New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-06-26
KULOSK4P.
The Hero of an Indian Epic.

KULosKAP. THE MASTER. AND OTHER sF,. Al h
GoNKTN POEMS. Translated Me:rlcaiN, ey
charles Godfrey Leland Hon F Rs R s Ii ph ~ 4
tJohns Hopkins Professor in Columbia U Al
gonkin Dialects Illustrated. Octave. PIP 30
Funk & Wagnss Company
The late Charles Godfrey Leland. in collaoora-
fion with Dr. Prince, prepared the epic OF the
Algonquin divinity. Kuloskap. or hlusha0e'
which is printed in this book by collecting ana
trsnslating a number Of the poems that are sum
-ecited by the Passanaquoddy. Micmac, Penop-
- shepali and Delaware Indians. The book
,,,eras = most attractive. ordered anthology OF
,1-.hsnati tradition The tales are given as
nearly in the original form as possible IN wv"
primitive irregular rnythns which the lhUi0i,
,arrators use The constructed epic is arrahseu
IN four cantos. setting forth creation lesehuS'
gho Masters kindness 10 man. his relatioi -
animals and TO sorcerers. There are aooeu
erour Of poems Of witchcraft lore, ano group
= ,;cs The vanpum records of the Passa-
rnaquoddy tribe, describing the ceremonies -
tbe death of chieftain. for installation ana f0I
~ celebration Of marriages, have been reduced
a record also. and are presented in the orlsl-
nj toneue and in translation in an appenolA-
Illustrations in the Indian manner are Fepr0-
d,,ced on pages of imitation birch DARK
The name of the hero divinity means mar
hut was applied in compliment, as III inc g.
If the cunning Odysseus. because He
caa,ar enough to lead his enemies aslraS' ~
greatest of virtues 10 the early American HIN
&c ,-as the creator and friend Of man. "hoiii
he made from the ash tree
Thus IT was Kuloskap the Great
Made man: de took his arrows
And shot al tree-tne ASH
From the hole made by the AFRO"
came forth new forms ana 9heSe
We're the first Of human KIND
And so the Lord gave them a name
Meaning those born from trees
The creation of many Of the anlmaIs
o7,aintly conceived. The ratuesnakes were IN
&c MIN were too saucy TO take heed at huIos-
HAMS repeated warnings Of the Great fIooo- III
.,evzer 10 his description Of the impending ca
80, they retorted that should this come 10
.s NE shall all be very wet" They Whoopeo
- ht,, gave three cheers for the food, got Ou'
,ba,r t1YrtlesheI rattles and danced In oeliail0e
In mercy he did not annihilate tnen Du'
changed them to serpents. The turtle was an
,,ncle of the Master. who rejuVenateo MN no
n. might win beautiful bride. the oesteo VI
..su the young men in Plkuook 10 save NJ
from the attempts made upon his NE "s ms
-L,-.Is Kulosrap gave him long life and COW
ering Of shell, with instructions as 10 HIS -
,,overs Of endurance. Then the turtle was put
A a roaring fire where he shut UP MS aiie'
and slept until il burned low, Wheh
t5a called for more wood TO rebuild II
because it bitterly cold
Then the story reads like Uncle Renus's tale
of Rrer Rabbits cunning. when involved Win
.ba Tar Baby and pretending to dread the orier
patch
Then they all called out Let drown him.
But hearing this as in terror
He impiored them not TO 90 IL
st'H1t me to pieces" he SAID
.FSurn me again. or stab me,
But do not / beg you, throw me
Into the water TO Drown
Next dav they caught sight Of him a-dozihs III
she sunlight on a rock. And eve- since
Ali turtles in swamps or rivers
When they a man a-cofiHS
Tip-tilt them into the water az, ,,.,.,
With a plump which means IeouDS-
or which sounds like II in Indian,
As their ancestor Gid OF yore-
Here one may learn how the buiifrog came oy
his crunpled back; matter OF facI 1t -
scarrad by Kuloskaps squeeze, for the frog "ds
surly and selfish and when the thirstlng INDIANS
game TO him for water
Made no reply beyond
A most uncivil Erunt
And croak. but he said at last
In loud, believing voice,
Such as sometimes hear
Al night from pond or poor
DO as You choose
DO as you choose;
DO as YOU choose.
What do ] care2
What do / care
What do / care"
If you want water
If you want water
If you want water
Go somewhere else
These stories come from the unshorn mis- anu
thick woodlands of earlier day. FOR our
later delight they are worthy Of peopling New
england again with their wizards and whimsical
<raa+r,-es and fairies.