(Micmac.)


_N'kah-ne-oo_. In old times (P.), in the beginning of things, men
were as animals and animals as men; how this was, no one knows. But it
is told that all were at first men, and as they gave themselves up to
this and that desire, and to naught else, they became beasts. But
before this came to pass, they could change to one or the other form;
yet even as men there was always something which showed what they were.

Now Glooskap lived on an island named Aja-lig-un-mechk, and with him
were many Indians with the names and natures of animals and birds.

These men, but most of all Pulowech, the Partridge, having acquired
power themselves, became jealous of Glooskap, and made up their minds
to depart when he was away, taking with them Martin and the
grandmother. For they had great hope that Glooskap, being left alone on
the island, would perish, because they knew not his power. There is
another story which says that he was living at the mouth of the
Oolostook, at a place called Menogwes (St. John, N. B.), and went away
into the forest as far as Goolwahgik (Juan), and had been gone six
weeks, when he returned home and found the old woman, whose name was
Mooinarkw, [Footnote: Mr. Rand translates this Micmac word as Mrs.
Bear.] and Martin had been taken away. Following their tracks to the
shore he saw one of his greatest enemies, a terrible sorcerer named
Win-pe, just pushing off in his canoe. And with him were his wife and
child and Dame Bear and Martin. They were still within call, and
Glooskap cried from the shore to the grandmother to send back his dogs,
which were not larger than mice, and, as some stories tell us, were
squirrels. So she took a _woltes-takun_, which is a small wooden