--- title: Opening, part 4 — Kulóskap the master, and other Algonkin poems · full text with trees · page 2 description: Opening, part 4, «Kulóskap the master, and other Algonkin poems»: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: Now ere they were born, The two a council held That they might decide How they would be born. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg78673/4/page/2/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Kulóskap the master, and other Algonki…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg78673/) / Opening, part 4 # Opening, part 4 · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg78673/4/) **2** The stranger replied, “They may go Around by land and meet us.”[62](../../62/ "tree and pragmatics") “That cannot be,” said the other, “No dogs could run such a distance, Not even in weeks of running.”[63](../../63/ "tree and pragmatics") But as there was no answer He paddled, saying nothing, Over the bay to the landing, And there the dogs were waiting\![64](../../64/ "tree and pragmatics") But when he turned his head He found the stranger had vanished, And then he said to himself: “Now have I seen Kulóskap, The Lord of Beasts and Men.”[65](../../65/ "tree and pragmatics") And yet at a later day At a place afar in the North, There were many Indians assembled When there came a strange commotion.[66](../../66/ "tree and pragmatics") The ground was heaving and rumbling, The rocks were shaking and falling, And even the boldest among them Felt faint at heart with terror; When lo, they saw before them The Lord of all, Kulóskap\![67](../../67/ "tree and pragmatics") And he said to them: “Lo, I am here, And when you feel the ground Trembling again as to-day, Then know that I have returned.”[68](../../68/ "tree and pragmatics") So it is that man will know When the last great war shall be, The war of the Final Day\![69](../../69/ "tree and pragmatics") For then Kulóskap the Lord Will make the plain and the mountains Shake with an awful noise.[70](../../70/ "tree and pragmatics") The Beaver had been the foe Of the Lord in the beginning; Hence it came that Kulóskap slew Full many of the tribe.[71](../../71/ "tree and pragmatics") Away up in the Tobaic Are two salt water rocks-- That is, they stand by the ocean Near a fresh water stream-- A spot which to the Beaver Had ever been forbidden.[72](../../72/ "tree and pragmatics") But one day when far away, So far that none could see Who had not the magic vision, Kulóskap saw the Beaver Defying his injunction, And drinking from the stream.[73](../../73/ "tree and pragmatics") Then with his might, in anger, The god tore up a rock And hurled it at the Beaver.[74](../../74/ "tree and pragmatics") It was many leagues away, The Beaver deftly dodged it-- Few beasts are so quick at dodging-- But when another boulder Came after the first one, Kwâbît Ran deep into a mountain From which he came forth no more.[75](../../75/ "tree and pragmatics") But the rocks which the Master threw, And the mountain and the fountain, Are shown unto this day; And the Indians say in reverence; “Kulóskap once was here!”[76](../../76/ "tree and pragmatics") FOOTNOTES:[77](../../77/ "tree and pragmatics") \[14\] Kulóskap was the greatest one who ever came into our land.[78](../../78/ "tree and pragmatics") III[79](../../79/ "tree and pragmatics") THE ORIGIN OF THE RATTLESNAKES[80](../../80/ "tree and pragmatics") \[\_Passamaquoddy\_\][81](../../81/ "tree and pragmatics") \_Ntʾladwewâgʾnuk aʿtosis yut the snake.[82](../../82/ "tree and pragmatics") \_\[15\][83](../../83/ "tree and pragmatics") You know Aʿtosis, the Snake?[84](../../84/ "tree and pragmatics") Truly all snakes are evil, But worst among them all Is the Rattlesnake their master.[85](../../85/ "tree and pragmatics") Well\![86](../../86/ "tree and pragmatics") In the olden time, The Rattlesnakes were Indians, And they were very saucy: Men said they were all face, And never could be frozen; They could not be put down by much, And they rose for very little.[87](../../87/ "tree and pragmatics") When the Great Flood was coming, Kulóskap the awful prophet, Gave them full warning of it.[88](../../88/ "tree and pragmatics") They answered, “They did not care.”[89](../../89/ "tree and pragmatics") He told them that the water Would rise o’er the heads of all; They said, “Should this come to pass, We shall all be very wet.”[90](../../90/ "tree and pragmatics") He bade them be good and quiet, And pray to escape from drowning; They whooped and hurrahed to mock him.[91](../../91/ "tree and pragmatics") He said, “The Great Flood is coming!”[92](../../92/ "tree and pragmatics") They gave three cheers for the Flood.[93](../../93/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he added, “’Twill drown you all!”[94](../../94/ "tree and pragmatics") The Indians whooped again, And got out all their rattles, Which were made of turtle shell Containing little pebbles, And rattled with all their might In a daring dance to the Flood.[95](../../95/ "tree and pragmatics") Yes, ’twas a rattling dance\![96](../../96/ "tree and pragmatics") The rain began to fall, But the Indians danced on.[97](../../97/ "tree and pragmatics") The thunder roared, and they answered With rattles and with war-cries The Indians danced on.