How Master Lox as a Raccoon killed the Pear and the Black Cats, and performed other notable feats of skill, all to his great discredit

There is a story from the Passamaquoddy people about Hespuns, the Raccoon, although in another version, it involves Master Lox, a figure known for mischief. One fine morning, Master Lox set out in the guise of a Raccoon. As he wandered, he encountered a large bear. This bear was eager to see the Raccoon, having resolved to kill him both to punish his misdeeds and to have him for breakfast. The Raccoon darted into a hollow tree, with the bear in pursuit, beginning to uproot it. Realizing his predicament, the Raccoon sang nonchalantly, taunting the bear by saying that pushing the tree would never catch him, but entering backward might. The bear, believing this, enlarged the hole and got stuck, allowing the Raccoon to seize and kill him. The Raccoon then fashioned a pair of mittens from the bear’s skin and continued on his way.

Soon, the Raccoon came upon a wigwam with smoke rising from it. Inside, he found a family of Black Cats. He greeted them, offering the bear-skin mittens in exchange for grooming. As the young Black Cats combed his fur and brushed his tail, the Raccoon fell asleep. Famished, the kittens cooked and ate the mittens. Upon waking and discovering this, the Raccoon, enraged, strangled all but the smallest kitten, thinking it too young to tell on him. For amusement, he lined up the deceased kittens by the roadside, setting their mouths as though in laughter before fleeing. When the father of the kittens returned, he mistook their frozen grins for joy. Realizing something was amiss, he saw the youngest kitten emerge, unable to speak but clever enough to draw a mark with charcoal, identifying the culprit. The father, now aware, pursued the Raccoon.

The Raccoon saw the angry father approaching with a club and claimed only a bulrush could kill him. The father fetched such a plant from the swamp and used it. The bulrush burst, covering the Raccoon’s head with fuzz. Believing he had defeated the Raccoon, the father left. Master Lox, a cunning magician, continued his journey, eventually reaching a place where women were nursing their babies. He suggested a faster way to raise children by dipping them in cold water overnight. Demonstrating with one child, he returned it as a full-grown man by morning. Astonished, the women followed his advice, resulting in tragedy. Master Lox moved on to another camp, where women worked on bags. Claiming a quicker method, he demonstrated by burying a piece under ashes and retrieving a finished bag. The women tried, but their materials burned as he left.

Finally, the Raccoon reached a great river, unsure how to cross. He encountered a blind Wiwillmekq’, a strange creature like a horned alligator, and asked for a ride. As they crossed, crows mocked them. The Raccoon deceived the Wiwillmekq’ into rushing to the bank, where he got stuck, allowing the Raccoon to escape. Continuing his journey, the Raccoon found berries. He asked how they would react if he ate them. The berries warned they would choke him, so he avoided them. Further on, he found itch-berries, which he consumed eagerly, only to be tormented by itching. He scratched against a rough rock until his fur came off, which is why, to this day, the Raccoon has little fur in those spots. Thus ends this tale.

This is a retelling of a traditional story from the Passamaquoddy people, who continue to honor and share their cultural heritage.

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