Post by Okwes on Apr 14, 2008 13:02:42 GMT -5
Glooscap and the Baby - Algonquian
Glooscap, having conquered the Kewawkqu', a race of giants and magicians,
and the Medecolin, who were cunning sorcerers, and Pamola, a wicked spirit
of the night, besides hosts of fiends, goblins, cannibals, and witches, felt
himself great indeed, and boasted to a woman that there was nothing left for
him to subdue.
But the woman laughed and said: "Are you quite sure, Master? There is still
one who remains unconquered, and nothing can overcome him." In some surprise
Glooscap inquired the name of this mighty one.
"He is called Wasis," replied the woman, "but I strongly advise you to have
no dealings with him."
Wasis was only a baby, who sat on the floor sucking a piece of maple sugar
and crooning a little song to himself. Now Glooscap had never married and
was ignorant of how children are managed, but with perfect confidence he
smiled at the baby and asked it to come to him. The baby smiled back but
never moved, whereupon Glooscap imitated a beautiful birdsong. Wasis,
however, paid no attention and went on sucking his maple sugar.
Unaccustomed to such treatment, Glooscap lashed himself into a rage and in
terrible and threatening accents ordered Wasis to come to him at once. But
Wasis burst into dire howls, which quite drowned the god's thundering, and
would not budge for any threats. Glooscap, thoroughly aroused, summoned all
his magical resources. He recited the most terrible spells, the most
dreadful incantations. He sang the songs which raise the dead, and those
which send the devil scurrying to the nethermost depths. But Wasis merely
smiled and looked a trifle bored. At last Glooscap rushed from the hut in
despair, while Wasis, sitting on the floor, cried: "Goo, goo!"
And to this day the Indians say that when a baby says "Goo," he remembers
the time when he conquered the mighty Glooscap.
From a tale reported by Lewis Spence around 1900
Glooscap, having conquered the Kewawkqu', a race of giants and magicians,
and the Medecolin, who were cunning sorcerers, and Pamola, a wicked spirit
of the night, besides hosts of fiends, goblins, cannibals, and witches, felt
himself great indeed, and boasted to a woman that there was nothing left for
him to subdue.
But the woman laughed and said: "Are you quite sure, Master? There is still
one who remains unconquered, and nothing can overcome him." In some surprise
Glooscap inquired the name of this mighty one.
"He is called Wasis," replied the woman, "but I strongly advise you to have
no dealings with him."
Wasis was only a baby, who sat on the floor sucking a piece of maple sugar
and crooning a little song to himself. Now Glooscap had never married and
was ignorant of how children are managed, but with perfect confidence he
smiled at the baby and asked it to come to him. The baby smiled back but
never moved, whereupon Glooscap imitated a beautiful birdsong. Wasis,
however, paid no attention and went on sucking his maple sugar.
Unaccustomed to such treatment, Glooscap lashed himself into a rage and in
terrible and threatening accents ordered Wasis to come to him at once. But
Wasis burst into dire howls, which quite drowned the god's thundering, and
would not budge for any threats. Glooscap, thoroughly aroused, summoned all
his magical resources. He recited the most terrible spells, the most
dreadful incantations. He sang the songs which raise the dead, and those
which send the devil scurrying to the nethermost depths. But Wasis merely
smiled and looked a trifle bored. At last Glooscap rushed from the hut in
despair, while Wasis, sitting on the floor, cried: "Goo, goo!"
And to this day the Indians say that when a baby says "Goo," he remembers
the time when he conquered the mighty Glooscap.
From a tale reported by Lewis Spence around 1900