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.
UDĀWĀ WÄDITẠNK MASKI‘KI.
ODAAWAA WEDITANG MASHKIKI.
AN OTTAWA OBTAINS MEDICINE.
Narrated by Penesi — Series 2 (Nos. 4–43), Fort William (per Jones Part II Introduction p. ix; not credited on the story page itself).
from Ojibwa Texts collected by William Jones (1919).
(1) Ningudingsa kīwäⁿ Udāwāg kī∙i∙dāwạg ạnīcinābēg,—päjik inini päjikayä i‘kwä; nīⁿjîn gayä abînōdcīyạn unīdcānesiwān. Ningudingidạc wänāgucininîg kägō unūndānāwa mạdwäsininig, mīdạc kīsägesiwād. Mīnawādec wayâbạng wänāgucig unūndānāwa mīnawa mạdwäsininig, nawạdcidạc päcu mạdwäsīnini; mēdạc kägä‘t sägiswād. Mīnawādec wayābạninig wänāgucig unūndānawa ā‘pidcidạc pä´cu; ā‘pidcidạc sägisiwạg; pîsān ki∙a∙yāwạg. Wayābạngidạc mī∙i∙we wâbạmāwād ạnicinābän pidāsạmosäni; kägōn upîmōndān ‘aᵉaᵘ ạnicinābä,—piwābi‘k pạgạmāgạn, asāwābi‘k. “Ā, bōjo, bōjo,¹ nīdci!” udigōn īni´ᵘ pạdạgwicininid.
Ningoding sa giiwenh Odaawaag gii-daawag anishinaabeg,—bezhig inini bezhig gaye ikwe; niinzhin gaye abinoojiiyan oniijaanisiwaan. Ningoding idash wenaagoshininig gegoo onoondaanaawaa madwesininig, mii dash gii-zegiziwaad. Miinawaa dash weyaabang wenaagoshig onoondaanaawaa miinawaa madwesininig, nawaj idash beshoo madwesinini; mii dash geget zegiziwaad. Miinawaa dash wayaabaninig wenaagoshig onoondaanaawaa aapiji dash beshoo; aapiji dash zegiziwag; bizaan gii-ayaawag. Weyaabang idash mii iwe waabamaawaad anishinaaben bidaasamosenid; gegoon obimoondaan a’aw anishinaabe,—biiwaabik bagamaagan, ozaawaabik. “Aa, boozhoo, boozhoo, niijii!” odigoon iniw bedagwishininid.
Now, once on a time, they say, the Ottawa people were abiding there, — one man and a woman; and two babes, their children. And once in the evening they heard the sound of something making a noise, whereupon they became afraid. And on the evening of the next day they heard the sound going on again, even nearer was the sound being made; whereupon truly they were afraid. And so on the evening of the next day they heard the noise ever so close; then they were very much afraid; quietly they remained. And on the next day they then saw a person come walking along; something in the hand the person had as he came, — a war-club of metal, copper. “Ah, good day, good day,¹ my friend!” they were told by him on his arrival.
Ningoding sa giiwenh (now, once on a time, they say), Odaawaag gii-daawag anishinaabeg (the Ottawa people were abiding there),—bezhig inini bezhig gaye ikwe (one man and one woman); niinzhin gaye abinoojiiyan (and two babes), oniijaanisiwaan (their children). Ningoding idash wenaagoshininig (and once in the evening), gegoo onoondaanaawaa madwesininig (they heard the sound of something), mii dash gii-zegiziwaad (whereupon they were afraid). Miinawaa dash weyaabang wenaagoshig (and on the evening of the next day), onoondaanaawaa miinawaa madwesininig (they heard the sound again), nawaj idash beshoo madwesinini (even nearer was the sound); mii dash geget zegiziwaad (then truly they were afraid). Miinawaa dash wayaabaninig wenaagoshig (and on the next evening), onoondaanaawaa aapiji dash beshoo (they heard it ever so close); aapiji dash zegiziwag (very much were they afraid); bizaan gii-ayaawag (quietly they remained). Weyaabang idash (and on the next day), mii iwe waabamaawaad anishinaaben (they saw a person), bidaasamosenid (come walking hither); gegoon obimoondaan a’aw anishinaabe (something on his back that person bore),—biiwaabik bagamaagan (a war-club of metal), ozaawaabik (of copper). “Aa, boozhoo, boozhoo, niijii!” (ah, good day, good day, my friend!), odigoon iniw bedagwishininid (they were told by the one arriving).
