44It might be added that Mr. Masta has given considerable time to the study of his people, and he is quite satisfied as to the identity of the Abenaki of Becancour with the Wawenock of early Maine history.
44It might be added that Mr. Masta has given considerable time to the study of his people, and he is quite satisfied as to the identity of the Abenaki of Becancour with the Wawenock of early Maine history.
45Comparative linguistic and mythological material in Penobscot, which the Wawenock most closely resembles may be found in the writer’s “Penobscot Transformer Texts,” International Journal of American Linguistics, vol. I, no. 3, 1918, while Doctor Michelson has given the position of Penobscot among the eastern Algonkian dialects in his Preliminary Report on the Linguistic Classification of Algonquian Tribes, Twenty-eighth Ann. Rep. Bur. Amer. Ethn., 1913, pp. 280-288.
45Comparative linguistic and mythological material in Penobscot, which the Wawenock most closely resembles may be found in the writer’s “Penobscot Transformer Texts,” International Journal of American Linguistics, vol. I, no. 3, 1918, while Doctor Michelson has given the position of Penobscot among the eastern Algonkian dialects in his Preliminary Report on the Linguistic Classification of Algonquian Tribes, Twenty-eighth Ann. Rep. Bur. Amer. Ethn., 1913, pp. 280-288.
Although closely related with the Penobscot and the St. Francis dialects, Wawenock has some distinctive qualities of its own. The list of sounds is as follows:
46This results from the loss of a vowel.
Two stop consonants coming together have a slight vocalic pause, sometimes amounting toə, between them.
The vowelse,i,a,o,ubefore stops have a tendency to show a slight aspiration following them. This quality, however, is hardly noticeable in Wawenock in comparison with Penobscot or Malecite.
Where words differ in spelling in different places it is because they were recorded as they were pronounced each time.
Wawenock appears to have been intermediate dialectically as well as geographically between Penobscot and St. Francis Abenaki (Aroosaguntacook and Norridgewock). In phonetic make-up it has the predominatinge, ε, vowel where in St. Francisaand in Penobscoteoccurs, though resembling Penobscot more. Wawenock Gluskα̨bε, St. Francis Gulskα̨ba´, Penobscot Gluskα̨´be; Wawenock be·´nαm, St. Francis p`ha´nαm, Penobscot p`he´nαm. “woman.” The dental quality of the alveolar consonants (n,t,d,l) is something of an individuality to Wawenock. It is totally foreign to Penobscot and the dialects eastward, while the St. Francis pronunciationshows it int,d, and the affricatives. Wawenock, like St. Francis Abenaki, has the final syllable stress. Like St. Francis it also lacks the distinct aspiration following vowels preceding stops and affricatives so noticeable in Penobscot. Syntactically Wawenock uses more independent word forms than Penobscot but it is not quite so analytic as the St. Francis dialect. In vocabulary Wawenock employs some nouns and verbs which are found in Penobscot and not in St. Francis and vice versa—perhaps more of the former. Modal and adverbial forms are more like those of St. Francis. There is nothing in grammar, so far as I could ascertain, that is really distinct from both the two related dialects; consequently the intermediate position of the dialect seems well established. Its intermediate complexion has led to an anomalous classification among the Indians themselves. The Penobscot associate Wawenock with the St. Francis dialect, while the latter reciprocate by classing it with Penobscot. As a final consideration it might be added that intercourse with the St. Francis people has been too irregular to have influenced the idiom in recent years, hence the intermediary characteristics of the dialect seem genuine properties, not of a kind acquired since the migration of the tribe from its old home in Maine.
