Inshore Gugas

The recent storm had undermined a small dwelling of a tall one, which once sat on the edge of the cliff.  Its wall and floor boards now littered the beach; thus, Hantar and four of the tropers went about collecting the wood, making piles here and there which would be taken back to the lodges on a gathering sled.  There the wood would be stored and either used for building supports or burned in the kilns.

The morning sun had yet to rise and the little men moved about quickly to finish the cleanup.  The sled was soon on the beach, pulled by six other tropers.  These younger workers were known for their great strength and very quick speed.  It was this team that would be sent if there would ever be the need for a sea rescue.

As the last of the timber was tied down, Hantar heard the cries of Gugas (1).   These large white and black sea birds were highly regarded by the Nubbins, who delighted to watch the ‘sea divers’ plunge into the ocean after fish or squid.  They are majestic birds with a wingspan of up to 2 meters, and they spend their adult life fishing the sea. Gugas can spot fish below and dive from heights of up to 40 meters, and can swim to great depths, making them the most skilled and efficient of the ‘sea divers.’  

This particular group was much closer to the beach than was the usual custom and the little men could see silver flashes of fish breaking the surface as the birds pursued them.  The harsh call of the birds grew louder as the hunt intensified and soon dozens of the birds were diving one after another.  The cleanup party of Nubbins looked on, bringing their work to a halt; but as the crest of the sun appeared at the horizon, Hantar hailed for his crew to depart.  They bowed to the birds, thanking them for the morning display, and headed back toward the hollow where the sled could be pulled up the embankment.

-----------

(1) Guga is the name given in Celtic regions to the Northern Gannet, Morus bassanus.  This sea bird nests in very large colonies off the United Kingdom, Scotland, and Ireland.  In North America their nesting is limited to islands in the Gulf of Maine, Quebec and off the Newfoundland coast.  The Guga hunt, an annual event in the U.K., has been the subject of growing public outcry.  This hunt, steeped in tradition, results in the killing of several thousand gannet (guga) chicks each year.

The Great Storm Bird

Nubbin clan members know well in advance of weather changes. This is due to both many years of observation, and also their auditory system is sensitive to changes in the barometer. Thus, they feel oncoming storms well before they arrive.  

The sudden warmth brought by the southerly wind of the last few days had Hantar and his tropers out exploring the kames and kettle holes* of the north, checking the leaf buds of bayberry, beach plums, and other vegetation.  It was on their return from this scouting that a sudden sense of a storm came upon them. Hantar led the little patrol to the top of the bluff, and from here they could see the dark clouds of an approaching cold front far across the bay.  They could now hear the distant thunder, which they referred to as tarranu.**  Hantar recognized the building clouds and knew the oncoming storm would bring strong winds and much of the bright light which leads tarranu to the ground.   

The squall line was moving quickly and the little men ran back to the lodges to warn the others; but they had already sensed the change in pressure, and were preparing for the storm. Kettles and drying furs were brought in and lodge entrances were secured. Atnas took his staff and walked to the top of the little hill behind the lodge, and from here he scanned the skies, hoping that perhaps he might see the great bird, known to them only through legend, which held that a giant bird glided on the strong updrafts of storms. This bird was known to take sheep and other creatures, and it is told that even some children of the tall ones have been taken.  Nubbins have not seen the creature, but the natives who roam the woods to the west know of the giant bird, much larger than the spring eagle.***  

The black cloud line was almost above them when a great flash of light brought tarranu rolling to the ground. No bird could be seen, but an unknown piercing screech was heard by all just as the downdraft roared at them. Atnas scampered along the hill trying to see the source of the sound, but leaves were being picked up and blown ahead clouding the sky.  Several large pine branches near where he stood broke off and flew into the air as if they had wings, and it was then that he thought he saw the very large bird flying just above the nearby farm, but it was immediately gone into the low dark clouds. Another screech was heard, as tarranu crashed down around him. He stopped and looked back and could see that the front was passing as quickly as it had come. Then a cold wind came from the northwest, and the skies began to clear. As to the bird, Atnas could not be sure, and so it was not reported to the others.

-----------------------

*Kames & kettle holes are geologic terms for the small hills (kames) and associated small valleys (kettleholes) which were created as the ice retreated across the Cape landscape during the last great glacial period. These are very evident on the bay side of south Truro and elsewhere.

**The Nubbin term tarranu is very close to the Welsh term taranu, which means to thunder. See also Taranis.

***There are many stories and legends about this giant bird, known to many Native American tribes as the thunderbird, often depicted in totem poles, and usually associated with western and plains tribes. See the legend of the thunderbird.

The Placement of Stones

When the elders returned from the New Year’s procession, they took off their robes and stood waiting for Atnas to light the incense vessel, then bowed and sat at the table. Atnas took out the ledger, or passing book, as it is also called, and read the passage for the first full day of their New Year.

“Another round of suns is a gift given to us this day.  We are thankful for the time you have provided us. We stand ready to serve and shall honor all that lives among and around us.  Your charge we willingly accept, and we await the time when our life’s reward is to be there with you.  May this next traveling of suns be filled with the energy of life and the joy it bestows.  Let our gathering this eve be fruitful and may our decisions prove worthy of your blessing.”

He closed the book and went over to the lodge entrance.  He picked up the large round stone that sat just inside the narrow opening and placed it on the table before them.

“My brothers, the time for the placement of the stones is upon us; for we know that this, the first day of the suns is one which honors those who came before us.  Each of you this eve may choose a place to set your chosen stone, and here it will stay, a marker of your life, like those set long ago."

Each elder went to the rear of the room and picked up the stone they had choose the prior season of suns and brought it back to the table.  Atnas then swung the incense vessel over the collection, and said:

“Each stone is a record of life long ago, pressed into a unique formation. We honor those who walked the land before us. Let the setting of these symbols represent our respect for the time of their life and that which they passed on to us.”

When it was finally dark, the elders took their stones and marched to the sacred rock* just north of the great marsh.  Atnas climbed to the top of the bolder, held his arms to the sky, and bowed to the east.  He took his staff and upon his striking the rock three times, the elders set out, each in their own direction, each knowing where they would leave their stone and their mark.  

-------------------

*We believe this to be Enoch’s Rock or Doane Rock, as it is more commonly called.