¹ The Ojibwa form of salutation is from the French bon jour. — Jones’s note as printed, p278 foot; the marker prints at bōjo in the Ojibwe and at “good day,¹” in the English. Per M., 2026: the greeting comes from Nanaboozhoo. Jones’s French derivation is preserved above as his 1919 claim and is not imported (Translation Ethics — the corpus and its living speakers outrank the collector’s etymology).
(2) Mīdac pạgidōndạng, mī∙i∙dac kistcimạdwäsininig; mīnạngwanạ∙i∙we i‘kᵘ kānōndạmowād, ā‘pictisa kusigwạnini. Mī∙i∙dạc kī‘pīndigät îmāⁿ wīgiwāming. Ogī∙ạ∙cạmāwān idạc māndāminạn. Kā∙i∙ckwāwīsinit idạc ogạnōnān īni´ᵘ kā∙u∙idisād: “Kāwīnina, nīdci, kidāwīdcīwēsī? Ō witi nindijā kistci∙a∙gāming; mī∙i∙widi ayāmạga‘k mạski‘ki ạnōdc änō∙ā∙däg,” i‘kido.
Mii dash bagidoondang, mii dash gichi-madwesininig; miinangwana iwe iko gaa-noondamowaad, aapiji sa gozigwaninig. Mii dash gii-biindiged imaa wiigiwaaming. Ogii-ashamaawaan idash mandaaminan. Gaa-ishkwaa-wiisinid idash oganoonaan iniw gaa-odisaad: “Gaawiin ina, niijii, gidaa-wiijiiwesii? O’owidi nindizhaa gichi-agaaming; mii iwidi ayaamagak mashkiki anooj enaadeg,” ikido.
And so, when he put down his burden, it then made a great noise; and that was the thing which they had been hearing all the while, it was exceedingly heavy. And then he entered the wigwam there. Now he was given corn to eat. And after he was done eating, he addressed him to whom he had come: “Will you not, my friend, come along with me? I am going from here across the sea; for over there is a medicine which is good for all kinds of ills,” he said.
Mii dash bagidoondang (and when he put down his burden), mii dash gichi-madwesininig (it made a great noise); miinangwana iwe iko gaa-noondamowaad (so that was what they had been hearing all the while), aapiji sa gozigwaninig (so exceedingly heavy it was). Mii dash gii-biindiged imaa wiigiwaaming (and then he entered the wigwam there). Ogii-ashamaawaan idash mandaaminan (they fed him corn). Gaa-ishkwaa-wiisinid idash (and after he had eaten), oganoonaan iniw gaa-odisaad (he addressed the one to whom he had come): “Gaawiin ina, niijii, gidaa-wiijiiwesii? (will you not, my friend, come along with me?), O’owidi nindizhaa gichi-agaaming (over there I am going, across the great water); mii iwidi ayaamagak mashkiki (over there is a medicine), anooj enaadeg (potent for all kinds of ills),” ikido (he said).
(3) “Ānīj kawīdciwinisa´.”
“Aaniish, giga-wiijiiwin isa.”
“Of course I will go with you.”
“Aaniish (of course), giga-wiijiiwin isa (I will go with you).”
(4) Mī∙i∙dạc wayābạninik kīmādcāwād. A‘pī∙i∙dạc wänāgucik käbäciwād ogībạgidciwäbinān ‘iᵉi´ᵘ kistcipạgạmāgạn, ā‘pitci kistcikijīwäwäsin. Kînwänj ki∙ạ∙nipîmosäwạg, mädāsugunạgạdinig idạc mī∙i∙´ᵘ kīmạdābīwād kistcikitcigạming. Mī∙i∙dạc kā∙i∙ji∙o∙ji‘towād pîndasāgạn wī∙a∙jāwa∙o∙wād ki‘tcigạming; ạbwīn gayä ogi∙o∙ji‘tōnāwan wā∙a∙bạdci‘tōwād. Mīdạc kībōsiwād; pạgạmāgạn gayä obōzi‘tōnāwa.