GLUSKα̨Bε´ CREATES HIMSELF AND COMPETES WITH THE CREATOR
yuwe´dji·From thismαdjα̨be´gəsit`is the beginningGluskα̨bε´Gluskabe.nenawa´Then hedebe´ldak“The Owner”47wa`wali·bα̨dewhen he madentami·senα̨bal`first manni·nawayu´then nowki·of earthpeyαnα´kleft over,gi·zi·hα̨´twhen he madeyuli´lthissenα̨ba´l`manni·wudji·´from thatnitci·husi´nhe created himselfGluskα̨bε´Gluskabeyu·thiski·earthpeyαnα̨·zi´kleft overki·yu´this earthgi´zi·begi·hadα̨zu`which had been sprinkled,ni·wet·e´kthat is whymliksαnα´ohe was so strongni·waida´so wellGluskα̨bε´Gluskabekizi·n´əgwi·tciwəli·hozu`was able to form himself;negani·´thenubα´bmα̨dabi`nhe moved about in a sitting position;ni·debelda´k`then “The Owner”umαlhi·nawα´·nwas astonished;ni·udi·łα´nthen he said,“tαni·´“Howwəda´t·ehappened nowyugədayi´n”here you be?”ni·udi·´łəgunThen he said,“a´ida`“Well!ni·´wədji·becausenidji·hosi´nI formed myself fromki·´yuthis earthpeyαnəmα´nleft over fromnta´mi·firstse´nα̨bεmangizi·h´at”that you made.”ni·udi·´łəgunThen he was tolddebe´ldamli·dji`l`his “Owner,”“gamα´dj´i·“Verykəmαlhintato´`”you are wonderful.”udi·´łəgulHe was told“nəmαlhi·´ntato`“I am wonderfule´ligizi·begihalihα`n.”because you sprinkled me.”nega´Thenni·udi·łα̨gu´nhe was told“nəgadji·´“Accordinglykiuse´nena`we shall roam aboutnikwα̨bi·´”now.”ni·we´dji·Somαndji·hi·di´tthey leftni·wəda´kwαŋk·i·`nathen they went up hillwadjuwa´l`a mountain,ni·gizi·then afteruski·´dji·we`they reached the topwadjo´kof the mountainnebla´whiletα̨ławe·´soubma´tawᴐ̹·bina`they gazed about open eyedtani·´lαnawage`so farowewi·wαniwi·´round aboutni·una´mi·tona`they could seenəbəs·a´l`lakes,si·bua´l`rivers,si·biwi·´andabazi·a´l`treesməsi·´wiallel`ka´mige`khow the land lay,ki·the earth.ni·dəbe´lda`kThen “The Owner”udi·´łαnsaid,“ki·nayu´“Behold hereeli·mαlhi·´ntatowα̨`how wonderful is my work,msi·´wiallngi·zi·dəhα̨´damən48I created by my wish of mindpe´mkamige`kthe existing world,sobe´k`ᵂ.ocean,si·bua´l`rivers,si·bui·nəbə´s·a`l`”49river lakes.”ni·udi·´łαnThen he saidGluskα̨ba´l`to Gluskabe,“ki·aba´“What might younəgədli·´bəgwatu´n?”have caused to be created?”ni·udli·hα̨zi·teməgu´nThen finally he repliedyuli´lthisGluska·ba´l`Gluskabe,“nda´ba“Can notnindli·´bəgwaI cause anythingtawu`n50to be createdni·nawa´yetke´gwi·basomething perhapsgizi·uli·´tawu`n”I can make?”ni·udi·´łanThen he said,“a´ida“Well!ngizi·hα̨ba´I can make him perhapskə´səlαmsα`n.”the wind.”ni·debelda´kThen “The Owner”udi·´łαn.said,“nega´“Thenwuli·hya´make ittanegədli·´bəgwatu`nwhat you can dosi·biwi·´eventa´ni·gədotsani·`n.”according to your power.”negeła´Then surelyni·uli·ha´nthen he made himgəsəlαmsαnu´l`the wind.madje´lαmsα´nThe wind roseni·gwi·kwaskwaiwi·´then sufficientlyaləmi·gəslαmsα´nthe wind coming upni·askwa´and theneləmi·gəslamsα´kso hard it blewni·abazi·a´kthen the treesaləmi·α̨bə´djəgelke`torn out by the rootselαmso´genα̨`.blew over.ni·debe´ldakThen “The Owner”udi·´łαnsaidGluskα̨ba´l`to Gluskabe“teba´t`“Enough!gizi·nami·tu´nI have seenelsani·a´nhow powerful you aretet·a´tci·and noweli·bəgwatəwα̨´n.”what you can do.”ni·dəbe´ldakThen “The Owner”udi·damə´nsaid,“nega´ni·a“Now, Iα̨zi·daiwi·´in returnnoli·ha´nI will make himkəzəlαmsα´n”the wind.”negeła´Then surelyni·mα´djegəslαmsα`nthe wind roseα̨zi·daiwi·´in returnni·edudlαmsα´kthen it blew soalni·gelnα´ kwi·hi·di·`t`(?)ni·gathenni·edudlαmsα´kit blew soni·wədu´kskα̨dəbelαmsoge`nthen it blew his hair all tangled up on his headwathatGluskα̨bε´Gluskabeni·gadawi·´then he wanted toe´nawiptα`ŋk`ᵂsmoothe it downwədəpkwana´l`his head of hairnimzi·wi·´then allme´tlαmsα`nit blew off,ni·nda´tαmαthen notwədəpkwana´l`his head of hairnimsi·´wi·allme´tlαmsα`nit blew offni·t·a´tci·and nowume´tα̨begəzi´nendsnotlo´kα̨ga`n.my story.
