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I have given this story accurately as it was told to me by Tomah Josephs, a Passamaquoddy Indian. How one of the Partridge's Wives became a Sheldrake Duck, and why her Feet and Feathers are Red. N'karnayoo, of the old time, there was a hunter who lived in the woods. One day this hunter, returning, saw a very beautiful girl sitting on a rock by a river, making a moccasin.
I have often heard French fairy tales and Aesop's fables Indianized to perfection, but the narrator always knew that they were not N'Karnayoo, "of the old time." Glooskap is now living in a Norse-like Asa-heim; but there is to come a day when the arrows will be ready, and he will go forth and slay all the wicked.
So the canoe and the witch became one in the evil fish, and the Indians to this day when they see it, cry, "See the witch, who was punished by the great Master!" Of other Men who went to Glooskap for Gifts. N'karnayoo: wood-enit-atokhagen Glooskap. Of the old times: this is a story of Glooskap.
How Glooskcap conquered the Great Bull-Frog, and in what Manner all the Pollywogs, Crabs, Leeches, and other Water Creatures were created. N'karnayoo, of old times, there was an Indian village far away among the mountains, little known to other men.
How a hunter visited the Thunder Spirits who dwell in Mount Katahdin. N'karnayoo. Of old times. Once an Indian went forth to hunt. I do not think that it is introduced for the sake of local color, or to give an air of truthful seeming, because the Indian simply believes the whole, as it is. So he returned to his camp; but the next day he met with it again in a far-distant place.
How a Certain Wicked Witch sought to cajole the Great and Good Glooskap, and of her Punishment. N'karnayoo, of old time. Once it came to pass that Glooskap met with an evil witch, and she had made herself like unto a fair young girl, and believed that he could not know who she was. And she asked him to take her with him in his canoe.
And she answered, "Well do I know that, and that it was all by your father; yet I blame him not, for this is an affair of N'karnayoo, the days of old; and even yet it is not at an end, and the greatest is to come. But let the day be only a day unto itself; the things of to-morrow are for to-morrow, and those of yesterday are departed."
A real Indian tale may always be assumed to be ancient when it is told to set forth an origin. How the great Glooskap fought the Giant Sorcerers at Saco, and turned them into Fish. N'karnayoo, of old times: Woodenit atok hagen Glusgahbe. And if it be so, they shall die. I will not spare one of those who oppress and devour men, I do not care who he may be."
From them alone come the magic pipes or flutes, which sometimes pass into possession of noted sorcerers and great warriors; and when these are played upon, the woman who hears the melody is bewitched with love, and the moose and caribou follow the sound even to their death. And when the Megumawessos are pleased with a mortal they make him a fairy, even like themselves. N'Karnayoo.
And this comes because that N'karnayoo, of ancient days, the Partridge, was the canoe builder for all the other birds. Yes, for all at once. And on a certain day they every one assembled, and each got into his bark, and truly it was a brave sight to see.
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