THE WALUM OLUM

Book Four
Early Chronicles of the Lenape
 

 
Wulamo linapioken manup shinaking. 
Long ago the fathers of the Lenape were at the land of spruce pines.
  Wapallanewa sittamaganat yukepechi wemima,
Hitherto the Bald Eagle band had been the pipe bearer,
  Akhomenis michihaki wellaki kundokanup.
While they were searching for the Snake Island, that great and fine land.
  Angomelchik elowichik elmusichik menalting.
They having died, the hunters, about to depart, met together.
  Wemilo kolawil sakima lissilma.
All say to Beautiful Head, "Be thou chief."
  Akhopayat kihillalend akhopokho askiwaal.
"Coming to the Snakes, slaughter at that Snake hill, that they leave it."
  Showihilla akhowemi gandhathon mashkipokhing.
All of the Snake tribe were weak, and hid themselves in the Swampy Vales.
  Wtenkolawil shinaking sakimanep wapagokhos.
After Beautiful Head, White Owl was chief at Spruce Pine land.
  Wtenk nekama sakimanep janotowi enolowin.
After him, Keeping-Guard was chief of that people.
  Wtenk nekama sakimanep chilili shawaniluen.
After him, Snow Bird was chief; he spoke of the south,
  Wokenapi nitaton wullaton apakchikton.
That our fathers chould possess it by scattering abroad.
  Shawaniwaen chilili, wapaniwaen tamakwi.
Snow Bird went south, White Beaver went east.
  Akolaki shawanaki, kitshinaki shabiyaki.
The Snake land was at the south, the great Spruce Pine land was toward the shore;
  Wapanaki namesaki, pemapaki sisilaki.
To the east was the Fish land, toward the lakes was the buffalo land.
  Wtenk chilili sakimanep ayamek weminnilluk.
After Snow Bird, the Seizer was chief, and all were killed,
  Chikonapi akhonapi makatapi assinapi.
The robbers, the snakes, the evil men, the stone men.
  Wtenk ayamek tellen sakimak machi tonanup shawapama.
After the Seizer there were ten chiefs, and there was much warfare south and east.
  Wtenk nellamawa sakimanep lagundowi akolaking.
After them, the Peaceable was chief at Snake land.
  Wtenk nekama sakimanep tasukamend shakagapipi.
After him, Not-Black was chief, who was a straight man.
Wtenk nekama sakimanep pemaholend wulitowin.
After him, Much-Loved was chief, a good man. 

 Sagimawtenk matemik, sagimawtenk pilsohalin.
 After him, No-Blood was chief, who walked in cleanness.
  Sagimawtenk gunokeni, sagimawtenk mangipitak.
After him, Snow-Father was chief, he of the big teeth.
  Sagimawtenk olumapi, leksahowen sohalawak.
After him, Tally-Maker was chief, who made records.
  Sagimawtenk taguachi shawaniwaen minihaking.
After him, Shiverer-with-Cold was chief, who went south to the corn land.
  Sakimawtenk huminiend minigeman sohalgol.
After him, Corn-Breaker was chief, who brought about the planding of corn.
  Sakinawtenk alkosohit sakimachik apendawi.
After him, the Strong-Man was chief, who was useful to the chieftains.
  Sawkimawtenk shiwapi, sakimatenk penkwonwi.
After him, the Salt-Man was chief; after him the Little-One was chief.
  Attasokelan attaminin wapaniwaen atalissipek.
There was no rain, and no corn, so they moved further seaward.
 Oligonunk sisilaking nallimetzin kolakwaming.
At the place of caves, in the buffalo land, they at last had food, on a pleasant  plain.
 Wtenk penkwonwi wekwochella, wtenk  nekama chingalsuwi.
After the Little-One (came) the Fatigued; after him, the Stiff-One.
 Wtenk  nekama  kwitikwond, slanglendam attagatta,
After him, the Reprover, disliking him, and unwilling (to remain),
Wundanuksin wapanickam allendyachick kimimikwi.
Being angry, some went off secretly, moving east. 

