The Mythology of the Bella-Coola Indians

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11.

—

MvTiioi.DGV OF TiiK Bi:lla Coola Indians.

Till':

Bv Franz Boas.

I'LATls

VU-XIl.

CONTENTS. FACE

PAGE. I.

Location of the Tribe

62

'Pradition of SEnxi.

j6

'Pradition of Xuk'i't.s II.

26

I.ileiatiire

'Pradition of N'us(|!

.

63

.

64

F.'Ist

'Pradition of NiiLi.e ix 111.

('leneial

!

of the

)esLril)tioii

of the Bella Coola

The The The The The

Mythology

28

'Pradition of .Another Vi

68

Karth

3-

'Pradition of Xus(|a'])ts

69

Lower Worlds

,57

'Pradition of

Nans

7°

Country of the Salmon, and the

Salmon the Salmon and

>rigin of the

of

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

VilLige

....

Shaman

'I'radition of

42

I'he

Mink

Sk

'I'he

'Phe Cilacier 4'S

5° 5.?

of Ai,(|la'\i.

Stske

Tiadilion of

\ use ex

•

ii3.

•

90 95

VI.

Rem irks

97 100

.

marriec

.

th e

Stumi)

VII.

10.?

109 I

.

on the Ru'siut and Sisau'k

61

.

VOL.

II.

ACG.,

lS()S.

Development of the Mythology Hella Coola

100 108

i.lai.

.

73 88

•

86, 87,

.S9

60

ii.

MIST.,

.

.... ....

'Phe Hlack Hear

[ -\S 1

.NAT.

.

Tradition Irom Snu

ija

'Pradition of

.

.

Woman who

Phe Wolves

.

.

Deer 'Phe Hau'hau

their 'Pradi-

.... .

.... .... ....

'Pile

45

Pradition of Nusxei|!

Mt

I'he

Snene i(| Raven

:

List of \'illages

ra'.iition

41

Moun-

Hunter

Communities ami

tions

The Salmon .(o

'Pile

the Protector of the

tain-goat

Miscellaneous 'Praditions

41

Protectors of the lai.'it,

3S

of

Ananlikiits'ai X'

,IM.

65 67

Lower Heaven

The Calendar

-Ml;.\l.

65

'Pradition of Satsi]

the Winter Ceremonial

'I

64 .

28

The Canoes

IV.

ix'

Tradition of Sotsi.

Ui)per Heaven

(

Toa

'Pradition of Stu

:

of thi

......

1

114

lioAs.

I'Hi-:

Mviii()i,(-)(;s

oi'

riii',

uki.i.a cooi.a Indians.

I.

Tlic liclla Coola are atul

Heiitinck

Arm. two

52°

nortli,

l^ritish

in

small

a

loni::

tribe

;iih1

Columbia.

is

a corruption

the

ol'

Kwakiutl.

tribes speakiiii,^ the

the

was

tribe

introduction

no term

Bella Coola

([uite

populous

other

ot"

" Bilxula,"

word

'I'here is

diseases,

in

seems

It

owinLT

but,

Dean

about

aIont^

inotlier. *^'

Ai.k'nnla'm's

i.S()(),

not hear her mentioned as oni' ol

diil

I

in

and must

traditions recordeil on

the

in

Iii

This peculiar chai.ie-

C'.nnihal.

a

.is

sucks

anil

oat

hrouiilit

Si;ii\

liivor ol

in

niliTs of luankiiul.

creators of mankind.

desciibeil

is

man.

ot"

pliicc

liis

tlic

ealli'il

tryiiifj

tlie

clearly

is

up

ui\i'ii

In

one leuenil which

In

tV.

in

minlil

((ku.a Indians.

iiki.i.a

III:;

(»i

lias

\vl)()

bill

eonsidered

tact tliat tliey are

snout

iioi.oiiV

they arc descrilicd as

tiiulitioiis

pp. JS

I

These two

Ai.k'iiiil I'm.

teristic

\i\

111:

I

tlu'

According to the same tradition. the salmon were obtainetl by a man who nambled with Ai.k"unt;i'm. the Ai.k'untii'm lost, and the man took the salmon down st;ike beiny the salmon. Another lejjcnd ot" the oriyin ol' the salmon is recoriled on p. ,v'^. t'rom iiea\ en. the

deities residiny- in

where

it

is

tradition

how

told

(p.

