenok-lo Kuloskap katama w't'mithotmowun w'telian (kesena: elyan); tan te‛po wikwamkeyin kesena humalh'takewin papoltim'k. Medc-te-lo w't-ekwetcikesimul Miktcitc skat witayiu; w'tiyal: "m'si-tetc w'tiyoltinya nakskwiyik." W'tekwedcimolan ke‛kw wedci skat tcipakat'muk; tcowitpito w'n'kwu-tokeyin.
"Etutci et-ta-k'temakeyi motck-te katama peskwunwiu nt-elukwute-wâk'n tan yot wulk'mawik mawiyamek. Kamet-up nil nt-et'li-w'tuman nikek?"--"Nit kak en te‛po-li pawalkwak," Kuloskap w't'li-asitemal w'nidcalkol, "mosa w'temithotmoketc kwutcmiu k'siskok; tan-kak-nit eli-h'ntatakw w'nekmasithotm'n tahalo adcitasik elukw'tewâk'n'l."--"Ah-ha, nt'wasem," it'm Miktcitc, "ke‛kw kil k'titm'n adciyan (kesena: adcitwan) wtelumhek p'mau‛sowin?"--"K'tci kwabit," eli-asiteuwutek sak'm, "nit sikiyo elokem'k; meskw nekt'mowan yut otenesis nd'lo-kantc nit. Kil-tetc na yut eliteketcwik wulokh'tim'k (kesena: el-ayewultim'k) naset n'kespison."
Etutci-te kisi-nasn'k, Miktcitc p'tci-wiski-wulapewin tan te‛po w'ski‛tap kesena epit meskw w't'lī-nimi‛towun. Kuloskap w'nasnemwan piyemi kulwakil εlekw'tewâk'n'l. W't'lī-tepamowal metciyak w'kiskomul tan etutci w'skitapewi yut piyemi-tetc wulapewit w'ski‛tap. Ip'dcul sankew'mato naka w'sakleyin tcowitceli-weyusiswit piyemi-tetc sakleyit, nepaha m'si-wenik yut w'skitk'mikw.
En Miktcitc wedcī-eliat et'limauyum'k (kesena: el-ayewultim'k). Nekw't t'li sak'm Piktuk noho wiski wuligo w'tus. Wut p'tci-lio-ewasiswit nit'l nimiyadcil naka weswesin; w'titm'n: "nimia pawatm'n." Teketc m'si-te w'skinowuk Piktuk pawatm'nyal yut'l nakskwiyul. W'nepahawal tan wut mesnat.
However that may be, this old fellow bore his wants (so well), he being so good natured, that Kuloskap takes a liking to him. He decided that he would make him a powerful (or strong) man. This happens wonderfully, as we shall see.
When he comes to Pictou where there are more than a hundred wigwams, Kuloskap was a very handsome man, as if he were a chief; he was much loved; not a little was he liked by all the women. All want him in their wigwams; he refuses to see them; he stays along with his uncle, the strange one; he always takes great delight in him in old times.
There is to be a great feast and games, but Kuloskap does not care to go, either as a guest or as a performer in the sports. Still he asks Mikchich whether he will not take part; he says: "All the girls will be there." He asks him why he does not marry; it must be that he lives in a lonely fashion.
"I am so poor that I have not one garment which is suitable for a feast. Is it not better that I should smoke my pipe at home?"--"If this is all that is wanted," Kuloskap replies to his uncle "do not take thought for the exterior of your face; he who knows how can easily do it over, as a suit of clothes is made over."--"Yes my child," says Mikchich, "what do you say if you can make over the inside of a person?"--"By the great beaver," answers the chief, "that is hard to do, (yet) before I leave this village, I will do this. Do you, however, in this present sport (or: playground) put on my belt."
So when he puts it on, Mikchich becomes young and handsome, such a one as man or woman has not yet seen. Kuloskap dresses him in most beautiful clothes. He promises him that to the end of his days, he will be a most beautiful man. Because he is patient and tough, he must be like the toughest animal, so that he may kill all creatures in this world.
