In Indian Tents

Abby Langdon Alger (1850 - 1917)

A collection of the legends and stories of North Eastern Indians "In the summer of 1882 and 1883, I was associated with Charles G. Leland in the collection of the material for his book The Algonquin Legends of New England, published in 1884. I found the work so delightful, that I have gone on with it since, whenever I found myself in the neighborhood of Indians. The supply of legends and tales seems to be endless, one supplementing and complementing another, so that there may be a dozen versions of one tale, each containing something new. I have tried, in this little book, in every case, to bring these various versions into a single whole; though I scarcely hope to give my readers the pleasure which I found in hearing them from the Indian story-tellers. Only the very old men and women remember these stories now; and though they know that their legends will soon be buried with them, and forgotten, it is not easy task to induce them to repeat them. One may make half-a-dozen visits, tell his own best stories, and exert all his arts of persuasion, in vain, then stroll hopelessly by some day, to be called in to hear some marvellous bit of folklore. These old people have firm faith in witches, fairies, and giants of whom they tell; and any trace of amusement or incredulity would meet with quick indignation and reserve." - Abby L. Alger - Summary by Phil chenevert and the author

Genre(s): Myths, Legends & Fairy Tales

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 01 The Creation BettyB
00:04:05
Play 02 Grandfather Thunder BettyB
00:04:52
Play 03 The Fight of the Witches ToddHW
00:11:45
Play 04 Ūliske ToddHW
00:04:44
Play 05 Story of Wālūt Jules Hawryluk
00:15:16
Play 06 Old Snowball Kalynda
00:08:05
Play 07 Āl-wūs-ki-ni-gess, the Spirit of the Woods Hope
00:02:25
Play 08 M’Tēūlin, the Great Witch Hope
00:04:58
Play 09 Summer BettyB
00:05:23
Play 10 The Building of the Boats BettyB
00:05:09
Play 11 The Merman BettyB
00:07:32
Play 12 Story of Sturgeon Hope
00:06:44
Play 13 Grandfather Kiawākq’ Hope
00:04:12
Play 14 Old Governor John BettyB
00:04:12
Play 15 K’chī Gess’n, the Northwest Wind Kalynda
00:12:03
Play 16 Big Belly BettyB
00:04:16
Play 17 Chībaloch, the Spirit of the Air BettyB
00:02:37
Play 18 Story of Team, the Moose BettyB
00:05:48
Play 19 The Snake and the Porcupine BettyB
00:01:54
Play 20 Why the Rabbit’’s Nose is Split BettyB
00:02:47
Play 21 Story of the Squirrel Jules Hawryluk
00:27:20
Play 22 Wawbāban, the Northern Lights BettyB
00:04:29
Play 23 The Wood Worm’’s Story, Showing Why the Raven’’s Feathers are Black BettyB
00:07:40