Read the entry note first. Not a fable — an Anishinaabe ontology carried as story. Come in to wonder.
⚠️ Draft — under many eyes. Converted and readable; not yet finally vetted, and it will wear the word draft for a good while, on purpose. Living, not final.
21. NÄNABUSHU AND THE CRANBERRIES.¹
Nenabosho and the Cranberries (2)
Narrated by probably Midāsugaⁿj (Michelson’s own hedge, carried) — Series 2 (Nos. 19–32), Bois Fort (per Michelson’s roster, Part I Preface p. XX; not credited on the story page itself).
from Ojibwa Texts collected by William Jones (1917).
(1) Mīsa’ Nänabucu änijimādcāt, äniwä‘k ugạcki‘tōn tciminopimusät.
Mii sa Nenabosho eni-izhi-maajaad, eniwek ogashkitoon ji-mino-bimosed.
Accordingly, when Nänabushu departed on his way, hardly was he able to walk with any comfort.
Mii sa Nenabosho (and so Nenabosho) eni-izhi-maajaad (as he set off on his way), eniwek ogashkitoon (he was just barely able) ji-mino-bimosed (to walk comfortably).
(2) Kumāgu a‘pī tägucing sībīns umạtābīn; inābit pạnägu ạnībiminạn; kāmiskwa‘kubānig mīgu ᵉiᵘ änījināzi‘kạng.
Gomaa go apii degoshing ziibiins omadaabiin; inaabid pane go aniibiminan; gaa-miskwaakobaanig mii go iw eniizhinaazikang (eni-zhi-naazkang).
After he was come a certain distance, he came out upon a brook; while looking about, (he saw) nothing but high-bush cranberries, and that they were of a red kind of bush.
Gomaa go apii degoshing (when he had come a certain distance) ziibiins omadaabiin (he came down upon a brook); inaabid (as he looked about) pane go aniibiminan (nothing but high-bush cranberries); gaa-miskwaakobaanig (where the brush was of a red kind) mii go iw eniizhinaazikang (eni-zhi-naazkang) (that is what he made his way toward).
(3) “Ä‘tiwä, kägä‘tigu nībiwa ningamīdcinạn; pāmāgu ā‘pidci kī‘täwīsiniyān nīngapōni‘tōnạn.”
“Etiwe, geget igo niibiwa ninga-miijinan; baamaa go aapiji giide-wiisiniyaan ninga-boonitoonan.”
“Ah, surely a heap will I eat; and not till I am thoroughly satisfied with eating will I leave them alone.”
“Etiwe (“why now), geget igo niibiwa ninga-miijinan (truly a great many will I eat); baamaa go aapiji giide-wiisiniyaan (not until I have eaten my fill) ninga-boonitoonan.” (will I leave them be.”)
(4) Wi‘kwä‘tigwäyānik Nänabucu ucigābawi isībīns; inābit ạnāmibīg mīdäc kägä‘t wâbạndạnk ạnībiminạn ‘i∙i∙witi agawātäbīgisininik.
*Wikwetigweyaanig Nenabosho ozhigaabawi iziibiins; inaabid anaamibiig mii dash geget waabandang aniibiminan i’iwidi agawaatebiigisininig.**
By the bend of the brook Nänabushu went and took his stand; while looking into the stream, he then of course saw high-bush cranberries reflected yonder in the water.
Wikwetigweyaanig (at the bend of the stream) Nenabosho ozhigaabawi iziibiins* (Nenabosho took his stand by the brook); inaabid anaamibiig (as he looked down into the water) mii dash geget waabandang aniibiminan (then truly he saw high-bush cranberries) i’iwidi agawaatebiigisininig (reflected yonder in the water).
(5) Nänabucu äjikīgitut: “Tạga, miwạniwäti kämīdciyānin.”
Nenabosho ezhi-giigidod: “Daga, miwaniwedi ge-miijiyaanin.”
Nänabushu then spoke up: “Why, these are the ones I will eat.”
Nenabosho ezhi-giigidod (Nenabosho then spoke up): “Daga (“come now), miwaniwedi ge-miijiyaanin.” (those over there are the ones I will eat.”)
(6) Äjitcīga‘kwäbạgisut; ānunandōbīginigät, mīsa’ kāwīn umi‘kạnzīnạn.
Ezhi-jiigakwebagizod; aano-nandoobiiginiged, mii sa gaawiin omikanziinan.