Mii dash wayaabaninig gii-maajaawaad. Apii idash wenaagoshig gabeshiwaad ogii-bagijiwebinaan i’iw gichi-bagamaagan, aapiji gichi-gizhiiwewesin. Ginwenzh gii-ani-bimosewag, medaasogonagadinig idash mii i’iw gii-madaabiiwaad gichi-gichigamiing. Mii dash gaa-izhi-ozhitoowaad bindasaagan wii-azhawa’owaad gichigamiing; abwiin gaye ogii-ozhitoonaawan waa-aabajitoowaad. Mii dash gii-boziwaad; bagamaagan gaye obozitoonaawaa.
And so on the morrow they set out. And in the evening, when they camped, he flung down the huge war-club, making an exceedingly loud noise. A long while they walked as they went, and on the tenth day they came out upon the great sea. Thereupon they built a raft in order to cross the sea; paddles too they made, which they were to use. Accordingly they embarked; and the war-club they also put aboard.
Mii dash wayaabaninig gii-maajaawaad (and on the morrow they set out). Apii idash wenaagoshig gabeshiwaad (and in the evening when they camped), ogii-bagijiwebinaan i’iw gichi-bagamaagan (he flung down the huge war-club), aapiji gichi-gizhiiwewesin (an exceedingly loud noise it made). Ginwenzh gii-ani-bimosewag (a long while they walked along), medaasogonagadinig idash (and on the tenth day), mii i’iw gii-madaabiiwaad gichi-gichigamiing (they came out upon the great sea). Mii dash gaa-izhi-ozhitoowaad bindasaagan (thereupon they made a raft), wii-azhawa’owaad gichigamiing (to cross the sea by water); abwiin gaye ogii-ozhitoonaawan (paddles too they made), waa-aabajitoowaad (which they were to use). Mii dash gii-boziwaad (accordingly they embarked); bagamaagan gaye obozitoonaawaa (and the war-club they put aboard).
(5) Mēdạc kīmādcāwād, kwaya‘k wâbạnung ijāwạg. Kāwīn kī∙u∙ndci nibāsīwạg, kägạbädibi‘k kîstcitcimäwag; nībawa tạsing kī∙ạ∙nitibi‘kạdini. Ningudingidạc kigijäb mī∙i∙we wâbạmāwād a´wīya nạmạdạpinit, ki‘tcima‘kwạn. “Misa´∙a∙we äjāyān,” i‘kido ‘aᵉaᵘ Odāwa. “Mī∙a∙´we näyābi‘kạng ‘iᵉi´ᵘ mạckimut, ạnōdcigägo äno∙ā∙däg mạski‘ki îmāⁿ pīndä. Nībawa ạnincinābäg onisigowān ānawi‘kwạdcidōwād ‘iᵉi´ᵘ mạskimud. Kīcpîn kästcigîcā‘tägin mī‘ku∙i∙´we nibāt. Mīgisạpi‘kạn unābi‘kān, mī∙i∙´māⁿ ta‘kupidäg ‘iᵉi´ᵘ maskimut. Kīcpîn nîbāt mī∙i∙´ᵘ kädijināsi‘kawạg; ningagītābīginān ‘iᵉi´ᵘ mīgisạpi‘kạn. Mī∙u∙māⁿ āgumudā! pānimā wâbạng kīgadijāmin.”
Mii dash gii-maajaawaad, gwayak waabanong izhaawag. Gaawiin gii-onji-nibaasiiwag, gegabe-dibik gii-gichi-jiimewag; niibawa dasing gii-ani-dibikadini. Ningoding idash gigizheb mii iwe waabamaawaad awiya namadabinid, gichi-makwan. “Mii sa a’awe ezhaayaan,” ikido a’aw Odaawaa. “Mii a’awe neyaabikang i’iw mashkimod, anooj gegoo enaadeg mashkiki imaa biinde. Niibawa anishinaabeg onisigowaan aanawi-gwajitoowaad i’iw mashkimod. Giishpin gechi-gizhaategin mii iko iwe nibaad. Miigis-apikan onaabikaan, mii imaa dakobideg i’iw mashkimod. Giishpin nibaad mii i’iw ged-izhi-naazikawag; ninga-giitaabiiginaan i’iw miigis-apikan. Mii omaa aagomodaa! baanimaa waabang giga-dizhaamin.”
