It is Often Hard to See Danger

Resmis and Dipuc spent the early morning picking ticks off the pulling deer.  Wood ticks are common to them; but the tiny black-legged ticks now frequently found on the animals are becoming much more prevalent in the forest margins, and are likely being brought to the area by migrating birds.  Although Nubbins are not affected by the ticks, as oil in their skin repels them, they are concerned by the number of ticks found on just one deer.   The deer do not seem to exhibit symptoms of illness, yet they know that the ticks carry a disease, a disease which has become more common among the tall ones living nearby.   It is said one child of the tall ones presently cannot walk because of the illness, and is being pushed around in a cart with wheels.  Knowing this is bothersome to the Nubbins, for they usually can find herbal remedies for diseases, even those suffered only by the tall ones, but not in this case.  

Though the elders have long studied the ticks, both adult and nymph stages, they have not found anything apparent on which to build a recipe.  They have learned that the ticks have a two-year life cycle, and like all species of ticks, they require a blood meal to progress to each successive stage in their life cycle. They also have concluded that the disease is likely associated with the white-footed mouse, and it appears the ticks are infected when feeding on this particular rodent.  The disease is then passed on when biting to achieve another blood meal for the next life stage.  This, they are fairly sure of.  Because it is so small, the bite of the nymph is most likely the cause of the disease.  The best way for the tall ones to avoid it is to keep the ticks off their skin and to stay out of areas where the ticks are prevalent.  

The elders have walked the paths frequented by the tall ones, and here they have found the ticks in great numbers.  So small are the dangerous infected nymphs, they can hardly be seen; hanging on the grass, waiting to hitch a ride to get a blood meal on whatever comes along: a deer, a dog, a bird or a tall one.

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 This black legged tick (Ixodes scapularis) is also known as the deer tick.  Ticks are not insects, but are members of the arachnid family.  Adults are about the size of a sesame or apple seed. Nymphs are much smaller about the size of a poppy seed.  Nymphs are active during the late spring and summer months (May to July) and adults are active during the spring and fall.   Most people get Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi) during the summer from infected nymphs because of their small size. Adult deer ticks are large enough to be noticed and generally people can remove them before becoming infected.   Hence, fewer Lyme disease cases are reported outside of the summer months.  The key to avoiding infection is to stay out of vegetated areas, tuck pants into socks when out on walks, wear light colored clothing, and use a repellant with DEET.  

Tree on the Take

It is not surprising that the legends of these diminutive human-like creatures are often disregarded, for most people simply disbelieve. This remains the case despite the fact that many cultures around the world have stories of little people in their history.  Even the amazing discovery of “hobbit like” bones on the Island of Flores near Indonesia in 2004 has not swayed the minds of most.  Even more unlikely heard or believed are the tales from their culture, but knowing the quality of their content, we will share one short translated Nubbin legend with you, and let you decide upon its place in your mind.  These stories always have some type of a moral to teach a lesson.  The following is not about them, but comes from them.

It Takes…Only a Tree

There are those places not to travel and things we shall never know why; and so it is told that deep in the forest to the south, an old tree lies bent, broken and seemingly gone to the world beyond.  But our ancestors have told us that the tree lives and has been in that state for generations long before our time.
  

One like you who has learned to give will never see it, for it lies on a darkened path used by those always on the take.  Most of them never notice and simply pass by, but there are others, perhaps so chosen, who come upon it.  As they look at the tree, a face within they can see, the eyes of which are like white gold and seeing them shine out of the blackened bark, they approach the tree, and it begins to speak:

“I can tell you of a vast treasure; it’s simply yours to take. Come closer and touch my branches and you will see where it is hidden.”  

And so they move in and touch the nearest branch, and with a flash of light, they are justly taken in.  A ragged branch becomes their fate, and the tree takes another soul to fuel its life.  There it stands broken and bent, awaiting another to find its place, another always on the take.

Richard Webb [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

The Adjid

During his early morning patrol, Dipuc found asbans (1) (raccoons) raiding the herring run.  His approach made them run off, but fish scales and carcasses lined both the stream bank and the path that led up out of the valley.  Upon his return to the lodges, he told Atnas of his find and it was decided that a gathering crew would be sent to collect the dead fish.  They would then be taken into the eastern pine forest, where they would be buried next to selected low-bush blueberry plants. This use of dead or stranded fish as a fertilizer for various plants was a common practice, and it is said by some that the method was taught to them by the native tribesmen, yet there is no evidence to prove this. Regardless how they came upon it, the method did indeed seem to improve production, as those bushes of that chosen site always produced more berries than other populations nearby.  