Myths,

ol

Accordinj^ to

the birds obtained the salmon.

Ra\en obtained

the

er. V'LTlianUlungtn dcr lierlincr llesellschaft flir .Vnlliropologie, I'^thnologie

6) ordains the death

received, there are

I

is

b\'

und Urgeschichte,

and

dcit\'

men-

is

Nusne'ne(i"als sits

duty

his particular

This

himself

(Plate in

iSqj, p. 293.

I'ryeschitlite, lS()i, p. 3SS.

one

^

^V ^1

"^

•

iii»As,

I.KIIH.M-

the

ol'

of the

UK

I

\i\

lioiisL'.

pii.'\ L'lits

ill-

approacliinjj

Ironi

kfi'siiit

(ih

ii()i,()(i\'

I

monster, the peculiarities

riih,

tlidsc tlie

iii;i,i,.\

who

are not

The

lioiisc.

which are desL

ot

cooi.a Indians.

''led

initi.itcil

SnOnO'iq

in

tlu-

is

a

number of

a

mi

.i'

secrets

fabulous traditions

u

and 1,^) is a boy vviio (see pp. .S3 rt'.). S'anoi.x'inuKa'lt (I'late VII, Fi|.(»(;\-

asked

I

•,'avc

lu-

1111.

my

t'atluT

you

cool. A INDl.WS.

llKl.l.A

Ol-

tlic Sun (sec dream which you

tlu'

and they resolved to start Masmasalfi'nix to build a eanoe.

a. NAl.

ago was the Hrst to see her. return he performed a dance, and

lived lorg

died. IMSl.,

VIII.,

II.

lS()8.

He was told

A

initiated

what he had

BOAS,

42

is

I'Ikt..'

ji

sj.iual

\\li«>

.icitv

\1.

or Sxai'cxoax (i'iatt

ia'ii.

ihk hki.ia cooi

Mvnii'i ocv 01

nil-.

tl.c

initiati's

Ho

'))•

Ki.-;.

sliainaiis.

iivos

in

indiws.

a

tlu'

His iiaim- is i.ai.awoods. lie carries

producin-r a

water,

•11

believed

are

whicii

boils.

it

man meets him.

a

touches tiie

desitrn

ot'

of the

A

and animals.

who

it

to

Sometimes he

sees

who

tells

When

swin.Lis

faint.

He

initiated

him who

creates

by

aid

will die

desire

sexual

me

told

this beinj,'

who

the body of a person is black. These are sijjns that they will die

will

in

man

that fall

he

sick.

Others he sees

that

on their heads.

a person, he

initiatinj,'

wand, and paints his lace with his wand, the noise of which

his

Then he

hears

i.ai.aia'ii.,

dancin-,^

with

latter

shaman who was

verv often sees

bleed.

to

beirins

the rainbow.

causes the person

made

lie

eedai nark,

red

:

nose

his

chest

the

to

When

rinu

sometimes plays in jionds When he jumps into the be in certain mountains. when a woman meets him. she be,ii\

MS IH(H,n(;N oK TIIK IlKM.A COOIA INHIWS,

IMF,

The piece Then the water

prices.

kept tor tour days.

is

thrnwti into

is

used

healthy person uses this water, he will

to

live

watit, in

lor washin),'

an

old

the

aye.

45

which body. Sick

is

it It'

a

persons

which it is wrapped up. in order to rej^ain must not swallow the cedai-bark. but only the saliva that .\ person who has chewed the cedar-hark becomes gathers in their mouths. invulnerable. Tiie eye ot the si'siui. is described as about a toot in diameter,

chew

the white cedar-iiark in

Thc\

health.

and

as transparent as rock crystal.

T()A'lai.'it

himselt'

is

the

in\isible

is

;

spirit

his characteristics

protects

mo\ing about.

or his mountain stafV ot

who

the

mountain-j,'oat

himter.

