In the Passamaquoddy
version nothing is said about a moose. A detailed account of the
difficulty attending the proper analysis of this tradition will be
found at the end of this chapter.] He had a sister who attended to his
wants, and it was known that any girl who could see him might marry
him. Therefore there were indeed few who did not make the trial, but it
was long ere one succeeded:
And it passed in this wise. Towards evening, when the Invisible One was
supposed to be returning home, his sister would walk with any girls who
came down to the shore of the lake. She indeed could see her brother,
since to her he was always visible, and beholding him she would say to
her companions, "Do you see my brother?" And then they would mostly
answer, "Yes," though some said, "Nay,"--_alt telovejich, aa
alttelooejik_. And then the sister would say, "_Cogoowa'
wiskobooksich_?" "Of what is his shoulder-strap made?" But as some
tell the tale, she would, inquire other things, such as, "What is his
moose-runner's haul?" or, "With what does he draw his sled?" And they
would reply, "A strip of rawhide," or "A green withe," or something of
the kind. And then she, knowing they had not told the truth, would
reply quietly, "Very well, let us return to the wigwam!"
And when they entered the place she would bid them not to take a
certain seat, for it was his.
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