Monday, September 05, 2011

Mikchichk

Image source: http://cornerstoregoddessjewelry.blogspot.com/2011/07/turtle-storyteller.html , where you can find another turtle story (and jewelry).

"They landed near an Indian village, where lived an old Indian, who was so misshapen and ugly that he had always failed in winning a wife, for the Indian maidens would not even look at him. His name was Mikchichk—Tortoise.
When Glooscap and the grandmother and Marten reached the wigwam, Mikchichk was on the shore spearing a salmon: but when he saw them, he hastened home and welcomed them. He gave the Great Chief the place of honour in the wigwam, and prepared a feast.
When the news that Glooscap was in the village had spread about, preparations were made for a public feast and a dance. A crier was sent about the village, calling out as loud as he could: "How! How! How!" inviting every one to the feast.
Now the chief had two unmarried daughters, both of them very beautiful; and Glooscap advised Mikchichk to seek one of them as his wife.
"Long ago, I gave up all thoughts of securing a wife," said Mikchichk. "I do not please maidens."
"But I will make you pleasing to every one," said the Great Chief. So Glooscap gave Mikchichk coat and leggings, and best of all, his magical belt. And Mikchichk was no longer an ugly, deformed old man! The magical belt had transformed him into a young and handsome Indian brave. He went to the feast, and he could leap and run and play ball and wrestle as well as any one there.
But in the midst of his enjoyment he met with disaster. It was in a game of ball; Mikchichk caught the ball, and was running for dear life to the post, dodging right and left to avoid his pursuers—for all the other braves in the game were jealous of the handsome stranger, and all had joined in the pursuit. Mikchichk was driven straight to his own lodge. There was nothing left for him to do in order to escape, but to make a great spring over the lodge. Mikchichk tried to do this, but he missed his aim, and was caught on the ridgepole, just over the chimney-hole. Glooscap had been inside the wigwam all this time, but he knew what was happening outside. And when Mikchichk landed on the ridge-pole, Glooscap arose quietly, and piled fir boughs on the fire. This made a great smoke, which nearly stifled the Tortoise; and it so stained his coat that the marks never wore off, and are there until this day.
"You will kill me, Nulooks, my nephew," shouted the Tortoise.
"No, I will not," answered Glooscap, "but on the contrary I will make you immortal. You shall never die; you may live on the land, . and you may live in the water; although your head may be cut off, it shall not. kill you. And your heart shall still beat, even though your body be cut in pieces."
Then Glooscap helped Mikchichk down, and Mikchichk said: "I will leave this place, and go on."
And Glooscap said: "Whither will you go?"
"I will go anywhere and everywhere," said Mikchichk. And with this he went away, and has ever since led a solitary life.
From: Glooscap the great chief, and other stories: legends of the Micmacs  By Emelyn Newcomb Partridge

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