Contribution to Passamaquoddy Folk-LoreFewkes, Jesse Walter
History
Contribution to Passamaquoddy Folk-Lore
Fewkes, Jesse Walter
Passamaquoddy Indians -- Folklore
17. An ancient war song, said to have been sung in the old
times when the Passamaquoddies were departing for war with
the Mohawks. A second part contains a song said to have been
sung in the "Trade Dance," as described below.
18. War Song.
19. Pronunciation of the names of the fabulous personages
mentioned in Passamaquoddy stories.
20-22. Story of the birth of a medicine-man who turned man
into a cedar tree.
23. An ordinary conversation between the two Indians, Noel
Josephs and Peter Selmore.
24-27. Modern Passamaquoddy story, introducing many
incidents of ordinary life.
29-35. Story of Pogump and the Sable, and of their killing a
great snake. How the former was left on an island by
Pookjinsquess, and how the Morning Star saved him from
Quahbet, the giant beaver.[2]
[Footnote 2: I have given below English versions of these, or the
Indian stories told in English.]
It appears to me that the selections above given convey an idea of
some of the more important linguistic features of the Passamaquoddy
language, but it is needless to reiterate that these results and
observations are merely experimental. In another place I hope to
reproduce the stories in the original, by phonetic methods. I have
here given English versions of some of the stories recorded, as
translated for me by the narrator, or by Mrs. Brown, and added some
explanations which may be of assistance to a person listening when
songs or stories are being rendered on the phonograph.
The majority of the remnants of the Passamaquoddy tribe are found in
three settlements in the State of Maine,--one at Pleasant Point, near
Eastport; another at Peter Dana's Point, near Princeton; and a third
at a small settlement called The Camps, on the border of the city of
Calais.
The manners and customs of this people are fast dying out. The old
pointed caps, ornamented with beads, and the silver disks, which they
once wore, are now rarely seen except in collections of curiosities.
The old games, dances, and songs are fast becoming extinct, and the
Passamaquoddy has lost almost everything which characterized his
fathers.
There still remain among the Passamaquoddies certain nicknames borne
by persons of the tribe. These nicknames are sometimes the names of
animals, and in older times were more numerous than at present.
Possibly these names are the survivals of the gentile or clan name
once universal among them as among other Indian tribes.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account