Nanabushu and the Caribou (1)
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Mii eni-izhi-maamaajaad.
Ningoding igo ani-babimosed, ji-mishawashkosiwagaani wedidang. Ezhi-inaabid i’iwidi wayekwaashkosiw gichi-ayaabe adikwan gii-pimadaabiishkosiwewan. Geget sa omisawenimaan. “Amanj igo’sh ge-inaapinanaawagipanen?” Ezhi-waabamigod, “Indash iidog ge-pasemid,” inendam aw adik. “Daga ndawaa ninga-ashimaa,” ani-maajiibatoo a’aw adik. Zhigwa geget omadwe-kanoonigoon: “Ai, ni-shiimisa, amanj wiin i’iw gii-doodaman ningoji wayaabaminaanin? Akawe, giwii-dibaajimotawin! Geget gichi-inakamigad o’owidi wendoseyaan,” odinaan. “Awawa, ondaas, bi-izhaan! Gaawiin gidaa-naniizaanenimisii.” Mii dash geget gaa-bi-izhi-izhaanid i’imaa ayaad. “Diwe, geget igo gichi-inakamigad bijiinaago, gii-nisidiwag; gichi-waawiiyag gii-onji-nanidiwag; gipishkwatagiinodaadiwag.” Aaniish mii go imaa epiichi-danaajimotawaad ezhi-ikwateshkawaad iniw omitigwaabiin. “O’ow isa go doodamobaniig.” Ezhi-nanimaakwiinoodawaad i’imaa waashepiinid. “Mii sa o’ow endoodamowaapan,” odinaan. Ezhi-bimwaad i’imaa waashepiinid. “Mishanim Nenaboozhoo! Geget aana gii-nenimagiban.” Aaniish mii sa gaa-izhi-nisaad, ezhi-maajiikawaad. Bapenaginange ikaamoowan; ezhi-pabimagoodood iniw owiininoman; ezhi-gabaashimaad gakina. Gaa-izhi-giizizwaad, ogiidashkwemag ogii-agwaawaan. Mii dash gaa-ikidod apii gaa-onabiitawaad: “Dibigizh ge-ondamaawagen?” gii-ikido. “Indawaa sa oshtigwaaning ninga-ondamaa. Gaa maawiin nindaa-minochigesii, nindaa-paapi’igoog niinimooshenyag (3) ogii-ashewebamaan,” gii-inendam. “Nindaa-baapi’igoog niinimooshenyag,” gii-nendam. “Amanj isa wiin i’iwidi obikwanaang ondamag? Gaawiin sa, ganabaj nindaa-baapi’igoog. Ganabaj ogii-kaanjwebamaan gichi-ayaabe-adikwan, nindaa-igoog maawiin niinimoshenyag. Amanj isa wiin bimichaya’ii ondamag?” gii-inendam. “Gaawiin sa, ganabaj nindaa-paabi’igoog. Ogii-pimijwebamaan nindaa-igoog gichi-ayaabe-adikwan, niinimooshenyag nindaa-igoog.” Megwaa go danwewetood miziwe jiigaatig ogii-babaa-atoon omama’ibimaan. Mii dash apii ezhi-noondaagwadinig giziibaakwad, “Geget sa nin-gichi-sasiskimigon. Ganabaj sa gaye wiin wii-wiisini.” Gaa-pakwezhwaad i’imaa owiininoowinid, ezhi-akwaandawed. Mii dash iwidi awi-poozinang; (4) gaye go wiininoon ogiziindaakwishimaan. Ezhi-gichi-piidaanimadinig, ezhi-dakwamigod i’iw giziibaakwad. Ay, mii sa imaa e-indanagoozid! Biinish igo gabeya’ii agoozi. Ningoding igo inaabid iwidi wayekwaakosiw ma’iingana’ ondadaabiipa’idiwa’, mii dash ezhi-ganoonaad: “Gego wiin o’omaa bi-izhaakegon!” “Gegoo maawiin ogii-nitoonaadog Nenaboozhoo. A’aw, daga apa’ididaa!” Indigomi gii-bi-gagwejikanidiwa’. Zhayiigwa bagamisewa’, ezhi-waabamaanid iniw odadikoman. Apane go gaa-makandinid. Aiii, aaniish ge-gii-doodang mii sa apane odadikoman. Ezhi-ganoonaad: “Ni-shiimisa, gego wiin