Thereupon they started away, straight towards the dawn they went. Nowhere they slept, during the whole of every night hard they paddled; many a night the journey took. And it was one morning when they saw some creature that was seated, a huge Bear. “To that one yonder am I going,” said the Ottawa. “Yonder being has about his neck the bag, and the medicine that can heal all sorts of ills is there inside. Many people have been slain in a vain attempt to get that bag. Whenever the weather is extremely warm, then is when he generally sleeps. A tump-line (studded) with wampum beads he has about his neck, and from there hangs the bag. When he falls asleep, then shall I go to him; I shall remove from him the tump-line of wampum beads. Let us go floating along! not till to-morrow shall we go there.”
Mii dash gii-maajaawaad (thereupon they started away), gwayak waabanong izhaawag (straight towards the dawn they went). Gaawiin gii-onji-nibaasiiwag (nowhere did they sleep), gegabe-dibik gii-gichi-jiimewag (the whole of every night hard they paddled); niibawa dasing gii-ani-dibikadini (many a night came on). Ningoding idash gigizheb (and one morning), mii iwe waabamaawaad awiya namadabinid (they saw some being that was seated), gichi-makwan (a huge Bear). “Mii sa a’awe ezhaayaan (to that one yonder am I going),” ikido a’aw Odaawaa (said the Ottawa). “Mii a’awe neyaabikang i’iw mashkimod (yonder being wears the bag about his neck), anooj gegoo enaadeg mashkiki (medicine potent for all sorts of ills), imaa biinde (is there inside). Niibawa anishinaabeg onisigowaan (many people have been slain by him), aanawi-gwajitoowaad i’iw mashkimod (vainly trying for that bag). Giishpin gechi-gizhaategin (whenever it is extremely hot), mii iko iwe nibaad (that is when he generally sleeps). Miigis-apikan onaabikaan (a tump-line of miigis beads he wears about the neck), mii imaa dakobideg i’iw mashkimod (and there is tied the bag). Giishpin nibaad (when he sleeps), mii i’iw ged-izhi-naazikawag (then shall I go to him); ninga-giitaabiiginaan i’iw miigis-apikan (I shall draw off him the bead tump-line). Mii omaa aagomodaa! (here let us float!), baanimaa waabang giga-dizhaamin (not till to-morrow shall we go there).”
(6) Mī∙i∙dạc äjisạgạswāwād. “Tawī kitcimīja‘kwạt wâbạng!” i‘kido ‘aᵉaᵘ Udāwa.
Mii dash ezhi-zagaswaawaad. “Daa-wii-gichi-mizhakwad waabang!” ikido a’aw Odaawaa.
Thereupon they began smoking. “May there be a very clear sky to-morrow!” said the Ottawa.
Mii dash ezhi-zagaswaawaad (thereupon they smoked). “Daa-wii-gichi-mizhakwad waabang! (may there be a very clear sky to-morrow!; the daa-wii- optative)” ikido a’aw Odaawaa (said the Ottawa).
(7) Kägä‘t idạc weyābạninik kistcimija‘kwạtini. Mē∙i∙dạc wâbạmāwād īni´ᵘ kistcima‘kwạni; tibîskōgu āna‘kwạd kī∙u∙mbạgōdäg mī∙i∙we äjināgusininit, ä‘pī‘tci mindidonit. Mī∙i∙dạc äskạm päcu´ kī∙ạ∙ni∙i∙jāwād. Kāwīn kawicîmosī nîbād, mi∙ä∙‘tạgu nawạgi‘kwänit. Ā‘pitci sägis ‘aᵉaᵘ päjîk ạnicinābä. Cigwạdạc änināwa‘kwänig, mī∙i∙´ᵘ wâbạmāwād nawạgi‘kwäninit. “‘Aᵘ, nīdci, änigu‘k tcīmän!”
Geget idash weyaabaninig gichi-mizhakwadini. Mii dash waabamaawaad iniw gichi-makwan; dibishkoo go aanakwad gii-ombagoodeg mii iwe ezhinaagozininid, aapiji mindidonid. Mii dash eshkam beshoo gii-ani-izhaawaad. Gaawiin gawishimosii nibaad, mii eta go nawagikwenid. Aapiji zegizi a’aw bezhig anishinaabe. Zhigwa dash eni-naawakweg, mii i’iw waabamaawaad nawagikwenininid. “Aw, niijii, enigok jiimen!”