 Gunehunga wetatamowi wakaholend sakimalanop.
The wise ones who remained made the Loving-One chief.
 Wisawana lappi wittank michi mini madawasim.
 They settled again on the Yellow river, and had much corn on stoneless soil.
  Weminitis tamenend sakimanep nekohatami.
All being friendly, the Affable was chief, the first of that name.
  Eluwiwulit matemenend wemi linapi nitis payat.
He was very good, this Affable, and came as a friend to all the Lenape.
 Wtenk wulitma maskansisil sakimanep w'tamaganat.
After this good one, Strong-Buffalo was chief and pipe-bearer.
Machigokloos sakimanep, wapkicholen sakimanep.
Big-Owl was chief; White-Bird was chief. 

  Wingenund sakimanep, powatanep gentikalanep.
The Willing-One was chief and priest; he made festivals.
  Lapawin sakimanep, wallama sakimanep.
Rich-Again was chief; the Painted-One was chief.
 Waptipatit Sakimanep, lappi mahuk lowashawa.
White-Fowl was chief; again there was war, north and south.
 Wewoattan menatting tumaokan sakimanep.
The Wolf-wise-in Counsel was chief.
  Nitatonep wemi palliton maskansini nihillanep.
He knew how to make war on all; he slew Strong-Stone.
  Messissuwi sakimanep akowini pallitonep.
The Always-Ready-One was chief; he fought against the snakes.
  Chitanwulit sakimanep lowanuski pallitonep.
The Strong-Good-One was chief; he fought against the northerners.
 Alokuwi sakimanep towakon pallitonep.
The Lean-One was chief; he fought against the Tawa people.
Opekasit sakimanep sakhelendam pallitonepit.
The Opossum-Like was chief; he fought in sadness, 

  Wapagishik yuknohokluen makeluhuk wapaneken.
And said, "They are many; let us go together to the east, the the sunrise."
  Tsehepieken nemassipi nolandowak gunehunga.
They separated at Fish river; the lazy ones remained there.
 Yagawanend sakimanep talligewi wapawullaton.
Cabin-Man was chief; the Talligewi possessed the east.
  Chitanitis sakimanep wapawaki gotatamen.
Strong-Friend was chief; he desired the eastern land.
  Wapallendi pomisinep talegawil allendhilla.
Some passed on the east; the Talega ruler killed some of them.
  Mayoksuwi wemilowi palliton palliton.
All say, in unison, "War, war."
  Talamatan nitilowan payatchik wemiten.
The Talamatan, friends from the north, come, and all go together.
 Kinehepend sakimanep tamaganat sipakgamen.
The Sharp-One was chief; he was the pipe-bearer beyond the river.
  Wulatonwi makelima pallihilla talegawik.
They rejoiced greatly that they should fight and slay the Talega towns.
 Pimokhasuwi sakimanep wsamimaskan talegawik.
The Stirrer was chief; the Talega towns were too strong.
 
  Tenchekentit sakimanep wemilat makelinik.
The Fire-Builder was chief; they all gave to him many towns.
  Pagan chichilla sakimanep, shawanewak wemi talega.
The Breaker-in-Pieces was chief; all the Talega go south.
  Hattan wulaton sakimanep, wingelendam wemi lennowak.
He-Has-Pleasure was chief; all the people rejoice.
  Shawanipekis gunehungind lowanipekis talamatanitis.
They stay south of the lakes; the Talamatan friends north of the lakes.
  Attabchinitis gishelendam gunitakan sakimanep.
When Long-and-Mild was chief, those who were not his friends conspired.
  Linniwulamen sakimanep pallitonep talamatan.
Truthful-Man was chief; the Talamatans made war.
  Shakagapewi sakimanep nungiwi talamatan.
Just-and-True was chief; the Talamatans trembled.