PASSAMAQUODDY LITERATURE 383 



her v^ow. The Mohawk chief, however, would not Hsten to the 

 cruel counsel ^ of his men and gave the girl a longer time in 

 which to make up her mind, intending, as she was of so brave 

 a nature, to marry her to one of his best warriors, in order 

 that their children might become a race of heroes. When the 

 wandering lover returned and found his home in ashes and his 

 bride carried away, after singing his vengeance song," he gathered 

 together a mighty host of Wabaiiaki and started northward to 

 the Mohawk country, bent on avenging his tribe's defeat and his 

 own loss. After successfully surprising the chief Mohawk vil- 

 lage and slaughtering many of the offending tribe, he found and 

 rescued his loved one, who showed her gentle nature by inter- 

 ceding for the Mohawk prisoners whom her lover wished to 

 burn and torture. 



Barter by Clowns {iwlmiliigoii) Games. On long winter 

 evenings when the Passamaquoddies wished to pass away the 

 time, they frequently used to amuse themselves by engaging in 

 a game of barter which was carried on by clowns in the follow- 

 ing manner : Two parties assembled in separate wigwams \vhere 

 each dressed one of their number in an absurd manner as a nol- 

 jnihigoji or clown. This person, carrying some article of more 

 or less value, such as a pair of snow-shoes, a garment, etc., pro- 

 ceeded with the entire company to the wig\vam where the second 

 party was waiting, and with many absurd gestures and contor- 

 tions, offered to exchange the article in question for something 

 else, inviting bids like a modern auctioneer. The point of the 

 joke lay in the witty songs sung by the nolniiJiigon in praise ot 

 his wares which nearly always induced the listening company in 

 the second wigwam to pay for the article offered with another of 

 much greater value. Thus, a canoe was not uncommonly ex- 

 changed for a wooden spoon ! As soon as one exchange had 

 been effected, the first nobiiiJiigon and party retired to the orig- 

 inal wigwam, where they received a similar visit from the second 

 company. This simple amusement was often kept up far into 

 the night, the wittier nolmihigon and his company, of course, 

 coming out winners at the end of the game. 



• For ihe character of the Iroquois' see Prince '98, p. 377, note 10. 

 2 Gewajintowagon. 