He

but jireat hunters sometimes see his hat, his tiioccasins,

:

—

The

lollowing tradition describes

some

Lynx lived in one house, each occupying one side. morning the Ra\en went out t(» catch salmon with the harpoon, To.l'iai.'it watched the lie was very successful, and carried the tish home. the house, roasteil his .salmon. Raven, who. when he .irrived The children ot' the Lynx were sitting near by. and lot)king at the iiaven while he was roasting che tish. They wished to pariicipate in the meal, but he did not give them anything. Then the children were very sad. Now the Lynx made up his mind to make arrows and to go hunting mountain-goat. lie went out anil cut some wood for his arrows then he told his witV- to make .She did so, and wove a i]uivcr of a (]uiver. which he called Ts'o'lapicla. The I^ynx was (piite impatient for the sun to rise, so eager was cedar-bark. he to start lumting. Early in the morning he arose antl ascended the mountain. When he reached the limit of the trees, he sat down on a tiat rock and looked foi- goats. Then he saw the start' of a man who was com-

The

m

Karly

RiiMii and the

the

I'.t

;

ing

down

"Who

the mountain.

He

did not see the person himself

Who

may be lumting here?" The came near, he saw Toa'Iai.'it, who wore

He

thought,

approached him; and when it a large hat. His hat was named (^I poi. (that means a "barren mountain-top"). Toa'lai/it reached the Lynx, anil sat down opposite him. Neither spoke a word. After a while Toa'Iai.'it aiose, took the arrows of the Lynx, and said, " How beautitui these arrows are !" He took up one at'ter another until he had looked at all the four arrows of the Lynx. Then he asked, " Who made these is

that.'

stick

The Lynx did not rejily. Toa'Iai.'it asked again. "Who made Then Lynx replied, "Toa'Iai.'it made my arrows." Then Toa'Iai.'it was very much ple.ised. and said, "Is he the one who made vour arrows?" "Certainly," replied Lynx. Then Toa'laL'it took his arrows and arrows?"

these arrows?"

—

threw one

down

alter

another tlown the

inounti'.in,

and said to the Lynx, "Now go It" you spoke the truth, everv

the mountain and look at your arrows.

46

ii(».\s,

niu' iiT tluni

MVTiioi

nil'.

will

killiil

li.iM'

(>(,\

a

laiu'i'

the inuiiiitain. aiul ^a^v that every

he was

jjlail.

danced

tor

because

now

I

and you do not

down

And

joy.

tooil

am

"I

Now

hunter.

l,\n\

Tlu-

hail

a

killiil

'I'oa'lai.'it.

I

iK'sci-iulcil

t.'iiat.

Then

iimiped

lie

his ehililren.

ti>r

am

and

so called

return to \oui villaj^e.

I'mni

The next time \ou ^'o huntinj,'. down and throw yoiir ariows

jiroteetor.

any mountain-t:oats. sit Kver\ one will kill a

liiul

the n»ountain.

cckh a imhans.

»

I

arrows

his

said.

'I'oa'lai.'it

iii;i

mniiiitain-puit."

ik' !

hail

am the mnuntain-j,'i>at am your suiHTnatura!

I

on.

because now he

nil.

(II

j;oat.

do

Hut

not

lose those

\ou s'-.ould lose them, you would never kill another mountainThe mountain-piats were so larj,'e, that l.yn\ took mdy their I'at. jioat." He arrived which he put into his ipiiver and clind>eil down the mountain. lie lelt his ([uiver outside, and the Ka\en at his iiouse in the afternoon.

arrows.

IT

saw him

The Lynx

eomini.' in.

His wife and

not sav a word.

down by

sat

He

did

silence.