And truly on the morrow there was a very clear sky. Thereupon they beheld the great Bear; like a cloud that hangs above, such was the look of the being, ever so huge was (the Bear). Accordingly nearer they went towards (him). He did not recline while sleeping, he simply bowed the head. Very much afraid was one of the men. And when it was about noon, then they beheld (the Bear) letting his head droop farther over. “Now, then, my friend, paddle hard!”
Geget idash weyaabaninig (and truly on the morrow), gichi-mizhakwadini (there was a very clear sky). Mii dash waabamaawaad iniw gichi-makwan (thereupon they beheld the great Bear); dibishkoo go aanakwad gii-ombagoodeg (just like a cloud hung aloft), mii iwe ezhinaagozininid (such was his look), aapiji mindidonid (ever so huge was he). Mii dash eshkam beshoo gii-ani-izhaawaad (and nearer and nearer they went). Gaawiin gawishimosii nibaad (he did not lie down while sleeping), mii eta go nawagikwenid (he simply bowed the head). Aapiji zegizi a’aw bezhig anishinaabe (very much afraid was the one man). Zhigwa dash eni-naawakweg (and when it was coming on noon), mii i’iw waabamaawaad nawagikwenininid (they beheld him letting his head droop farther). “Aw, niijii, enigok jiimen! (now, then, my friend, paddle hard!)”
(8) Mēdạc kīmijạgāwād; awidạc Odāwa kī∙ạ∙nigạbāpa‘tō; äniwä‘kîgu nō‘pîmīng nạmạdạbiwạn mē∙i∙dạc kī∙ạ∙nināsi‘kawād ‘aᵉaᵘ Odāwa. Mē∙i∙dạc kidäpinạng ‘iᵉiᵘ mīgisapi‘kạn kī‘kītābīginād. Iᵉiwädạc unindcādābigisînini, awidạc Odāwa pä‘kā ugi∙u∙bini‘känān. Mī∙i∙dạc kā‘pijināsibibạ‘twāndạng ‘iᵉi´ᵘ maskimud, mīdạc kīposi‘tōwāg. “ ‘Aᵘ nīdci, mādcādāwe! Änigu‘k tcīmän! Kīcpîn wâbạminạng kīgạnisigunān. Kīcpînä‘ta kībiskobicinạng kāwin ningut kigạdodāgusīnān.” Cigwạdạc äniwä‘k wāsa´ äyāwād mī∙i∙´ᵘ kīgitod Odāwa: “ ‘Aᵉäᵃ! abāpînisiwāgạn, nīdci. Āja kīwâbạmigunān.”
Mii dash gii-mizhagaawaad; aw idash Odaawaa gii-ani-gabaabatoo; eniwek igo noopiming namadabiwan mii dash gii-ani-naazikawaad a’aw Odaawaa. Mii dash gedaapinang i’iw miigis-apikan gii-giitaabiiginaad. Igiw dash oninjaadaabigisinini, aw idash Odaawaa bekaa ogii-ombinikenaan. Mii dash gaa-bi-izhi-naazibiibatoondang i’iw mashkimod, mii dash gii-bozitoowaad. “ Aw niijii, maajaadaa we! Enigok jiimen! Giishpin waabaminang giga-nisigonaan. Giishpin eta gii-biskobizhinang gaawiin ningod giga-doodaagosiinaan.” Zhigwa dash eniwek waasa eyaawaad mii i’iw giigidod Odaawaa: “ A’aa! abaapinisiwaagan, niijii. Aazha gii-waabamigonaan.”
Thereupon they drew up to the shore (in their raft); then the Ottawa leaped on land and ran up from the shore; at some distance away in the woods was (the Bear) seated when the Ottawa went up to him. And when within reaching-distance of the tump-line of wampum beads, he removed it from him. Now, (the Bear’s) hand¹ was fastened (to the tump-line), and so the Ottawa softly lifted the (Bear’s) hand. Whereupon he then ran down to the shore with the bag in his hand, and then they put it aboard. “Now, my friend, let us be off! Paddle hard! If he sees us, we shall be slain by him. If only we get out of sight, then we shall not have anything done to us.” Now, after they had gotten some distance away, then said the Ottawa: “Alas! it is all up (for us) now, my friend. Already are we seen by him.”