47The “Owner” of the Universe, synonymous with God.
48A common concept among the Indians; freely “by wishing a thing into existence.”
49Or si·bi·wi·´ nəbə´s·a`l` “also lakes.”
50Denoting more “to make complete.”
THE TURTLE INSULTS THE CHIEF OF THE BIRDS; GLUSKABE HELPS HIM TO ESCAPE; MOUNTAINS ARE CREATED; AND AGAIN TURTLE ESCAPES BY GETTING HIS CAPTORS TO THROW HIM INTO THE WATER, BUT IS FINALLY KILLED
Negawa´idaSo well thenpemi·zo·bek`ᵂke´tas he wandered by the oceanGluskα̨be´Gluskabeni·uni·´łαnthen he killedpodeba´l`a whale;ni·ugizi·nłα´nthen when he had killedpodeba´l`the whaleni·unα̨dji·´then he wentwa´wαndokewα`nto informwusa´si·za`l`his uncletoləba´turtle,ni·udi·´łαnαthen he told him“naba´tci·eli·`“Great fortune! killedpodebε´”a whale.”ni·wusasi·za´l`Then his uncleudi·´łəgunhe was told“negateci´“and nowgα̨djip`tonenα̨´we will go and get itpodebaiya´.”whale meat.”negeła´So thenni·unα̨dji·na´they went;ni·wədlosenα´then they camesobegu´k`to the ocean;ni·bayα̨hα̨di·´twhen they arrivedwabodebe´ls·ikwhere the whale layni·wədnαmna´then they tookkesi´tcweldamohodi·`tas much as they wished;ni·gizi·´wikwu`nəmohodi·`tthen when they took itni·bla´for a whilepali·wi·´to one sideobunəmona´they put itni·wadoləba´then that turtleedudji·´wehemα̨`tcalled them togethersi·psa`the birdsges·i·k·i·gi·´tvarious kindsmsi·´wi·allwski·tkami´k`ᵂin the world;negan·i·´thensα̨khedəwoldihi·di·´tthey came flyingne´bəgwatci´then on account of itnαn·e´mkami·gi·pode·`the ground shooksi·bi·wi·´andwəda´s·ot·ekawα̨wα`l`fairly covering up by flockingki·sosa´l`the sunni·ubedji·´dəwuldenα̨then they all came flyingmsi·wi·´allni·umi·tsoldi´nthey all atetaneba`sincewik`ᵂhαbαlαŋkthey were invited to the feastni·wa´then thatgəl·u´51eaglesαŋgəma´chiefni·yu´and herewawi·wuni·wi·´near aroundi·yu´hereebita´idawhere he sat thentoləbε·´turtleni·´wathattoləbε·´turtlewikwu´nəməntookunəs·ekwa´k`ᵂhis knifeni·wətəmi·´ktci·es·α`nthen cut off his rearkəl·uwa´l`the eagleyu´lilthissαŋgəma´l`.chief.ni·wa´Thensαŋgəma´chiefndawawαma´ls·wi·`did not feel itgizi·təmi·´kətci·azamα`kwhen his rear was cut offni·yuli´lthen thiset·ak·αŋgotci·´l`his second chiefkepti´n52captainni·udi·łα´nthen saidsαŋgəma´l`to the chief,“ni·aweni´“And whoeli·hogowα´nhas done so to youkəmaməs·ani´belittling youpəna´lgebəna`”we are all insulted.”ni·Thenumoskwe´ldamənα̨`they all became angryni·ugi´zəlomana`then they planned what to dotoləba´l`to turtlewedjinłαhα̨di·´tso as to