Then Mikchich goes to the feast (or: playground). Now the chief of Pictou has three young beautiful daughters. The youngest one he (Turtle) looks on, and he returns and says: "I see her whom I desire." But, as it happens, all the lads at Pictou desire this maiden. They will kill him who wins her.
Etutci Kuloskap wikwunemen naka w'matceptun wapap; nadci-kelulwewan Miktcitcul. Wulithamal wikwus; el-holithamal Miktcitcul. Ni-te na nakskw holnekan piliyi stakw'no; sipilek elan(?) k'tci wapskwe-wiyil. W'teliaman Miktcitcul naka kespatek wiyus w't'li-wulikwipinya. Nit teko-te w'kisi-niswinya.
Miktcitc wiski maleyo; k't'kik ketonkati‛tit nek'm kak elesin wikek. Nekw't pemkiskak w'niswitidcil w'tiyokon: "nit-li skat ke‛kw-li εlokewin nekseyeiwetc, k'siktelamip'n." Nit w'nasnan w't-akum. Epit w'nosokwan nadci-k'tonkelit; w'k'ti-nimial tan wut elokelin. Katama pi‛tceto elweu; en kwastesinen; napiskwoman; tceltemkitekwal. W'niswitidcil ni-te weswesin; w'nadci-yahan wikwus'l: "Miktcitc kata ke‛kw εlautiu." Wikwus'l lo it'm: "tepno ke‛kw el-eloke; kikitwon."
Nekw't kisuk-li Kuloskap w'tiyal Miktcitcul: "sepaunu t'li k'tci mauwi epuskemhudin; kil-na k't-atc'wi-t'li-widciyun. Ip'dcul m'si-te k'tulnekw'k w'skinosuk yut; k't-ekwedcitc-nepogok; k'temkakoketc naka k'temkipilkon; etutci el-elesuk, kwihiwutc k'silhus wikwam'k (kesena: wikek). K't'litc-kis-w'simotwak k'milentc pilwapyowâk'n wedcitc kisi-pasitekwuhiyun niskess, kenok-lo nowewei k'madcetc-mutceso, kenok-lo tcowi-eleyo."
M'si-te-na leyoyohotp'n; w'skinosuk w't-ekwetci-nepahawal; eli-kisi-w'simotwat, tcowi-pasit-tekweho wikwam'k tahalo-tep steke sips kwes-kwidcitwiyat, kenok-lo nowewei n'w'mapitesinen epusya‛kwi‛kok. Ni-te ekhodcit et'li-wahat p'tekwikpulaso wedci-p'ketetek emekeo.
Wut Kuloskap lamikwam epits w'tiyan: "nidcalu‛kw, k'ti-sak'ma-we‛lul, k'tci sak'm miktcitcuk. Kisi-kapwitm'n k'tci kakesokmikw'-sowuk." Etudci-wikpulasat Miktcitcul. Malem-te m'tek'nom tcitnakw'tek. Eli-tcilakwesitp'n medce-te wewinakw't, teke pemkiskak naka w'no-telukselan; peskwun te‛po tcilkeyisuk eskwetakio. Naka tcipkitakw'-sowaman: "n'lukw's k'nepihi," kenok-lo wulukw'sul w'tasitemkil: "katama eleyiu; k'milin k'tci p'mau‛sowâk'n. Teketc wetci-matcyiu kisi-tetc-yali-tepskans et'lamk'lek---- kis-pemaus k'tak'mi‛kok naka nsamakwan'k. Tcika-te temikwetohol'k, metc-tetc k'p'maus eskwu-nadek kisokniu. Petcitetc k'mushon w't'li-tesentc kisi-munetol'k k'hek'k sipkiu."
Then Kuloskap takes and fetches wampum; he proposes for Mikchich. The mother consents; she approves of Mikchich. Then the maiden spreads out new fir boughs; she covers the bed with a great white bear's skin. She goes to Mikchich and they eat dried meat for supper. So they were married.