Mii dash gii-mizhagaawaad (thereupon they came to land); aw idash Odaawaa gii-ani-gabaabatoo (then the Ottawa leaped off and ran up); eniwek igo noopiming (at some distance inland), namadabiwan (sat he; the Bear), mii dash gii-ani-naazikawaad a’aw Odaawaa (and up to him went the Ottawa). Mii dash gedaapinang i’iw miigis-apikan (then taking the bead tump-line), gii-giitaabiiginaad (he drew it off him). Igiw dash oninjaadaabigisinini (and it slid down upon his paws; parse flagged), aw idash Odaawaa bekaa ogii-ombinikenaan (and the Ottawa carefully lifted it free with his hand). Mii dash gaa-bi-izhi-naazibiibatoondang i’iw mashkimod (then down to the water he came running with the bag), mii dash gii-bozitoowaad (and they put it aboard). “ Aw niijii, maajaadaa we! (now, my friend, let us be off!), Enigok jiimen! (paddle hard!), Giishpin waabaminang giga-nisigonaan (if he sees us he will slay us). Giishpin eta gii-biskobizhinang (if he only …-s us; stem flagged), gaawiin ningod giga-doodaagosiinaan (nothing will be done to us).” Zhigwa dash eniwek waasa eyaawaad (and when they were some distance away), mii i’iw giigidod Odaawaa (then spoke the Ottawa): “ A’aa! abaapinisiwaagan, niijii (alas, my poor friend!). Aazha gii-waabamigonaan (already he has seen us).”
⭐ Jones’s English for this passage was NOT PRINTED: printed p283 of the 1919 edition carries only seven lines and stops mid-word at “at some dis-”; the remainder of the page is blank, and the English resumes at printed p285 with §12’s “Therefore were they safe.” Checked 2026-06-12 in three witnesses: the vault’s scan source (leaf absent), the Harvard/Google digitization (page captured, lower two-thirds blank), and an independent copy consulted by M. (same seven lines, same blank). The earlier collation marks the page “MISSING PAGE.” The defect is the edition’s, not the scans’. The Ojibwe text is complete and pixel-verified; from here through §11 the gloss line is the only English, and it is this project’s, not Jones’s. CORRECTED 2026-09-02, page-verification pass (Lane B). The claim above is wrong about WHERE the defect sits: printed p283’s ENGLISH is not missing from the 1919 edition, it is missing from the primary bitonal scan layer both witnesses relied on. The project’s own reference PDF (ojibwatextscoll00unkngoog.pdf, produced by “Google Books PDF Converter (rel 2 28/7/09)” per its own embedded metadata) carries a SECOND embedded image on this exact page — xref 1844, a 1728×2044 JPXDecode (JPEG2000) grayscale capture, distinct from the primary 3672×5576 JBIG2 bitonal scan (xref 1843) that is blank below “at some dis-” and is the layer both archive.org’s JP2 (leaf 297, re-fetched and confirmed blank 2026-09-02) and the earlier check rendered. Composited (pymupdf’s default full-page render draws both layers), the page is COMPLETE: a genuine photographic capture — visible paper grain, natural ink density, no digital-fabrication artifacts — picks up exactly at “tance away in the woods…” and carries the rest of the story’s English through §11 plus Jones’s own footnote 1 (“The Bear is referred to in terms of a human being, hence ‘hand’ instead of ‘paw.’”), all cross-checked narratively coherent against the page-verified Ojibwe of §8–§11. This is a scan/OCR-pipeline defect on ONE embedded layer, not an edition defect — restored below per the register’s evidence rule (printed page outranks a prior scan-layer check). Jones’s footnote 1 is carried at the word “hand¹” above.
(9) Mī∙i∙dạc pa∙i∙jināzibīnit pīni‘kwäniwạn nibīng, mīdạc wī‘kubōnigowād; mīdạc ajäwī‘kuskāwād.
Mii dash ba-izhi-naazibiinid biinikweniwan nibiing, mii dash wiikobonigowaad; mii dash azhe-wiikoshkaawaad.
And then (the Bear) came down to the shore (and) thrust his neck beneath the water, whereupon they were drawn back by his sucking the water; and so backwards they moved.
Mii dash ba-izhi-naazibiinid (then down to the water he came; the Bear), biinikweniwan nibiing (head bent down to the water; parse flagged), mii dash wiikobonigowaad (and they were drawn back toward him; inverse — the pull of his drinking); mii dash azhe-wiikoshkaawaad (backward were they dragged).
