Turtle, Porcupine, and Beaver
This selection is an extract from Pial Pal Wzôkhilain (1830), Wobanaki kimzowi awighigan [Abenaki study book], pp. 32–36. Boston: Crocker and Brewster.
Note: Wzôkhilain’s text is given in below in (a); the retranscription and translation in (b) have been prepared by Philip LeSourd, partly on the basis of notes by Gordon Day in his MS collection of Abenaki texts: Canadian Museum of Civilization, Hull, PQ, pp. 92–97.
1. a. <Wawôdamwinno Tolba illakannitep ni owa- / naskawôn Kôgua ta Tmakwa; nitta wguahômin / sibiwi idak, paakwinôgwziak kiuwô awanigik, / ktilleba paakwinôgwziakw kanwa ôda kowawi- / noloppa;>
b. Wawątaməwinno Toləba illakannitəp, ni owanaskawąn Kąkwa tta Təmahkwa. Ni=tta wəkwahąmin. Sibiwi itak, “Paahkwinąkwəsiak kiową awanikik. Kətihləpa ‘paahkwinąkwəsiak,’ kanəwa ąta kəwawinoloppa.”
‘Turtle, a knowledgeable person, had been traveling when he met Porcupine and Beaver. Right away he called out to them. Then he said, “I haven’t seen you folks in a long time. I have told you, ‘I haven’t seen you in a long time,’ but (in fact) I don’t recognize you.”’
2. a. <Niaki achi ôda kowawinolo kôgw idam, / witamawi aguachi wigôdamana awani kia.>
b. “Nia=hki ahci kəwawinolo,” Kąkw itam. “Wihtamawi akwahci wikątamana awani kia.”
‘“I don’t know you either,” said Porcupine. “Tell me, if you please, just who you are.”
3. a. <Ni / Tolba wdidamen, niaga wigawôjiwi ali hwilgaa / Tolba, ôda ni ôzoka achowi liwizia, wibiwitta / ni noji liwizin ali nanihlawôba li mamessani / hiwilidep. Niagaki achowi liwizia ta walôma / liwizia pita kinawtôguat, weskkbi kôdak kiuwô / nahnodwakw ali liwizia Plawinno.>
b. Ni Toləpa wətitamən, “Nia=ka wikawąciwi ali-wihləkaa Toləpa, ąta ni ąsohka ahcəwi-li-wisia. Wipiwi=tta ni noci-li-wisin ali- nanihlawąpa li -maməssani-wihlitəp. Nia=ka=hki acəwi-li-wisia, tta waląma li-wisia pihta kinawtąkwat wskəpi kątak kiową nahnotəwakw ali-li-wisia Pəlawinno.
‘Then Turtle said, “I am often called Turtle, but that is not what I should be called. I am only called by that name as a way to mock me by calling me by the name of a common fellow. I should instead be called, and I believe if I am more properly named this way perhaps even all of you will have heard how I am called, Person who Takes his Time.”’
4. a. <Ni adoji / kôgw idak, niagakitta pazgo asma nodanowa ni / wizwôgan, witamawi aguachi kagui ni waji liwiz- / ian.>
b. Ni atoci- kąkw -itak, “Nia=ka=hki=tta pasəko ahsəma nənotamowa ni wisəwąkan. Wihtamawi akwahci kakwi ni waci-li-wisian.”
‘At that point Porcupine said, “I, for one, have not heard that name before. Tell me just why it is you are called that.”’
5. a. <Tôniba nawa Tolba idam, aliga wa ngw- / ŭitkamigzo nia wadaguôgodama ntôwi pla kagui / pabaki ta sipki mômanni tbidahôdak tôni kadawi / lalokat: tahôlawiba idôziga plamanni, plamanni, / plamanni, –ni waji liwizia Plawinno.>
b. “Tąni=pa=nawa,” Toləpa itam, “ali=ka wa nəkwətkamikəso nia watakwąkotama. Ntąwi- pəla kakwi papaki tta sipki mąmanəni-təpitahątak tąni katawi-lalohkat: tahąlawi=pa itąsika “pəla manəni, pəla manəni, pəla manəni,” ni waci-li-wisia Pəlawinno.