The fish were quickly gathered up, and each crew member now carried a small basket full upon their backs, and they headed out toward the pines.  As they made their way up the hillside, they came upon a large midden of the adjid (2).  Looking up into the large old pine they saw the small animal, which was about half the size of a gray squirrel.  Its red bushy tail standing almost straight up, the fury creature seemed to greet them with a long chattering of clucks and grunts, but they soon realized this chatter was more intended for another adjid making its way toward them. The men laughed as they watched the first jump from branch to branch, chasing the rival male that had entered his territory.  The two scrambled up and down the trees and soon were out of site.  

Adjids are known to store great quantities of food, a practice highly regarded by the Nubbins. Their legends told how the food stores of the adjid had once been used by the clan during the long great winter of many years before.  In fact, it is this legend that is the reason why some adjids are now trained by the elders to store certain berries, to then be collected as needed at a future time.  

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(1) Of interest, Asban is also a Native American (Natick tribe) term for the raccoon meaning more or less ‘one who lifts things up’, seemingly to describe the use of the fore-paws.

(2) Adjid, the Nubbin term for the American Red Squirrel, is likely derived from Native Americans as well, though no source for its origin could be found. These squirrels feed primarily on conifer seeds, and the scales of the cones which hold the seeds often collect in large middens below the favorite dining place of these little animals.  These middens are a sure sign a red squirrel is in the tree above or nearby, as they are very territorial. 

Saskatoon

The edges of the valley were now adorned by the flowers of the tree they called the Saskatoon (1), the blooms of which stood out against the otherwise gray and brown forest still lacking the green of spring.  The Nubbins prepared to celebrate the flowers, for this small tree was a vital part of their culture.  The berries, which would follow the blooms in the month following, were a mainstay of their diet, and were once used in trade with native tribes of the region.  The berries have a pear-like flavor and can be dried and held for long periods of time.  They are often mashed with akarn flour and made into muffins.  The inner bark is used in medicinal preparations, and the wood, being very hard, is used to make handles for their tools.

As was the custom on this joyous day, Atnas and the elders met near the oldest of these trees and here they chanted a Saskatoon verse, which translates as follows:

The great and generous Saskatoon has awakened from its sleep.  

The flowers, a treasure we now see, a celebration of life to keep.

The day will come when they will wilt, but fruit will follow we all do know.

A berry so sweet, a joy to eat, a blessed gift we hold it so.

  

Your wood provides the makings of our tools.

They who fail in honor of thee are simply fools.

May our presence on this day be knowledge of how deep, 

The greatness of your being in our hearts and soul we keep.

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(1) The small tree described here is obviously what we call the shadbush (Amelanchier sp.)   Named shadbush because its blooming coincides with the running of shad in the rivers, it is also called serviceberry by some.  It is interesting that the Nubbins call the tree Saskatoon, as this is the name for the tree and berry in the Canadian Province of Saskatchewan. Saskatoon is said to be derived from native Americans, who also highly regarded this tree and the use of its berries.

Photo by Walter Siegmund (Own work) [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Honeysuckle Tea

The matrons took advantage of the early morning to collect buds off the honeysuckle vines which were planted on the south facing slope years ago.  The Nubbins referred to the vines as ‘lonials' (1).  The original plants were said to have come with the early settlers of the forest. Over many years the arching vines of the climbing plants were tied and trained by the little people on chansa tree poles, so that they would form a ladder-type network.  Artfully done, the appearance of the site simply looked like the vines had climbed the trees of their own accord, keeping the culture of the vines hidden to any tall one who might venture through the hillside slope.  The "ladder" also allowed the small people to climb up and reach the top of the plants to harvest the tubular shaped yellow-orange and yellow-white flowers. These flowers produce sweet, edible nectars and will also produce berries later in the season.

This particular sunny location, selected with care by the Nubbins, produced earlier blooms on the vines than normally would be the case.  In fact, these plants were almost four weeks ahead of the other vines that skirted the tall ones' farm.  The women carefully chose certain blossoms, leaving others to produce berries for gathering in the early fall and for the nourishment of the bees.  About one cup of the flowers, now just about ready to open, would be added to a quart of boiling water to make a special tea.   This tea was always served on the third night before the new moon of the coming cycle and was said to have powers that provided fine vision and promoted good health (2).  

While the matrons worked on gathering the blossoms, several of the men carefully cut sections of the vines and tied up others.  The cuttings would be shaped into a wreath and hung on the elders' lodge opening, where a ceremony honoring the vines would take place on that chosen night.   

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(1) Our research could find no reason for this term ‘lonial.’

(2) Honeysuckle tea has been used for centuries by both Eastern and Western herbalists to treat various disorders. 

Image: David Hawgood [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons