Passamaquoddy

Piʿche Kulóskap kʾchî skitap.

Kulóskap the Great, Lord of Beasts and Men, Was ever a boon companion And a right valiant smoker. In all the world was no man Who loved a well-filled pipe Of good and fragrant tobacco So heartily as he did.

Now in that happy time, The sun shone warmer and brighter, The summers were far longer In the land of the Wabanaki Than they truly are to-day. And the Indians raised tomáwe, That is to say, tobacco, Far better than the best Which ever is seen to-day. And they found a mighty solace In burning the gold-brown leaves.

There came one day to the Master A great and evil magician Who sought to take his life, As the Master at once perceived; For he read the thoughts of men As though they were strings of wampum— Seeing deep into every heart.

Now this evil magician thought, By first amazing the Master Through some wonderful trick, to weaken The will which gave him strength; As they say a fish is frightened When he sees that his foe swims faster, And is too much alarmed to fight.

So the sorcerer sat to smoke With a pipe whose bowl was bigger Than the head of any man, With a stem full ten feet long; But ever that of Kulóskap Grew to the size of a pumpkin, And then like the ten-foot boulder Which lies on the beach at Rye; And the smoke which rose from his puffing Was like that of a forest fire.

Then the sorcerer filled his pipe Afresh with strong tobacco, Such as would kill if they breathed it A porcupine or a toad. And at one pull he burned it Leaving no spark behind; And at one whiff he sent it Out in one great round ball; Then sat and looked at the Master. And then the Lord Kulóskap, Whose pipe was many times greater, Also sent his tobacco Out in a puff as round— Out in a mighty ball As hard as any flint, And, blowing it on the ground Which was of granite rock, Split it asunder, so That a valley yawned between them. Then they both sat in silence Until the Master said: “Do that—and then take my life.” But the wizard could do no more, And returned in shame and anger To the evil ones who had sent him. L.