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Originally Posted by Delaware
Long ago there was a mighty snake and beings evil to men.
This mighty snake hated those who were there (and) greatly disquieted those whom he hated.
They both did harm, they both injured each other, both were not in peace.
Driven from their homes they fought with this murderer.
The mighty snake firmly resolved to harm the men.
He brought three persons, he brought a monster, he brought a rushing water.
Between the hills the water rushed and rushed, dashing through and through, destroying much.
Nanabush, the Strong White One, grandfather of beings, grandfather of men, was on the Turtle Island.
There he was walking and creating, as he passed by and created the turtle.
Beings and men all go forth, they walk in the floods and shallow waters, down stream thither to the Turtle Island.
There were many monster fishes, which ate some of them.
The Manito daughter, coming, helped with her canoe, helped all, as they came and came.
[And also] Nanabush, Nanabush, the grandfather of all, the grandfather of beings, the grandfather of men, the grandfather of the turtle.
The men then were together on the turtle, like to turtles.
Frightened on the turtle, they prayed on the turtle that what was spoiled should be restored.
The water ran off, the earth dried, the lakes were at rest all was silent, and the mighty snake departed.
PART III.
After the rushing waters (had subsided) the Lenape of the turtle were close together, in hollow houses, living together there.
It freezes where they abode, it snows where they abode it storms where they abode, it is cold where they abode.
At this northern place they speak favorably of mild, cool (lands), With many deer and buffaloes.
As they journeyed, some being strong, some rich, they separated into house-builders and hunters;
The strongest, the most united, the purest, were the hunters.
The hunters showed themselves at the north, at the east, at the south, at the west.
In that ancient country, in that northern country, in that turtle country, the best of the Lenape were the Turtle men.
All the cabin fires of that land were disquieted, and all said to their priest, " Let us go.
To the Snake land to the east they went forth, going away, earnestly grieving.
Split asunder, weak, trembling, their land burned, they went, torn and broken, to the Snake Island.
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