jaajiigaatig baa-inaabikegon!” “A’aw, gegoo ogii-atoonaadog!" Mii dash geget gaa-makandinid igo omama’ibimaan. Zhigwa waa-ani-maajiiba’idiwa’, “Gego wiin, ni-shiimisadog, ishpiming inaabikegon!” Aaniish ezhi-daataganaabiwaad igiw ma’iinganag, bane go wiinin gaa-inagoodenig. Aaniish gaye gaa-makandinid i’iw ma’iingana’. Gaa-gidaanawenid eni-maajiiba’idinid; ezhi-bagidamigod. Napem obagidamigon i’iw giziibaakwad. Ezhi-niisaandawed. Mii sa aano-gwiinawii-izhiikang, aaniish mii eta odoo-shtigwaanim etenig. Aaniish odaano-jiichiigwandaan i’iw odoo-shtigwaanim. Aaniish mii eta wiinindib e-yaanig. Aaniish ogwiinawii-inaapinadoon. “Daga indawaa, ninga-kinebigoonsikaas,” gii-inendam. Mii dash geget gaa-izhinaagozid, mii iwedi wiinindib wenjitood. Megwaa go dazhiikang ezhi-anishinaabewid, mii sa maajaad. Mii dash ezhi-odeshkaniimagadinig, ay, aaniish ge-izhichiged! Ezhi-pidaakwishing, “Giidawenenaatigoo, ni-shiimisa?” “Eye’, niin isa go bagwadakamig gaa-naaniibawiyaan.” “Oon, ni-shiimisa, gi-mina’igoowim iizan.” “Eye’,” ogii-igoon. Miinawaa ezhi-pidaakwishing, “Gidawenenaatigo, ni-shiimisa?” “Niin isa go wajiwing gaa-naaniibawiyaan.” “Oon, gi-shingwaakoowim iizan.” Miinawaa ezhi-pidaakwishing, “Gidawenenaatigo?” “Niin isa go gaawaawaasanakigaabawiyaan ningoji zaaga’igan dayebinaakwakin.” “Ni-shiimisa, gii-wiigwaasiwim iizan.” Eni-izhi-maajaad. Miinawaa ezhi-pi-daakwishing, “Gidawenenaatigo, ni-shiimisa?” “Niin isa go ningoji zaaga’igan eyaagin noomag noopiming gaa-naaniibwiyaan.” “Oon, ni-shiimisa, gida-asaadiiwim iizan.” “Eye’.” Miinawaa eni-izhi-maajaad. Miinawaa ezhi-pidaakwishing, “Gidawenenaatigo, ni-shiimisa?” “Niin isa go zaaga’iganing eko-giishkakamigaag gaa-naaniibawiyaan.” “Oon, ni-shiimisa, gi-giizhikiiwim iizan.” “Eye’,” odigoon. Eni-izhi-maajaad, bijiinag igo eni-oda’amiid ezhi-pakobiidakokiid. Aaniish mii go ezhi-panakiinang ezhi-maajiiyaadagaad. Babimaadagaad, ningoding igo awiya onoondawaa: “Eyiiye, adik bemaadagaad!” ikidowa’. Aaniish, “A’aw, maawinada-ok!” Aaniish mii sa geget mawinada-ond. Aaniish gaawiin nandagenimosii bimaadagaad. Eshkam beshwewidamo, gaawiin nandagenimosii. “Eyii’ii. Gi-mishaganigonaan!” “Mii nangwana zhigwa aanawi beshwaabadamowaanen,” inendam. Aaniish gaawiin nandagenimosii bimaadagaad. Eshkam bi-giigidowa’, “Da-baapiniziwaagan, mii sa mishaganinang!” Gaa-ikidonind. Ezhi-debakiinang, wayiiba go debakiinang. Aaniish mii nangwana zhooshkwaanaabikaanig i’imaa gaa-izhi-agwaasibatood. Megwaa go eni-babimipatood ezhi-ozhaazhaabikishing ezhi-biigosidood i’iw odoo-shtigwaanim. Inaabiwaad igiw anishinaabeg, Nenaboozhoowan ani-onji-giigidowan: “Geget igo adik bemaadagaad, geget igo adik bemaadagaad,” ani-ikidowan Nenaboozhoowan, ani-gagawaapiwan. Gaawiin ganage bi-yaapimigaabawisiiwan, bane mii sa ani-babimosed. |
Thereupon he continued steadily on his way.