‘“Well, then,” Turtle said, “it is because of this tribe I am related to. One knows how to think something over first thoroughly and slowly for a long time when he is going to do it: just as they say hold off, go slow—hold off, go slow—hold off, go slow, for that reason I came to be called Person who Takes his Time.”’
6. a. <Pita ko- / litbi witamen Kôgw id[a]m, chanawa witamawi tôni / wjidbihla ta awani ni ali mamessanni hwilgowaza; />
b. “Pihta koli-təpi-wihtamən,” Kąkw itam, “Ca=nawa wihtamawi tąni wəci-təpihla=tta awani ni ali-maməssani-wihləkowasa.”
‘“You explain it very thoroughly and thoughtfully,” Porcupine said. “Now, then, tell me how it came to be that someone named you mockingly like that.”’
7. a. <ni Tolba wdidamen, nôwatga waskinnowiôna / nadôgues nnizi nôji namihôpnohop nôkskwak / wawitsakasottijek; ni ôzoka ni maôwi tojiwi kdak / mina wskinnos wdelôbastônap. Ni ôzoka ali / niuna nadôgues paa[m]i wli kinôgaak ta wdowika- / dôgaak, ni agma ôda kôkkinawôwen, ni ngagô- / wihônana, ni adoji nia liwihlit tolba, ni nadôgwsa / awasos; kagui ato kôdak u idamoo tolba ala / awasos, ôda nwawtamowen, achi gatta agma / walma wawtak.>
b. Ni Toləpa wətitamən, “Nąwat=əka waskinnowiąna, natąkwəss nənisi-nąci-namihąpənohəp nąkskwak wawitsahkahsohticik. Ni ąsohka ni maąwi tociwi kətak mina skinnos wətəląpastąnap. Ni ąsohka ali- niona natąkwəss -paami-wəli-kinąkaak tta -wətowihkatąkaak, ni akəma ąta kąkkinawąwən, ni nəkakąwihąnana. Ni atoci- nia -li-wihlit Toləpa, ni natąkwsa Awahsohs. Kakwi=ahto kątak yo itamoo “toləba” ala “awahsohs,” ąta nəwawtamowən, ahci=ka=tta akəma waləma wawtak.
‘Then Turtle said, “A long time ago when we were young, my cousin and I went together to see some girls who were sisters. But then at the same time another young man had his eye on one of them. But as my cousin and I were looked upon more favorably and were more highly esteemed, and he was not regarded, we made him angry. It was at that point that he called me Turtle and my cousin Bear. What “turtle” or “bear” may even mean, I do not understand, and indeed he probably didn’t understand it himself.”’
8. a. <Ni ôwalami achi nadôgues as- / kamat ni mziwi nanihlawôba alihwlgot, ôlawiki / agma achi owizwôgan pita wligen ta kinawtôguat / wiskbi kôdak nahnodamakw ali liwizit Wgawin- / no, ta oji liwizin ni ali ôda peboniwi pabômkan- / nikw wibiwi kôgao kwanipok.>
b. Ni ąwalami ahci natąkwəss askamat ni məsiwi nanihlawąpa ali-wihləkot. Ąlawiki akəma ahci owisəwąkan pihta wəlikən tta kinawtąkwat. Wskəpi kątak nahnotamakw ali-li-wisit Wəkawinno, tta oci-li-wisin ni ali- ąta pəponiwi -papąmkannikwkw, wipiwi kąkao kwanihpok.
‘“So from then on my cousin was also called by that name by all the ordinary people. However, he also has a name that is much better and more accurate. Perhaps in fact you have heard that he is called Person who Sleeps, and the reason he has this name is that he does not travel around in the wintertime, but just goes on sleeping all winter.”’
9. a. <Nia ta nadôgwes / owizwôgan adoji wlitôguak, aguachi mziwi kina- / wi alnôbak, lidbezwinnoak, ta podawazwinnoak / pita owigawananôl; ôdahaba awani nodawôwi /
tônwa idak tolba ala awasos, majimiwi wibiwi / nodôzo Plawinno ta Wgawinno. />
b. Nia=tta natąkwəss owisəwąkan atoci-wəlihtąkwahk akwahci məsiwi kkinawi-alənąpak, li-təpəsəwinnoak tta potawasəwinnoak, pihta owikawa[k]anąl. Ątah=əpa awani nątawąwi tąn=əwa itak Toləpa ala Awahsohs, macimiwi wipiwi notąso Pəlawinno tta Wəkawinno.