Mikchich was very lazy; when the others went hunting he stays at home. One day his wife says to him: "Now if you do not do something quickly, we shall starve to death." Then he puts on his snow-shoes. The woman follows him as he goes to hunt; she wants to see what he will do. He does not go far; then he stumbles; he falls down; he hurts himself. His wife then goes back; she says to her mother: "Mikchich is not worth anything." Her mother says: "He will do something in time; be patient."
One day Kuloskap says to Mikchich: "To-morrow will be a general big ball-game; you must take part in it. Because all the young men are enemies here, they will try to kill you; they will crowd you and trample you; when they do, it will be near your father-in-law's wigwam. In order that you may escape them, I will give you magic power, so that you can jump over it twice, but the third time you will go terribly (it will go terribly with you), but it must be so."
Everything happened thus; the young men tried to kill him; in order to evade them, he had to jump over the wigwam as if he were a bird flying, but the third time he was caught on the wigwam poles. Then he hung there dangling, smoke-blackened by smoke rising from below.
Then Kuloskap, sitting in the wigwam, says to him: "My uncle, I will make you a chief, the great chief of the turtles. You can bear up (carry) great nations." So he smoked Mikchich. Then his skin gets hard. How he marked him is still visible to this day, and he disembowels him; one thing only, the greater intestine is left. And he (Mikchich) calls out to him: "My nephew you are killing me," but his nephew answers him: "Not so, I am giving you great life. Hereafter you will be able to roll through flame--you can live on land and in the water. Even if they behead you, you will still live for nine days. Even your heart shall beat when taken from your body that long."
K'matc Miktcitc wulithaso naka nit petcileyik. M'si nit'l w't-awekewi-pawatm'n'l. Wespasa‛kiwik m'siu w'skitapyik k'tonkatowuk. Kuloskapyil w'takinwetakol: "w'kwilwatonyatc tan k't'li-kisi-kiminlokon." W'skinosis'k nikan-apaswuk naka Miktcitc asit naka kalso. Kenok-lo seslakiu m'teaulinwitwiye; w'kweskwidcitwiyan spikwio wunyak'nowak. Katama nimiyau naka molakek pemakwikek, nit et'li-nepahat mūs'l. W't-atckwiman ak'mau‛tik; ketonlitcihi pet-apasilit, tesakw'po mūsuk, et'li-w'tumat et'laskoyo‛tit.
Teke Kuloskap w'tiya: "wenetc nikaniu w'tci-muskesu m'si neke kwenkiskak." Nit eli-petciyak; m'si-te akwami moskwithasoltowuk. W'kislomanya w'nepahanya Miktcitcul naka wulukw'sul Kuloskapyil. K'ti-madcahat Kuloskap, w'tiyokon tanetc elisoltiti‛tit: "amskowas-te-tc m'totwatm'nya k'tci skwut; nit-etc kil k'tsiyakalkon; nidcalukw, k'eliyan kulithasin; nil-etc nt-els'nwâk'n katamatc k'sikakw'siu. Nit-etc w'tep-lotm'nya k'pisdcunlokon; nit k'lakaman: 'mosa nit εleyitc.' Akwam-ketcli k'ti-'elokh'tinya; k'mikakaman; metc-tetc-lo εleyu." Nit eli-h-itek-li petciye naka Miktcitc wulithaso; w't-atyohewiktowan wulukw'sul.
Naka w'pakikalya w'kutsiyakanya naka w'kwulpitot naka wt-et'-lukw'sin, maleyo na. Yut metamkelek skwut w'tokiyan; aptc wikatm'n piyusokol, ip'dc'l teki t'pok. Aptc w'pakikalanya w'nustemya pis-dcuplan. Nit yaka sikte-n'kadek w'tiyan: "mosak nit εleyinoketc. Kamet-up k'noktcektihinya (k'nekakw'sinya) katik k'tcupakalinya?" Nit wedci kis'lotmo‛tit w'matcyatckwimanya. Nit w'tcipkitakw'sin; ayut siki-mikaket; w'ketcupskela epusi; moskaketakw penapskwul; ayut w'tcepsko tahalo wunatminat. W'tepelanya ekwitnok; w'tepho-lanya epas-ak'm. Nit et'li-tcowapake‛tit; w't-et'li-sakyanya elmi-nekemapmatit ketaphalit.
