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The Path on the Rainbow, edited by George W. Cronyn, [1918], at sacred-texts.com


p. 161

ESKIMO SONGS

OXAITOQ'S SONG

I walk so long thus
    inland, inland.
I walk so long thus
    inland, inland, and inland.
I am not loved
    inland, inland.
I am not loved
    she is the greatest of all
    inland and inland.
They love best
    inland, inland.
They love best
    what I obtain
    inland and inland.
They love best
    inland, inland.
They love best
    the food that I bring
    inland and inland.

SUMMER SONG

Ajaja, it is pleasant,
    it is pleasant at last
    the great world
    when it is summer at last.
Ajaja, it is pleasant,
    it is pleasant at last
    the great world
    when our caribous begin to come.
Ajaja, they make great noise,

p. 162

    they make great noise,
    the brooks there in our country
    when it is summer.
Ajaja, this great water
    has spread over the ice;
    I cannot walk
    to the rock across there.
Ajaja, I feel sorry for them,
    I feel sorry for them,
    not being able to speak,
    these gulls.
Ajaja, I feel sorry for them,
    I feel sorry for them,
    not being able to speak,
    these ravens.
A great animal comes now;
    no one observes it;
    I keep it secret;
    the ravens do not tell.
Food like that I cannot obtain.
    but quickly I got
    little sculpins.
Ajaja, he has found a smooth slope,
    he has found a smooth slope,
    to burrow into,
    the bad old fox.


Next: Sednor and the Fulmar (Eskimo Ballad)