Contribution to Passamaquoddy Folk-Lore by J. Walter Fewkes
page 33 of 43 (76%)
page 33 of 43 (76%)
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the animals. In another story the father of Glooscap is mentioned as a
being who lives under a great fall of water down in the earth. His face is half red, and he has a single eye. In another he can give to any one coming to him medicine to grant him whatever he wishes, and in still another Glooscap is now sharpening his arrows way off in some distant place. He will return to earth and make war. "On whom will he make war?" "He will make war on all, kill all: there will be no more world; world all gone. Dunno how quick,--mebbe long time: all be dead then, mebbe--guess it will be long time." "Are any to be saved by any one?" "Dunno. Me hear some say world all burn up some day; water all will take fire. Some good ones be taken up in good heavens, but me dunno; me just hear that. Only hear so."[30] [Footnote 30: Quoted from Leland's _Algonquin Legends_.] In their stories the Passamaquoddies tell the old stories as true; but they speak of other stories as what they hear. The part of the above account, of the return of Glooscap and the destruction of the world, they say is true. The last portion shows its modern origin in the statement that they hear that it is so. The stories of the birth of Glooscap,[31] his power to work miracles, and his ultimate return to earth, are very suggestive. [Footnote 31: According to Leland's story.] The belief of the Indians in a Great Spirit is a figment of the imagination on the part of the whites. It is now extremely difficult |
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