Then he dived into the water; in vain he tried to feel for them in the water, but he could not find them.
Ezhi-jiigakwebagizod (then he dived in toward the edge); aano-nandoobiiginiged (in vain he felt about for them in the water), mii sa gaawiin omikanziinan (and so he did not find them).
(7) Intawā ä‘kwạnābāwät äjimōckạmut ạgwāsīit; mīgu’ pimi∙ạ∙nwā‘tinīkạmisänik.
Indawaa ekwanaabaawed ezhi-mooshkamod agwaasiid, mii go bimi-anwaatiniigamisenig.
Accordingly, when he was out of breath, then to the surface he rose (and) came on out of the stream; whereupon the water became smooth (again).
Indawaa ekwanaabaawed (and so when he was out of breath under water) ezhi-mooshkamod (he rose to the surface) agwaasiid (coming up out of the water), mii go bimi-anwaatiniigamisenig (whereupon the water grew smooth again — anwaatiniikamise- read as the water-stilling stem, flagged).
(8) Inābit, ä‘tawä, mīsa untcita ạnībiminạn wâbandạnk ạnāmibīg; mīgu mīnawā tciga‘kwäpạgisut, ä‘tiwä Nänabucu äcikitcikīskīngwäcing.
Inaabid, etawe, mii sa onjida aniibiminan waabandang anaamibiig; mii go miinawaa jiigakwebagizod, etiwe Nenabosho ezhi-gichi-giishkiingweshing.
As he looked, why, he was bound to see high-bush cranberries down in the water; and so when he again dived into the water, poor Nänabushu fell upon his face, cutting a great gash.
Inaabid, etawe (as he looked, why), mii sa onjida aniibiminan waabandang anaamibiig (sure enough he saw high-bush cranberries down in the water); mii go miinawaa jiigakwebagizod (and so again he dived in toward the edge), etiwe Nenabosho ezhi-gichi-giishkiingweshing (and poor Nenabosho fell hard, gashing his face).
(9) Tci∙ä∙nigu‘k äjikaski‘tōt ijimawi.
Ji-enigok ezhi-gashkitood izhi-mawi.
As hard as it was possible for him did he weep.
Ji-enigok (as hard as he could) ezhi-gashkitood izhi-mawi (he was able to weep, and he wept).
(10) Ānīcnā kīwaskwäcin.
Aaniish naa giiwashkweshin.
To be sure, he was knocked out of his wits when he alighted.
Aaniish naa giiwashkweshin (well now, he was knocked senseless when he landed).
(11) Mägwāgu mawit kägō omānācābiskāgun.
Megwaa go mawid gegoo omaanaazhaabishkaagon.
Now, while he wept he felt something rubbing softly against his eyes.
Megwaa go mawid (while he was weeping) gegoo omaanaazhaabishkaagon (something rubbed softly against his eyes).
(12) Äjibā‘katawâbit mägwā mawit, kuniginīn ạnībiminạn nānācābiskāgut.
Ezhi-baakadawaabid megwaa mawid, goniginiin aniibiminan naanaazhaabishkaagod.
When he opened his eyes while crying, he was surprised to see that he was being gently rubbed across the eyes by high-bush cranberries.
Ezhi-baakadawaabid megwaa mawid (when he opened his eyes while crying), goniginiin aniibiminan naanaazhaabishkaagod (lo, high-bush cranberries were gently rubbing across his eyes).
(13) Tayā, gägä‘t ā‘pidcisa minwäntạm.
Tayaa, geget aapiji sa minwendam.
Ah, truly was he highly pleased.
Tayaa, geget aapiji sa minwendam (ah, truly indeed he was pleased).
(14) Mīsacigwa māntạntcigät; ā‘pidcisa kātäwīsinit kägä‘t minwäntạm.
Mii sa zhigwa maandanjiged; aapiji sa gaade-wiisinid geget minwendam.
And so he then began eating; after he was thoroughly satisfied with the eating, he was truly pleased.
Mii sa zhigwa maandanjiged (and so now he began eating away); aapiji sa gaade-wiisinid (after he had eaten his fill) geget minwendam (truly he was pleased).
(15) Mīdạc kägä‘t wäwäni kacki‘tōd pimusät.
Mii dash geget weweni gashkitood bimosed.
Thereupon he was truly able to travel comfortably.
Mii dash geget weweni (and so truly, nicely) gashkitood bimosed (he was able to walk).
(1) For another version see Nos. 13 and 59.