(10) Odāwādec odābiskubidōn pạgạmāgạn mīdạc änād uwīdciwâgạnạn: “Wäwäni odā‘kän.” Wīnidạc Odāwa kīnībawi nīgān pindisāgạning ta‘kunạng upạgumāgan. Kwaya‘k ijisäwạg imāⁿ ma‘kwạn äyānit. Ā‘pī∙i∙dạc pägạmisäwād îmāⁿ ma‘kwạn udōning, mī∙i∙´ᵘ pa‘ki‘täwād ustigwānining; mī∙i∙dạc kīkīwạskwägạnāmād.
Odaawaa dash odaabiskobidoon bagamaagan mii dash enaad owiijiwaaganan: “Weweni odaaken.” Wiin idash Odaawaa gii-niibawi niigaan bindasaaganing dakonang obagamaagan. Gwayak izhisewag imaa makwan eyaanid. Apii idash begamisewaad imaa makwan odooning, mii i’iw bakite’waad oshtigwaaning; mii dash gii-giiwashkwe-ganaamaad.
So the Ottawa untied his war-club, and then said to his companion: “Carefully steer (the raft).” And the Ottawa himself stood up at the front of the raft, holding his war-club. Swiftly went they straight to the place where the Bear was. And when they came swiftly up to the Bear’s mouth, then he struck him over the head; whereupon he knocked him unconscious.
Odaawaa dash odaabiskobidoon bagamaagan (and the Ottawa unbound his war-club), mii dash enaad owiijiwaaganan (and said to his companion): “Weweni odaaken (steer with care).” Wiin idash Odaawaa gii-niibawi niigaan bindasaaganing (he, the Ottawa, stood at the front of the raft), dakonang obagamaagan (holding his war-club). Gwayak izhisewag imaa makwan eyaanid (straight they sped to where the Bear was). Apii idash begamisewaad imaa makwan odooning (and when they came rushing at the Bear’s very mouth), mii i’iw bakite’waad oshtigwaaning (he struck him on the head); mii dash gii-giiwashkwe-ganaamaad (and knocked him dizzy with the blow).
(11) Mī∙i∙dec mīnawa kisisāgidcidciwạng iᵘ nibi. Mī∙i∙dạc mīnawa wāsa´ kī∙i∙nâbuguwād. Änābiwādidac ma‘kwạn ayānit mī∙i∙´ᵘ gī∙ạ∙nibạzigwīnit, nō‘pîming ki∙ạ∙ni∙i∙jānit. “ ‘Aᵘ, nīdci, änigu‘k tcīmän! mīsa´ kāwīn mīnawā kīgạbabāmänimigusinān.”
Mii dash miinawaa gii-zaagijijiwang iw nibi. Mii dash miinawaa waasa gii-inaabogowaad. Enaabiwaad idash makwan ayaanid mii i’iw gii-ani-bazigwiinid, noopiming gii-ani-izhaanid. “ Aw, niijii, enigok jiimen! mii sa gaawiin miinawaa giga-babaamenimigosinaan.”
Thereupon backward out of his mouth flowed the water. And then again a long way off they floated. And when they looked to see where the Bear was, then was he getting up, off to the woods was he making his way. “Now, my friend, paddle hard! for we shall never again be bothered by him.”
Mii dash miinawaa gii-zaagijijiwang iw nibi (then out rushed the water once more), mii dash miinawaa waasa gii-inaabogowaad (and far away again were they carried on the flood; -aabogo: by current). Enaabiwaad idash makwan ayaanid (and as they looked back to where the Bear was), mii i’iw gii-ani-bazigwiinid (up he rose), noopiming gii-ani-izhaanid (and off inland he went). “ Aw, niijii, enigok jiimen! (now, my friend, paddle hard!), mii sa gaawiin miinawaa giga-babaamenimigosinaan (for never again will he trouble us).”
(12) Mīsa kīpimādisiwād. Mī∙i∙dạc kī‘pikīwäwād pīnic kī‘pimijạgāwād gayädạc kī‘pipîmosäwād. A‘pī∙i∙dạc kā‘tạgwicinowād îmāⁿ ka∙u∙ndciwīdcīndiwād mī∙i∙´ᵘ kā∙i∙jiwâbạndạmowād ‘iᵉiᵘ maski‘ki ạnōdc änwādäg. Ābi‘tadac ogīmīnān uwīdciwāgạnạn gayä wīndạc ābi‘ta ogi∙a∙yān. Mīdạc änād: “Mīsa´ uwä kädayāyạn gayä nīndạc uᵉuwe ningạdayān. Nādowä¹ gīn gigạtigo, nīndạc Odāwa ningạtigo. Kīnāwind ā‘pitci kīgạgiki‘kändāmin maski‘ki.”