Wespasa‛kiwik wisk'late ke‛kw w'nimi‛tonya et'li-madcetotmowik k'tci penapskwok, tamahal kwaptemin. Niswuk w'skinoswuk wik-wunemya ekwit'n; milawisokinya w'natsakitonya ke‛kw's nit-ta pedci-sokititwesse. K'tci m'nesapskwok emkwute sak-petun, nit Miktcitc elusit et'li-k'salsoket. W'nimiya wetckoyalit; w'ketcitci‛ton w'nadci-wikweloko; w't-atyohewiktowan, elmi-tcowapitepikw'neswa. Metc-te nit teke et'lausit. Metc-te teke m'siu miktcitcuk nemiya‛tit wenil, nit-etc w'tcowapitepikw'nesinya.
Mikchich rejoices very much and this comes betimes. He has need of all these things. The next day all the men go hunting. He is warned by Kuloskap: "They will try to kill you." The young men go on ahead and Mikchich delays and waits. Then, however, he makes a magic flight; he jumps over their heads. No one sees him and in the strong (thick) woods, there he kills a moose. He drags it to the snowshoe road; when the hunters arrive, he is sitting on the moose, smoking and waiting for them.
Now Kuloskap tells them (ironically): "Someone will come out ahead, all during the day." Then this happens and all are very angry. They decide to kill Mikchich and his nephew Kuloskap. When he is ready to leave, Kuloskap tells him what will happen: "First, they will kindle a great fire; then they will throw you into it; do you, my uncle, go joyfully; you shall not suffer, owing to my power. Then they will plan to drown you; do you beg 'let not this be'. They will arrange it all the more (earnestly); do you fight them; still it shall be." Then what was said comes to pass and Mikchich is glad; he takes leave of his nephew.
So they seize him and throw him in, and he rolls over and goes to sleep, for he is lazy. Then when the fire burns down, he wakes up; he asks for more wood, because the night is cold. Again they seize him; they plan to drown him. Then, as if he were fearful, he says: "Do not let this be done. Is it not better that you leave me alone than that you should throw me into the waters?" On this account, they resolve to drag him on. Then he screams; also he fights fiercely; he tears up trees; he rips up rocks also roots like a madman. They take him in a canoe; they paddle to the middle of the water. Then they throw him in; they stay watching him sink down.
Next day at noon they see something beginning to crawl on a great rock, out yonder as far as the eye can reach. Two young men take a canoe; they paddle out to discover what this might chance to be. On a great rock island one foot high, Mikchich lies there sunning himself. He sees them coming; he knows it is so as to take him; he takes his leave, plunging into the water. He still lives there. Even now all turtles, when they see someone, plunge into the water.
Miktcitc w'nimian w'niswitidcil; wulithaswi-pemau‛sowuk naka wasis'l w'nimiyanya. Nit li petciye elmi-kisuk-nekiwik, Kuloskap w'nadci-nimiyan w'nidcalkwul naka wasis sastemo. "K'nestowa it'k," Kuloskap medyēwestakw: "katama," Miktcitc-li ketehem: "tcip'tuk Mosikiskw-at'we; katama tan te‛po elikit w'ski‛tap w'nestomowun." Neke Kuloskap it'm: "wauw'n'l weskowutkul;" it'm: 'huwa, huwa;' nit nit metc 'wauwun' Pestumo‛kat'yik eli-witmo‛tit." Miktcitc w't-itm'n: "tan-lo eyik?" Kuloskap w'telkiman walkatm'n tepkwan'k; k'tciyawitc m'skem'n'l. K'matc wulinm'n'l naka w'tasekinm'n'l. Metc-te teketc eli-mikwithamot miktcitcuk eleyats, eli-papyets Kuloskap, metc-te nit Miktcitc elipenatek teke-pemkiskak.