‘“My cousin’s name (and mine) sound so nice that in fact all of the respectable people, the officials and the council members, very much like to use them. No one will be heard to say Turtle or Bear; Person who Takes his Time or Person who Sleeps is always the only thing heard.”’
10. a. <Kamôji nwahwdaldamen ali nônsojihadôzik / nwizwôganennawal, ta nmamhôlhidahôdamen ka- / gui ato waji nanihlawôba ngemi nosokamawômŭk / kagui li môlhihwilkada; nagôdak nahihlawi kôgw, / ali ni li hwilgoak, nitta mziwi awani, kinôguida / kôguak wligihidida waji agma nalawi manessani- / moat.>
b. Kamąci nəwahwətalətamən ali-nąnsocihatatąsik nəwisəwąkanənnawal, tta nmamhąlhitahątamən kakwi=ahto waci- nanihlawąpa -nəkəmi-nohsohkamawąmək kakwi li-mąlhi-wihlkata. Na kątak na[n]ihlawi kąkw, ali- ni li-wihləkoak[w], ni=tta məsiwi awani kinąkwita kąkwak wəlikihətita waci- akəma nalawi -manəssanimoat.
‘“I am very sorry that our names have been spoiled, and I find it very strange how something can so easily follow an ordinary person that was created as a nickname. Even the simple porcupine, as you folks are called, everyone mocks everywhere, although porcupines are at least good-natured.”’
11. a. <Ni adoji kôgw klozit, ni wdihlôn tolba, / kahala! Nia dakibgua nitkamôgan ni alihogwaza! / ôdahaba ndidamo ôda palalokawi na tôni ni ali- / hogwan, kanwa ôda ni kdachwi wji majlohôwen / mziwi kôguak; ta ôdahaba kolôma kizi idamo kia / kbaami wlôbai ôdaki kôgw.>
b. Ni atoci- Kąkw kəlosit, ni wətihląn Toləba, “Kahala! Nia=ta=hki=pəkwa nitkamąkan ni alihokwasa! Ątah=əpa nətitamo ąta palalohkawi na tąni ni alihokwan, kanəwa ąta ni kətahcəwi-wəci-macilohąwən məsiwi kąkwak, tta ątah=əpa koląma. Kəkisi-itamo kia kəpaami-wəląpai ątahki kąkw?
‘“And at that point Porcupine spoke up, and he said to Turtle, “Sure! In fact, it must be my people who have done that to you! I would not say that they have not been at fault when they have treated you that way, but you must not call all porcupines bad names because of it, for you would not be in the right. Can you say that you are better looking than a porcupine?”’
12. a. <Kaguiba waji ôda / kizi idamowa? tolba idam, — adoji chibaginôgwzit / kôgw, wgôwima paki chignazi kôwizak, sibiwi / wissi piasowit.>
b. “Kakwi=pa waci- ąta -kisi-itamowa?” Toləpa itam. “Atoci-cipakinąkwəsit kąkw. Wəkąwima pahki cikənasi-kąwisak, sipiwi wissi-piahsowit.”
‘“Why would I not be able to say that?” Turtle said. “The porcupine is really ugly. He has little hawthorn spikes all over him, plus he is covered with hair.”’
13. a. <Kahala! kia ali pabasigiau ni / waji laldaman kbaami wlôbai? achki ato kdelal- /
dam kolôbai; kettep paki skogôdep, ni sibiwi / ktapskokwa chibagadagnanôguat paki maskka- /
adagen. Koliba wibiwi majimiwi tali kôtton / ktapskokwa kmiknakok, wzômi pôbaami chibagi- / nôguat;>
b. “Kalala! Kia ali-papahsikia[n] ni waci-lalətaman kəpaami-wəląpai? Acki=ahto kətəlalətam koląpai! Kətəp pahki skokątəp, ni sipiwi kətapskohkwa cipakatakənanąkwat pahki maskaatakən. Koli-=pa wipiwi macimiwi -tali-kątton kətapskhkwa kəmihkənahkok, wəsąmi pąpaami cipakinąkwat.”
““Indeed! Are you so half-witted that you think you are better looking? In fact you probably think you are good looking! Your head is just like a snake’s head, and furthermore your neck has hideous skin like a toad’s skin. You will do well just to keep it hidden all the time in your shell, because it is so exceedingly ugly.’”