In

the side of his wile.

him

his children also received

in

and letch my Slu' went tluri' and trieil to lilt It is haniiint: outsiik' on a stick." qui\er. She returned to her husband and told him that shi' it, but it was too heavy. was not stronj; enou;;h to lilt it. and asked him to tetcli it himsi'll". He said, He opened He went out himsell' and brou^^ht it in. "It is not heavv." the evenin;:.

it

and took out the

not a ol

when

the

was dark, he

lat

;

said

Then

while, the Raven's children bej^an to

it

" C»o

wile.

his

to

and he ^'a\e some of

an\ to the Raven's children.

j,'i\e

little

it

to his

children, but he

'iiR'ark a-.

traditions rel'errinu; to them will be found at the enil ot' this Each of these ancestors, when sent down to our world, receixed a salmon-weir, which was placed across the ri\er at the locality whci'e tin

The

t'ull

chapter.

built their villatre. \

1

.>hall

now

number of

relate a

traditions

ol'

the

\arioi.

illayes.

TKADiriON

Sk'i.ia.

()i-

In the be;ht. he felt somebody shakll'll asleep. " .V'ise am iroinuf to >/\\ c you supernatural .^it'ts." When I

lu-

inu'.

[\\\

II fol, OCA'

lour (la\s

IIiMi.'

him. sa\

ino out Soon he returned. sa\ inour

to

i.miiuI

lu'

liis

Minnie man.

tin-

tlu-m

sent

'Thon he

liim.

xvith

"Now

said to tlu'in.

ill'

"Ol

I

wis lOMTi'd with

wiiii

bodies ot'

\

1

liont.

down

ihi'ir

pliMsi'd

liiyhly

wiTi-

tiu-v

iTi-d.

tin-

;uul

I

b.'il\

in

thoni by niiMns

lu-ali'd

anil

r.l

IK'

w\ti' alraid.

hinisoH".

e, shook himself, the eanoe and assumed the shape of a bear. Xe'mak-sta went up and down He said to his trienil, once, and then he resumed the shaiie of a man. There tlu'\ landed. " Let us Lr to .Vnn'sx on the north side of the liord."

"Now shall run home o\ er the mountains. Watch me as ^'ou will see v.hat will happen follow slowly in your canoe, and run I At that time the trees on the mountains were small. When to the people." the shape ot thev were near th' shore, .Xo'niak-sta turned round and assumed Then he ran over the mountains, and reached his home lony betorc a bear. He entered his lather's house and told people were able to -el there. Then he

said,

aloiiii',

the

I

iioAs,

within

tliiiso

MviMioi DCN'

iiii;

poopU- oT Nii\ii'lk-

tlic

llial

nil'.

(ti'

TIkmi

in;;.

Uv

simU

When

come ashore! and

"He

is

Me

?

and

to

our

in

is

kill

his

\

warn

tin-

Do

not

"'

people laughed,

'I'he illajie."

— "You

lie!"

him.

believe

not

did

shonted,

hi-

yon."

kill

to

hint

told

distance,

Knt they

here."

57

with liim; but ho promised to Now ''u- caiiors wi'iv appioai-h-

hi-ach,

tiu'

iu-aiinjj;

here and will

is

possil)ie

that

is

speaker.

the

to

within

Tlie sliaman

"How

said,

rejilied

sprakor

liis

thcv wciv

imh.ws,

\

ln\i>

\aiupiish his iiuMiiifS witlimit aiiv assistanci'.

cnomifs.

cooi

\

coming', iiifoiuliim

ui-ri-

llu'ir iliiiii'

iii;i,i

'I'hey

row. waitin>i Tin the tide to carry iheni in. .\t hi},'li 'riu'n to land, and then all paddli'd tor the shore, lie stood Xe'mak-sta took his bear-skin blanket and covered it with ilown. on the roof ot" his house and shook him.sell'. The down Hew about and set'I'hey ^roaneil with pain, and tled on the canoes, and all the peo)de lell sick. ranged tlu'niseUes water

in

was

tiie sij,'nal

a

(;n

anotlur

liiul

111'

iianu'

M\

Ilir.

to

ke|)t.

down iVoin hea\ en Then the Ua\en

wind was blowinj^ down the mountain lanoe-pole. ami pusiied it upward towarils the mountain, thus eausini,' the wind to stop. l'"or this reason the mountain has its name, which means "canoe-pole." thev eanie

SkAlo'k-i..

Theri-

took

liis

another tradition

still

is

a eokl

ref'errinji

to

of the tribe

the orijjin

The Sun made one man whom he called (.^^eet ami made another man whom he named Aiila'm. He 's

;

but the latter

Then

the

elder

the sun. he took the n.ime

lannc («fc

p.

