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, Kuloskap opens up, because

he is good natured and he pities and forgives them.

They were hungry; for he comes when they are in poor circumstances, 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

* * * * *

Passamaquoddy Texts · 第 63 / 159 题