A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.
Overview
In the Pulowech story, a hostile host repeatedly offers food and withdraws it, then challenges his guest to a contest between their supposed dogs. His champion is instead a terrifying beast called Weisum. Pulowech sets down an injured squirrel whom he has restored; she revives and grows until the opponents are almost equally large.
When Weisum begins to prevail, the squirrel produces two young which immediately grow to fighting size. The host begs Pulowech to stop the contest, explaining that the creature belongs to his grandmother. Pulowech refuses and the three squirrels kill it. The grandmother’s ensuing anger leads to the tale’s fire ordeal. Leland briefly equates Weisum with the Inuit Amarok in a footnote, but offers no demonstrated transmission history or detailed shared anatomy; that comparison does not make the two names aliases here.
Origins & earliest records
The complete encounter occurs in the Mi’kmaq-labelled Pulowech chapter credited to the Rand manuscript in Leland’s 1884 collection. A footnote says another version uses an ordinary dog; no individual teller is supplied for that comparison.
Records & interpretation
Complete selected narrative and attached source notes were inspected. Leland’s editorial comparisons and theories remain separate from the narrated actions.
In the literature
“he does not belong to me, but to my grandmother”
The Adventures of the Great Hero Pulowech ...; beast contest in whole independently read chapter · Leland English collected retelling; specific credits retained
Weisum, a terrible beast rather than a dog, is staked against Meeko. Enlarging squirrel and two newly born young overcome it. Handler requests mercy because it belongs to his grandmother; Pulowech refuses and it dies. Grandmother subsequently mourns the loss before the final fire confrontation. Another-version footnote substitutes an actual dog.
Selected bibliography
Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.
- 01
The Algonquin Legends of New England
The Adventures of the Great Hero Pulowech, or the Partridge; complete Weisum encounter and variant footnotes.
- 02
The Algonquin Legends of New England — The Adventures of the Great Hero Pulowech ...
Original work1884; Gutenberg6803 selected transcription, exact source print impression/pages unidentified. Full Preface and Authorities independently read.
Family & connections
A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.
Located primary passages
Specific passages supporting details in this entry, grouped by their published witness.
The Algonquin Legends of New England
Original work1884; Gutenberg6803 selected transcription, exact source print impression/pages unidentified. Full Preface and Authorities independently read.
- Weisum, a terrible beast rather than a dog, is staked against Meeko. Enlarging squirrel and two newly born young overcome it. Handler requests mercy because it belongs to his grandmother; Pulowech refuses and it dies. Grandmother subsequently mourns the loss before the final fire confrontation. Another-version footnote substitutes an actual dog.
The Adventures of the Great Hero Pulowech ...; beast contest in whole independently read chapter
No whole collection, separately recorded oral transcript or separately cited manuscript/comparative edition inspected. Variant/narrator distinctions preserved; no earliest/diffusion/treatment proof claimed.
References
Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.
- Primary textLeland 1884: The Adventures of the Great Hero Pulowech, or the PartridgeResearch access: 2026-10-05
Image credits
A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.