Now, once while he was walking along, to a wide field of high grass he came. As he looked toward the other end of the meadow, (he saw) a big bull Caribou come walking out upon the stretch of grass, and so he (Nanabushu) wanted to get him. “Wonder how can I get hold of him!” When (Nanabushu) was seen, “Without fail he will have something to say to me,” thought the Caribou. “I think I will draw him on.” Off running started the Caribou. The truly the voice of Nanabushu was heard saying to him: “Hey, my little brother, would that I knew why you act so whenever I see you anywhere! Wait, I wish to tell you something! Truly, a great time is going on over there from whence I have come,” he said to him. “Ay, hither, come here! You have no cause to fear me.” It was true that he went to where (Nanabushu) was. “Ah, but there truly was a great time going on yesterday, they were killing one another; for no reason were they slaying one another; they shot one another indiscriminately with arrows.” Now, while he was telling him the story, he was stringing his bow. “This was the very way they did at the time.” All the while he kept aiming there at his (2) side. “This was just the way they did,” he said to him. Then he shot him in the side. “Confound Nanabushu! Truly, that was the very thing I thought he would do.” So after he had killed (the Caribou), he then set to work flaying (and) cutting him up. Exceedingly fat was (the Caribou); then he went (and) hung up his fat; then he boiled it all. After he had finished cooking it, then out upon a sheet of birch-bark he dipped the meat. And this was what he said when he came to where it lay: “Wonder from what part of the body I shall take (what I am to eat)!” he said. “I think that from the head I will take what I am to eat of him. – Perhaps it would not be proper for me to do that, for I should be made fun of by my loves on account of my having begun at the opposite end,” (thus) he thought. “I should be laughed at by my loves,” (thus) he thought. “Wonder if it would be well for me to eat of him at the back! – No, indeed, for probably I should then be laughed at. ‘Perhaps he shoved the big bull Caribou forward while eating upon him,’ would be said of me perhaps by my loves. – Wonder if it would be well for me to eat of him at the side!” (thus) he thought. “No indeed, for perhaps I should be laughed at. - ‘He tried to push a great bull caribou sidewise when eating upon him,’ would be said of me by my loves.” And while engage in this talk, he laid round about the foot of a tree all the grease (which he had boiled down). And so when the creaking of trees rubbing (together) was heard, “Truly by some one am I sought beseechingly. Perhaps, indeed, some one too wants to eat.” After slicing off a piece from a fatty part (of the caribou), then up the tree he climbed. And so there he went and placed the fat; and he put the fat in where it was creaking. When a great gust of wind came up, he was then caught fast by the creaking tree. Ah, and so there he hung! Even till a long while after was he hanging. The suddenly, while looking toward the other end of the meadow, (he saw) some wolves running hitherward into the meadow, whereupon he addressed them, saying: “Don’t you come this way!” “Something doubtless must Nanabushu have slain. Come on, do let us run over there!” It seemed as if they tried to race (to where he was). Now, when they came running up to the place, they saw his caribou. Straightway did they fall upon it, grabbing it from one another. Alas! Naturally was there nothing for him to do, for entirely gone was his caribou. Then he addressed them, saying: “O my little brothers! Don’t you come and look round about this tree!” “Come on, something he probably has laid out (there)!” Whereupon truly they grabbed away from one another the grease (which he had boiled down). Presently were they about to race away when, “Don’t now, O my little brothers, don’t you look up!” So when up the Wolves looked, nothing but fat (did they see) hanging there. So of course the Wolves also grabbed that away from one another. After they had eaten it up, then away they went racing; then was he let loose from the grip. When it was all over, he was set free by the creaking tree. Then down he climbed from the tree. Thereupon he went in vain to see what he yet had left, for there remained only his (caribou) head. So he tried in vain to gnaw upon what was left (of the meat of) his (caribou) head. Now only the brain was left. Naturally he had no means of getting at it. “Then, therefore, I will take on the form of a little snake,” he thought. Thereupon truly that was the form he took upon himself, the reason he did it was on account of the brain there (in the skull). And while busied with the brain he became a human being, whereupon off he started. And so when there were horns (upon his head), ah, what was then to do! When he bumped against a tree, “What sort of a tree are you, my little brother?” (he asked.) “Ay, in the deep solitude of the forest ever do I stand.” “Then really, my little brother, you must be a tamarack.” “Yes,” he was told. When he bumped against another tree, “What kind of a tree are you, my little brother?” he asked. “Always upon the mountain do I stand.” “Then, indeed, you must (then) be a pine.” When he bumped against another tree, “What kind of a tree are you?” (he asked.) “Continually do I stand with glistening top for one that comes in sight of a lake anywhere.” “My little brother, you then must be a birch.” Then on his way he went. When he bumped against another tree, “What kind of a tree are you, my little brother?” (he asked.) “Wherever there is a lake, then a short way back in the forest is where I always stand.” “Really, my little brother, you then must be a poplar.” “Yes.” Then on his way he continued. When he bumped against another tree, “What kind of a tree are you, my little brother?” (he asked.) “Always by the bank of a lake do I stand.” “Oh, my little brother, then you must be a cedar.” “Yes,” he was told. Then on his way he started, and the instant he made another step he walked into the water. Well, he then began wading out into the water, then he began swimming. While swimming along he suddenly heard the sound of somebody (saying): “Halloo, there goes a caribou swimming along!” they said. Then, “Come on, go after it!” So thereupon they truly started after it. Now, with all his power he swam. As nearer he heard the sound of them, then with all his speed did he go. “Halloo, we shall be beaten to the shore!” “It is possible that I surely must be getting close (to the shore),” he thought. Yet with all his might he swam. Nearer came the sound of their voices, near by he heard them saying: “Too bad, he is landing ahead of us!” (Such) was what they said. Then he came to where he could touch bottom, soon was he where he could touch bottom. Now, it happened to be a slippery bank where he ran up out of the water. And while he was running along, he slipped and fell upon a rock, bursting open his (caribou) head. As the people looked, (they saw) Nanabushu, who said as he went running from there: “Truly it was a caribou swimming along, truly it was a caribou swimming along,” said Nanabushu as he went, as he fell headlong laughing. Not did he stop in his career to look back at them, ever straight ahead he continued his way. |