Then 2S).

their sister told

62

r.oAs.

tlu'iii

111

liMM-

Satsij.

w luMo

otiicr

animals

siM.

W'Ikmi

naiiu'

was

he

fduntn.

tin-

built

lu-

"1

a

tn

aiul

ilosiifil

ivai-lK'd the

sc-i-k

been

iiKi.i

lu'

looi

'riu-ii'

\

wont to ami tdwanls tlio

lu'axors

(.auiilit

ilcSLi'mli'ii

an iMulc with

"Ilow

imhans.

I\iiiikiiiii;'iii

lu-

anil

)H'opli.',

nu-t

lure a lonj;

\

iu'W luimc.

a

lind

to

tiord.

lie askeil him.

ha\ e

rm:

near a lake.

lioiisi.'

hv

luil

;

lu'

C^ia'sta.

rcplieil,

Mvriioi.oc.N' oi'

iiii:

human

IJu-o,

whose

have you been here?"

lont;

time.

am

1

oliler

AntI

than you."

lie

met a biid nameil .Xi.mi'.na'ni, and he lie also re)ilied. "1 ha\ e been asked, "How lonji' have you lu'en herer" llis iieople, the Sutsi.iv'mx-, were here a lonu time. I am older than yon." Kunkimic'm asked the bird Ibr a eanoe, that he miuht the sav.-bill ducks. proceetled

proceed a

down Deans

down

'Then the bird

liord.

le

him

uaxe

lie

eedar-tree.

lie

Inlet.

made

eanoe

a

a double-blailed

lor

paddle.

him,

1

XusO'ex. on the smith siile ol Hella Coola Kiver, near its mouth. hen a woman named .\i.i:\ma'na came down to

built a house.

1

Her blanket was

set

with small coppers, which

made

a

noise

'irnin^ out

he reached

l'"inall\-

Here he this

place.

whenever she

He met She told him to jilace a copper in tVont ot" his house. mo\ed. two women named Xemlaix-'a'na and Xe'mtsiwa in Stsk'e'ii.. He called all Kunkuni/m's brother and sister settled in S;Us(i. these women his sisters.

Tk ADIllON OK

SlCNM.

were sent ilown by the Sun to the top ol' the to ^u\o'lkumai. " ^on shall ,a'x was very sad. and was sittiiii,^ (jnite .\nu\0'mlai\- and Sicnxalo'oi.la.' He did not like the earth, and top ot' the mountain S(]tsi.. still on the He hail lost his tire-drill. 'I'hen he assumed wisheil to return to the sky.

Yuvo'lknmai and Qoa'x S(]tsi,. The Sun

mountain

the shape

ot'

a deer,

and took

tire-drill

it

said

and ran up the mountain, and while there he found the .\t that time there were no trees on the iiioimd. back.

only small herbs.

Yuvo'lknmai took leaves and made

enough

He

to

sit

in.

down

lav

Then

arose and looked outside. hut.

Very

sleep.

.

saw

salmon-weir, and

look

as

lon

a

into the

cubit.

1

water. shall

I

a small

hut just larue

early the next

lar^e salmon-weir in

a

said to ^'uyo'lklmlai, " Lie

The Sun

water as

t.)

down on am t^oini,'

put on

it

t'oiu-

the to

top

morninj,' he t'ront

beam

place a stick

abelone shells.

of his ot'

in It"

the the

you

should not tind it in the water to-morrow morninl,^ you may conclude that He did not see the stick there are no people like yourselt' in the world." on the t'ollowiui: morninij:. and concluded that there were no people liviuij; hiiiher uii the ri\er. '

AiiciUrt

linu-

I

uiulirstncil ili.u iIum' wi-iv

'.lirt-c

ini'ii :inil

niu'

WMin:m.

lioAs,

At "I

that

will

saw

by as

took

ami

till'

lie

was

\'uyo'lkiiiiiai.

box.

Kunkuiii:'ni.

to

\\

hoiu he

One

thoughts.

