Long ago the fathers of the Lenape were at the land of spruce pines.
Hitherto the Bald Eagle band had been the pipe bearer,
While they were searching for the Snake Island, that great and fine land.
They having died, the hunters, about to depart, met together.
All say to Beautiful Head, "Be thou chief."
"Coming to the Snakes, slaughter at that Snake hill, that they leave it."
All of the Snake tribe were weak, and hid themselves in the Swampy Vales.
After Beautiful Head, White Owl was chief at Spruce Pine land.
After him, Keeping-Guard was chief of that people.
After him, Snow Bird was chief; he spoke of the south,
That our fathers chould possess it by scattering abroad.
Snow Bird went south, White Beaver went east.
The Snake land was at the south, the great Spruce Pine land was toward the shore;
To the east was the Fish land, toward the lakes was the buffalo land.
After Snow Bird, the Seizer was chief, and all were killed,
The robbers, the snakes, the evil men, the stone men.
After the Seizer there were ten chiefs, and there was much warfare south and east.
After them, the Peaceable was chief at Snake land.
After him, Not-Black was chief, who was a straight man.
After him, Much-Loved was chief, a good man.
After him, No-Blood was chief, who walked in cleanness.
After him, Snow-Father was chief, he of the big teeth.
After him, Tally-Maker was chief, who made records.
After him, Shiverer-with-Cold was chief, who went south to the corn land.
After him, Corn-Breaker was chief, who brought about the planding of corn.
After him, the Strong-Man was chief, who was useful to the chieftains.
After him, the Salt-Man was chief; after him the Little-One was chief.
There was no rain, and no corn, so they moved further seaward.
At the place of caves, in the buffalo land, they at last had food, on a pleasant plain.
After the Little-One (came) the Fatigued; after him, the Stiff-One.
After him, the Reprover, disliking him, and unwilling (to remain),
Being angry, some went off secretly, moving east.
The wise ones who remained made the Loving-One chief.
They settled again on the Yellow river, and had much corn on stoneless soil.
All being friendly, the Affable was chief, the first of that name.
He was very good, this Affable, and came as a friend to all the Lenape.
After this good one, Strong-Buffalo was chief and pipe-bearer.
Big-Owl was chief; White-Bird was chief.
The Willing-One was chief and priest; he made festivals.
Rich-Again was chief; the Painted-One was chief.
White-Fowl was chief; again there was war, north and south.
The Wolf-wise-in Counsel was chief.
He knew how to make war on all; he slew Strong-Stone.
The Always-Ready-One was chief; he fought against the snakes.
The Strong-Good-One was chief; he fought against the northerners.
The Lean-One was chief; he fought against the Tawa people.
The Opossum-Like was chief; he fought in sadness,
And said, "They are many; let us go together to the east, the the sunrise."
They separated at Fish river; the lazy ones remained there.
Cabin-Man was chief; the Talligewi possessed the east.
Strong-Friend was chief; he desired the eastern land.
Some passed on the east; the Talega ruler killed some of them.
All say, in unison, "War, war."
The Talamatan, friends from the north, come, and all go together.
The Sharp-One was chief; he was the pipe-bearer beyond the river.
They rejoiced greatly that they should fight and slay the Talega towns.
The Stirrer was chief; the Talega towns were too strong.
The Fire-Builder was chief; they all gave to him many towns.
The Breaker-in-Pieces was chief; all the Talega go south.
He-Has-Pleasure was chief; all the people rejoice.
They stay south of the lakes; the Talamatan friends north of the lakes.
When Long-and-Mild was chief, those who were not his friends conspired.
Truthful-Man was chief; the Talamatans made war.
Just-and-True was chief; the Talamatans trembled.