Mii sa gii-bimaadiziwaad. Mii dash gii-bi-giiwewaad biinish gii-bi-mizhagaawaad gaye dash gii-bi-bimosewaad. Apii idash gaa-dagwishinowaad imaa gaa-onji-wiijiindiwaad mii i’iw gaa-izhi-waabandamowaad i’iw mashkiki anooj enwaadeg. Aabita dash ogii-miinaan owiijiwaaganan gaye wiin dash aabita ogii-ayaan. Mii dash enaad: “Mii sa owe ged-ayaayan gaye niin dash o’owe ninga-dayaan. Naadowe giin giga-digo, niin dash Odaawaa ninga-digo. Giinawind aapiji giga-gikendaamin mashkiki.”
Therefore were they safe. And then homeward they came, (keeping on) till they came ashore, and where they took their time as they walked. And when they arrived at the place from whence they had started away together, then they beheld the medicine that was good for every ill. And half he gave to his companion, and for himself half he retained. And then he said to him: “Now, this shall you yourself have, and this will I myself have. An Adder¹ shall you be called, and I an Ottawa will be called. You and I shall have great knowledge of medicine.”
Mii sa gii-bimaadiziwaad (therefore were they alive-safe). Mii dash gii-bi-giiwewaad (and homeward they came), biinish gii-bi-mizhagaawaad (till they came ashore), gaye dash gii-bi-bimosewaad (and walked their way back). Apii idash gaa-dagwishinowaad (and when they arrived) imaa gaa-onji-wiijiindiwaad (at the place whence they had set out together), mii i’iw gaa-izhi-waabandamowaad i’iw mashkiki (then they beheld the medicine), anooj enwaadeg (potent for every ill). Aabita dash ogii-miinaan owiijiwaaganan (half he gave his companion), gaye wiin dash aabita ogii-ayaan (and half he kept himself). Mii dash enaad (and he said to him): “Mii sa owe ged-ayaayan (this shall you have), gaye niin dash o’owe ninga-dayaan (and this shall I have). Naadowe giin giga-digo (an Adder shall you be called), niin dash Odaawaa ninga-digo (and I an Ottawa shall be called). Giinawind aapiji giga-gikendaamin mashkiki (you and I shall know medicine deeply).”
¹ It is said that this was the name of an Iroquois people living on an island somewhere east (of the Ojibwa), the name being given to them because the place abounded in adders; and that all the Iroquois became known by that name. — note 1 of the printed 284/285 spread, its text split across both page feet; the marker prints at “An Adder¹” in the English.
(13) Mīdạc kiwâwīndạmowād käda∙ī∙nowātäg ạnōdci gägo mạski‘ki. A‘pī∙i∙dạc ka‘kīna kawāwīndạmowād kädạnābạdạg ạnōdci gägo maski‘ki, mī∙i∙´ᵘ kā∙i∙jipa‘kawīnidiwäd.
Mii dash gii-waawiindamowaad ged-inwaadeg anooj gegoo mashkiki. Apii idash gakina gaa-waawiindamowaad ged-anaabadak anooj gegoo mashkiki, mii i’iw gaa-izhi-bakewinidiwaad.
Thereupon they named what all kinds of medicine shall be used for. And when they had finished naming all the various medicines, they then separated from each other.
Mii dash gii-waawiindamowaad (thereupon they named one by one) ged-inwaadeg anooj gegoo mashkiki (what every kind of medicine shall be potent for). Apii idash gakina gaa-waawiindamowaad (and when they had named them all), ged-anaabadak anooj gegoo mashkiki (what each medicine shall be used for), mii i’iw gaa-izhi-bakewinidiwaad (then they parted from each other; reciprocal).
(14) Mīsa´ iᵘ ä‘kōsid.
Mii sa iw ekoozid.
That is the end (of the story).
Mii sa iw ekoozid (that is as far as it goes — the end of the story).