14. a. <koli wawaldamen kôdak ali alnôbak / chibaginawôhdit skoga, ta tôni alnôbak majina- /
mohdit chowi kahala majinôguat, wzômi mziwi / kagui agmôwô wbaami ntônamennô wji ali paa- / maltohdit wawôdamwogan ôdaki kiuna awaaswi- / akw.>
b. Koli-wawalətamən kątak ali- alənąpak -cipakinawąhətit skoka, tta tąni alənąpak macinamohətit ccowi- kahala -macinąkwat, wəsąmi məsiwi kakwi akəmąwą wəpaami-ntą[wə]naməną wəci ali-paamaltohətit wawątaməwąkan ątahki kiona awaassəwiakw.
‘“You well know how even Indians find snakes hideous, and how what Indians find ugly must truly be ugly, since they are more discerning in all things because they have more intelligence than we who are animals.”’
15. a. <Ni nawa kia toôô wji sôkwkwawiana, / ôda khaga namitôzinnokwkwa, ôdahaba awani / laldamwi Plawinno ato ni wutep sôkhamik, wibi- / wi laldam kaginhôndowi skog na sôkwkwasik, — />
b. “Ni=nawa kia tąmą wəci sąkwkwawiana, ąta khaka namihtąsinnokwkwa, ątah=əpa awani lalətamowi Pəlawinno=ahto ni wətəp sąkhamik, wipiwi lalətam kakinhąnətowi-skok na sąkwkwasik.”
‘“And then if you are coming out from some place, but your body has not yet been seen, no one will think, perhaps that is the head of Person who Takes his Time that is appearing, they will just think, that is some powerful spirit snake emerging.”’
16. a. <tabat, tabat, Tmakwa idam, piziwiwi kdalohôwa- / diba, mawia sôgnawi namihodiagua ta kowawal- / damnô aliba ôda kiznemmowakw tôni waligik / talohôwadiagua wibiwiji kpeskwhlanmeba majigek. />
b. “Tapat! Tabat!” Təmahkwa itam. “Pisəwiwi kətalohąwatipa. Mawia sąkənawi namihotiakwa, tta kəwawalətaməną ali-=pa ąta -kisənəmowakw tąni walikək talohąwatiakwa. Wipiwi=ci kəpəskwhlanəməpa macikək.
‘“Enough! Enough!” Beaver said. “You are arguing uselessly. It is better if you take a look at each other, and you will realize that you will not be able to accomplish anything good if you argue. You will just ignite what is bad.”’
17. a. <Talohôwadin taketta wli pizwat, ta ôdahaba / awani oji mskawidahômgueziwen, minaguiba sa- / kozida attasi adalohômkat; ta awani minaguiba / agma wligida, ôdahaba ni oji wlôma nalawi ma- / messanimôwen awanihi tôni alinôgwzilit ; ôda / wzômi agma awani wdelitowen tôni aligit,>
b. “Talohąwatin=ətahki=tta wəli-pisəwat, tta ątah=əpa awani oci-mskawitahąməkwəsiwən, minakwipa sahkosita ahtahsi-atalohąmkat; tta awani minakwipa akəma wəlikita, ątah=əpa ni oci- wəląma nalawi -maməssanimąwən awanihi tąni alinąkwəsit, ąta=wəsąmi akəma awani wətəlihtowən tąni alikit.”
‘“Indeed to argue is quite worthless, and no one will be esteemed more highly, even though he is victorious every time he argues; and even though one may be handsome, he should not for that reason mock anyone anywhere for the way he looks, because he is not the one who made him look the way he does.”’
18. a. <tôni / nawatta awani oli ketmôginôgwzet, li wlaldach, / akwi achi eskawômôch awanihi, ala awani wligi- / da akwi ni wji kneskelohôch widôwzomôji.>
b. Tąni=nawa=tta awani wəli-kətəmąkinąkwəsit, li-wəlalətac ahkwi- ahci -əskawąwąc awanihi; ala awani wəlikita, ahkwi- ni wəci -kənəskəlohąc witąwəsomąci.
‘“So, then, if someone is pitiful-looking, let him be willing not in fact to envy anyone; or if someone is good-looking, let him not for that reason speak against his neighbor.”’