IIo

liow on.

ot'

anil

new name

anil

.\s

Kavon

the Sun.

his sisau'k'

lie

house of

the

to

canii'

lopc soon

tlu-

tin-

'riiiMi

it.

lilu'iati'd

iio

cut

lli'

attcr

cnti-ioil,

box away.

tin-

out

canii'

ti'llinu'

He

.

sony;.

Then

that they hail a yooil ,Sun.

because

sail

eveninji he

arose ami stood near his

lie

liousi-.

tlii'

ami

so.

iliil

KiiwM'insta

lanii'il

tiaxrik'il

^a\i' his

were very jilail \'uy.i'!kuniai was very

the iK-ople

his

Sun

pri'si'nt

llu'

of

rool'

lie

f>.l

Kavi'ti thoufifht,

aiul tlu-

,

Sun."

lalk-cl

ami

siis|ionik'il.

a sisaii'k' sonti,

s uii;-

name

till'

iVoiu tlio

iianirini;'

sun-l)().\

l)iiatiwa'!a as ol"

copper

his super-

iilates,

vvhicii

house every morniny- and travelled all away to his house women Iroiii .dl the villaoes. He uave iiis copper plates to i.xumticno'm, who then r.!

.nil

left

ni sky

his

" ;

kiisiul (sec p. 40).

lilor.illy.

"

tnmilli

lu-|il i>|h-ii

i.v

im.m-

ot

a

wi.',li;e "),

[i.

((i.

1

HOAS.

64 took

the

THE MVrHOI.OC.V OK THK

names

" whirlpool,"

liKl.l.A C'OOI.A

INDIANS.

and Anuk'i'ts'Km. His last name means house swallows wealth as a Avhiilpool swallows

ALix'lixuma'k'

sifj^iiilyinj;

whatever comes near

that his

it.

Tradition ok

NusQJii'i.sT.

Tnto'sk'ma was sent ilown to the mountain Xusijlic'lst, where he buii. a of earibou-skins. He took the name Xciv.xemala'iii.la. .\t that time the Raven was travelling all over the world in order to see it" salmon were living in all the rivers. He met Toto'sk ma, and said to him, "There shall lotlirc

always be salmon

in

the river Sa'si.mct."

Tk.vdition ok Nli.i-k'ix.

The Sun down

sent Sxumxumlai'x*, So'nxmai. Sinoxi'ai. and their sister C^uiatroni

atsla'qs

the

earth

Thev

Mount

on

hea\en.

They were the first Xui.i.e'ix. They reached They brouf^ht a salmon-weir with them.

Setsk'aiix.

which was

lived in an unders

i!().\s,

took

lour

liis

hand

visit nie. anil that

are

my

Tiu'ii

liic.

tlu'

voii lolt

thi'iii ())i|ii)sito

whom

one

tlie

Her room was in room was painted with the ilesii:n

He

daujaiii, and the tire ceased to bui n. They treateil him kindly, anil since that that the boy was the Sun's son. time the\ ha\ e increased in number. •'

I

Tkadition

Xa'i

oi'

s.

.\noxema'a.\ots, Spanpai.tnai'x", C)"meai.k"as, 0"meai.mai, and Xana'tskuii.

were sent down

move

Nuxa'lk' I, and tra' elleil where they found stones lor makinji axes. At that time the bird QJc'lx''ana was livinjr on NuscjlE'lst. He was frifxhtcned away by the arrival of Anoxema'axots and his brothers, and went to Mount Smaya'na, whicii is between the headwaters of Kinyooia Rive.. lie made the salmon ascend Bella combe Inlet and Mella Coola River up to Mount Smaya'na. One winter Anoxema'axots's brothers went out in their canoe to fish by to Xa'iis.

'I'iiey

o\erlanil until they reached the

ilesired to

mountain

to

Xusqlic'lst,

(

Suildenly an avalanche

the liyht of torches.

came down Mount Nusqli/Ist,

Anoxema'axots. One man who was li\inij; in this villaLce had a post to which a copper was fastened, llis house was not destroyed by the avalanche, and when the brothers returned they heard him siioutinir, and duir him out. bur\in>i'(l

When

.

thoii;et

tt)

very narrow one.