kill himni·gistε·´and thentα̨ ławe·´accordinglyunaskasi·nα̨´they attacked himnegawα´and thattoləbε·´turtleni·wikwunα´nthen he tookyuhi·´theseawi·p`hona´feathersni·udα̨ba´sahozi´nand fanned himselfebəgwa´tcon account of iti·da´ksaid“nαləgwa´“wingwədα̨´bas·ehwana`l`,53his fannαləgwa´wingwədα̨´basehwa`nal‛”his fan!”ni·yu´Thennαləgwa´(with) wingwədα̨ba´s·ehwa´nakhe fanned himselfni·wa´then thatGluskα̨bε´Gluskabeudi·łα´nsaidwuza´si·zal`to his uncle“kəba´lalokε·`“you have done wronglyeli·tα̨ławei·´so doinga´idawell,təmi´k·ətci·as·a´tcutting his rear offsαŋgəma´the chiefnide´bəne`and soonkənαskα´ŋgen·enα̨`”they will attack us.”ni·udi·´łαnThen he said,“ni·dji·na´wa dani·`“On account of it whatkədlada´kanena`?”shall we do?”ni·udi·´łαnThen he saidpla wa´ses·enolitu`n“In the meantime I will build a nestyu abaz·i´k.”here in the tree.”ni·geła´Accordinglyuwəli·tu´nhe builtwazəs·e´a nest.ni·udi·łα´nThen he saidyuli´lto thiswuza´si·zal`his uncle“tcespi·gwᴐ̹·dawε·´”“You shin up.”ni·geła´Forthwithtoləbε·´turtleogwa´gwedji·spi·gwᴐ̹dawε·`tried to shin upni·ndate´gəne`and he was notugizi·spi·gwᴐ̹´dawα`nable to shin up,ni·udi·´damənthen he said,“madji·łε·´“Dullgwagwα´nhekasi·α`n´.”are my heel claws.”ni·wa´ThenGluakα̨bε´Gluskabeni·wəni·malwenα´ntook hold of himtoləba´l`turtleni·wədebake´nand tossed himwa´zəs·ə´kinto the nestni·gi·zi·waz·əs·e´kand when he was in the nestebi·hi·di´tthey sat down,ni·ubedji·´dα̨ławe`i·then he felt likebagi·damə´nto voidnəbi·´water,ni·do´ləbεthat turtleudi·`damənhe said,“a´ida!“Lo!eli·gadawi·´bagi·da`khow am I going to voidnəbi·´?”water?”ni·udi·´łəgul`Then he was toldGluskα̨ba´l`Gluskabe“pα̨´·zi·djikətci·ewi·`“Lean your rearwaz·əs·e´k.”from the nest.”ni·geła´Accordinglyali·mi·tcəwα´nhe urinatednəbi·´wateramək·ai·wi.running down below.ni·we´wᴐ̹la`nThen they discovered ityugi´kthesenope`´sawe`n·owa`kwarriors.ni·Thenke´ptinthe captainelα̨bi·´tlookingspəmə´kupni·una´mi·hα`·nalso sawtoləba´l`the turtlewazəs·e´kin the nest,ni·wedji·´so thenpi·´bmamα`·khe shot an arrowni·wəzα´·ŋkhelədji·ni·łα`nthen he made him fall down and out.ni·yu´Then hereudi·damə´nhe said,“madji·djᴐ·´s“Badwələ´·mk·i·`tc”stooping coward.”madjidjᴐ̹´sBadwələ´mk·i·`tc"stooping coward.”ni·ye´nəmaThen thereto´ləbεturtlepa´gəs·i`kfallingki·kon the groundnit·eright awayudeli·wα̨ni·ła´ndisappeared.ni·gwi´·lawasoldi`nThen they all searched for himni·ndabut notmskaᴐ̹wi·´could find him.ni·wa´Then thegepti´ncaptainpabmi·gwi·lawαs·i´twent