He overcomes her by
craft. His companions, instead of drawing him up by the rope, as agreed
on, leave him to perish, in order to possess themselves of a treasure.
There can be no doubt as to the Hindoo origin of this and many more
plots found among the red Indians. But a careful study of the Norse
story convinces me that the tale did not come to the Wabanaki through
any other than a Norse source.
Since writing out the foregoing poem, with the comment, I have received
from Louis Mitchell the Penobscot version of it. It is about twice as
long as the Micmac story, and differs from it very materially. In it
the hero conquers the goblin by getting possession of his red cap. In
the Norse tales the same incident occurs in different forms. He then
fights with a copper demon; also with one of silver and another of
gold. Each devil, while he is sharpening his sword, exclaims, "Hurry!
hurry! I am hungry!" The last of the three, the _Kche mitche-hant_,
or great devil, has three heads, which replace themselves when cut off;
but the hero summons a lion (_pee'tahlo_) and an eagle, who devour
each a head, when the demon, to save the last, surrenders. There are old
"aboriginal" incidents in this Passamaquoddy tale, but the European
elements predominate to such an extent as to call for the following
remark from the Indian writer:--
"This story is ended.
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