[98](../../98/ "tree and pragmatics") To the flash and crash of lightning Amid the rising waters The Indians danced on\![99](../../99/ "tree and pragmatics") Then Kulóskap was angry Yet in the rising flood He did not drown a soul, But for their arrogance Changed all to serpent form-- That of the Rattlesnake, Which crawls about the rocks, And so unto this day, Whene’er they see a man, They lift their heads and hiss; And move them up and down-- That is the way snakes dance, Shaking their rattles, too, As we do when we dance.[100](../../100/ "tree and pragmatics") How do you like the sound?[101](../../101/ "tree and pragmatics") L.[102](../../102/ "tree and pragmatics") FOOTNOTES:[103](../../103/ "tree and pragmatics") \[15\] In my language \_aʿtosis\_ is the snake.[104](../../104/ "tree and pragmatics") IV[105](../../105/ "tree and pragmatics") HOW KULÓSKAP NAMED THE ANIMALS, AND DISCOVERED THAT MAN WAS THE LORD OF THEM ALL[106](../../106/ "tree and pragmatics") \[\_Passamaquoddy\_\][107](../../107/ "tree and pragmatics") \_Wut ktagʾnodʾmul uch Kulóskap.[108](../../108/ "tree and pragmatics") \_\[16\][109](../../109/ "tree and pragmatics") This is an ancient tale of the Lord, Told ’mid the tales of the spirit time, How the Master of Beasts and Men Was born in the Sunrise land, The land of the Wabanaki; Though other traditions tell That he came from across the ocean In a great stone canoe, A barque which was all of granite, Covered with trees for masts.[110](../../110/ "tree and pragmatics") When the great Lord of All, The Chief of Beasts and Men, Descended from this ark, He went into the land Of the Wabanaki, The children of the Light; And calling all the Beasts Gave unto each a name: Unto the Bear, Mūūin; And as he gave it, asked: “Oh Bear, what would’st thou do, If thou should’st meet a man?”[111](../../111/ "tree and pragmatics") To which Mūūin replied Simply and honestly: “I fear him and should run.”[112](../../112/ "tree and pragmatics") “Well spoken,” said the Lord, “Man should be feared by all.”[113](../../113/ "tree and pragmatics") Now at that time, Miʿko, The Squirrel, was as great, Or, some say, far more great Than even the Northern Bear; So the Lord Kulóskap Took Miʿko ’neath his hands, And softly smoothed him down; And as he felt the touch Miʿko grew less and less, And dwindled until he Was what we see him now.[114](../../114/ "tree and pragmatics") Howbeit in later days, Miʿko was Kulóskap’s dog, And, when the Master willed, He oft grew large again Touched by the Master’s hand, And slew his fiercest foes.[115](../../115/ "tree and pragmatics") But, being asked what he Would do if chased by Man, Miʿko at once exclaimed: “I would climb up a tree As fast as legs could run.”[116](../../116/ "tree and pragmatics") “Well answered,” said the Lord, “And therefore, I ordain That from this day henceforth Thou and thy kind at large Shall ever dwell in trees.”[117](../../117/ "tree and pragmatics") The Moose was standing by, Intently looking on, With great, soft, staring eyes, Attending to it all With deepest interest.[118](../../118/ "tree and pragmatics") Calling then Kchi Mūs, Big Moose, the Master said: “But say what would’st thou do If thou should’st meet with Man?”[119](../../119/ "tree and pragmatics") “In faith,” replied Kchi Mūs, “I’d canter through the woods Fast as my legs would fly.”[120](../../120/ "tree and pragmatics") “Well spoken,” said the god, “So shalt thou ever live In shade and forests wild.”[121](../../121/ "tree and pragmatics") The Beaver being asked What he would do, replied That he would seek a stream Ere he would face mankind.[122](../../122/ "tree and pragmatics") So the great Lord perceived That of all creatures born Who walked upon the earth The first and best was Man.[123](../../123/ "tree and pragmatics") L.[124](../../124/ "tree and pragmatics") FOOTNOTES:[125](../../125/ "tree and pragmatics") \[16\] This I will tell you about Kulóskap.[126](../../126/ "tree and pragmatics") =Canto Second=[127](../../127/ "tree and pragmatics") THE MASTER’S KINDNESS TO MAN[128](../../128/ "tree and pragmatics") I[129](../../129/ "tree and pragmatics") WHAT KULÓSKAP DID FOR THE INDIANS[130](../../130/ "tree and pragmatics") \[\_Passamaquoddy\_\][131](../../131/ "tree and pragmatics") \_Piche mesogw Kulóskap nemiquosikw.[132](../../132/ "tree and pragmatics") \_\[17\][133](../../133/ "tree and pragmatics") In the very olden time Before Kulóskap the Master, The Lord of Beasts and Men, Had come into the world, Or man was by him instructed, All lived in wonderful darkness; Men could not even see To slay their enemies; But the Lord brought light unto them, The daybreak and the dawn.[134](../../134/ "tree and pragmatics") Therefore, for this his people Are known as the Wabanaki, The Men of the Early Dawn.[135](../../135/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg78673/4/) **2** - ← previous: [page 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg78673/4/) - next →: [Opening, part 5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg78673/5/) - ↑ back to [Kulóskap the master, and other Algonkin poems](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg78673/)