about hunting him stillni·una´mi·tunand sawse´ski·dju´a bark basketwe´lαmkat·e`kupside downni·uda´kskamənand he kicked it overni·uməskawαna´and foundtoləba´l`turtle.ni·´gaThentəpəloma´nhe held a trial(over turtle)nit·a´tci·and at onceeləmi·gi·zloma´nit was decidedwedji·´thatmetci·ne´t`.he should die.ni·gepti´nThen the captainudi·damə´nsaid,“tanedji·nawa´“How thenkdli·hα̨´nenα̨`?”shall we do with you?”ni·wa´Theneta´k·ozi·tsecond chiefni·udi·damə´nsaid,“kzəgu´sktahα̨`n·α̨dji·`”“We will cut him to pieces.”ni·waThentoləbε·´turtlewədi·damə´nsaid,“nda´“Notni·ameni·łəgowα´n.”it will kill.”ni·udi·damənα´Then they said“negatci·´“Then willkəme´t`kasesαn·enα̨`.”we burn him.”ni·udi·damə´nThen he saidmi·´naagaintoləbε·´turtle,“nda“Notni·nmeni·łəgowα´n”it will kill.”ni·udi·daməna´Then they said“nəgatci·´“Then willba´skədji·balα`n”drown him.”ni·wa´Then thattoləbε·´turtleudi·damə´nsaidmi·´naagain,“ni·n“Meni·łəgu´n”will be killed.”nega´t·eImmediatelywe´dji·ni·mi`p`hamα`k`they grabbed himni·´l·αnasi´nto kill him.aida´Well!nəbə´s·i·zakin a little lakeni·wedji·´that is whyα̨bodji·gelkε·´t·ekit is torn and furrowedyuki·´this earthedudna´s·imα`k54where they dragged himwathattoləbε·´turtlemalα´mit·eat lastyuherenəbəs·ə´kin the pond.ni·wədjau´paken·α̨`Then they threw him into the water.ni·wədali·mi·´Then he sankele·dji·ni·gədałα´nback down and belly up.ni·yu´Then hereonəs·ε·bε·nəmə´nhe riled it up with his pawsnəbi·´the water;ni·gizi·´then afterpα̨´gowi·az·əs·ko`it became real muddyni·wədji·´sonodα̨´dəbewi`nhe poked his head outnəbi´k·of the water.ni·ugα̨´galowe`nThen he cried out“oho< >u·“Oho< >uki·ləwᴐ̹,wα´nyou allkəda´k·i·wα̨`your landkəni·łəgonα̨´kills youni·´ni·a`but Indak·i·´my landndαn·i·łəgowα´n”does not kill me!”ni·si·´psakThen the ducksnnoda´wαnα̨`heard himkedwi·tci·ba´gətces·i·`this noise of screechingtoləbε´·turtle.nega´t·eThen at onceugwi·ldasoldi·nα̨´they rushed for himyu´gikthesenope´usewi·`n·owakwarriorsni·Thenməgəna´nthey choseowa´thataweni·´one whonetα̨wikα̨mogwi`t`was expert divernimskawa´nthey found.məde´wełê`The loonni·uga´mkolitawα`ndove down for himyulil`this oneni·´sədasecond timeeli·gamogwi´tas he dovensəde´waiyε·´the third timeni·uməskawα´nthen he foundtoləba´l`the turtle.ni·wədji·´kpana`sehi·di`tThereupon they threw him ashoremalami·´at lastki·kupon the groundnega´thenwa´that onesəgwαsk`taha´nthey knocked him deadtoləbε´turtle.ni·ume´tα̨begəs·i`nThen here endsndatlo´kα̨ga`n.my story.