Tin;

dauiihteis

I)is

canoe, but

the

to

lia\

I

he mentioneil his hammer. to

OK

IIIOI.OCV

hammer. "

littlo

lint

when

once what had happened. he liad obtained it he was ^()in,'ht

it

take better care of yom- treasures."

I

;

Sun asked the bird to sit down next to his face. When he pecked out his eyes without his knowiufj it. Karlv in the niornint,^ he heard the bird singinij. He was going to open his eves, but he was not able to do so. Then he called his son, saying. " The bird has blinded me." The young man jumped up and went to his fither-in-law, and the eveninir the

was

asleep, the bird

liOAS.

siiiil,

bad

"

Wliy

bird.

IIIK .\n lll()l,()(;\

you wish

dill It

outsido, and

thanked

I

I

days he staid

his

in

made up

he wanted to

for the bird

for havini,'

it

was time

it

mi*kL.

I

I

lllK \1\

IIOAS,

salniiiii-spL'iir."

Snr-nt'-'iq

'I'hc

you please

whati.'\cr

She

become

to

and the

the stone

bidden.

me

cut

that

much

as

as

witli

are."

have to

I

you

iiu-

boy

'I'lie

please.

intlict

want

I

are."

cut

oil'

my

to

two stone

tiiul

the SnCnr'n], "

Then the boy said to the Now your neck on this knire." 'i'he SnOne'iii diil Then the boy took the other knit'e, told the Snenc'ui

The

about to unite with

it,

when

jumped back

heail

the boy passed

to

and

ri\er,

I'ouiul

down on

lie

Put

eyes, anil cut oH" her head.

my

knives with whicli

They walked up

iieail."

knives.

stone.

this

yon

.\niii.\n'm\me

river to

"You may

do

iiiul

you

as

as pretty

«^

Then the boy climbed down the tree, asked, "What must ue do first?" He said. "We must

Snene'lc]

mother used

come down,

Oil.

luv

you ean endure the wouiuls

replied.

as pretty as

this

lip

i^o

••

make

to

CdOIA INDIANS.

nil', lii;i,I.A

ropi-ati-il,

ortler

in

replied. "I ilon't believe

upon yon."

H()|.()(,V ()!

1

she was

as

to shut

her

was

the bod\. and

hands over the wound, and

his

thus prcNcnted the severed heail Irom joining the bodv

Thus he had

.iLcain.

her.

killed

Then he went Sneiie'iii

iiacl

patted

all

it

around

Snene'iii's house.

to the

killed

and smoked over her

Thus he

over with his hands.

the iiouse. he I'ound the

in

dried

lie

whom

the

took the bodv down,

.ind

louiul

He

tire.

his

resuscitated the

bodies

sister

On

j^nrl.

other children,

ot'

looking

whom

he

back to lite. Then he took the i^irl and the otiier children home. the boy was irrown up. His mother was ver\ ylad. She wanted

also hrouiiht

Now him

to

She selected

marry.

ordered his wile to sleep the iiouse, while

he

I

to

name

mother. "

his

am?" •

Son

ol"

the Sun.'

me when

iari.ii.

pi'opli'

tlir

iv

hi: ni:i

l)iMt

t

tlu'

Till,

tlii'ir

I

Tlu' poopk'

ii|nvard.

yoiini;

till.'

hoy

lii>

asi-i-iui

wal'ti'd

III

him not to it. Thev jilaeed him in his sister and all the women llis sister bei.

in

a in

harpoon. makinlu'

ii|).

hiisliaiul.

hit the

throat

ol"

lidiiM'.

thi'

timi

any

lie

lieaid

I'rijiiiteneil

on

1

flat

roek.

her wails.

my

in I

lost,

'I'lun

ai\il

she aroiisid

ahniit to iittavk

ImlIi

him

rolling:

lu-i

diil

lit-

shot.

lie

ilown the nxtf

went nut. imi

he

daylight

near by. ami

la\

liearil

tluiii.

lie

nut

diil

ol

some

ami he

liim.

people of

(lie

distance up

liu'

retiirneil.

tlie

xilla^^e

wint

up

The

eries

were so

ii\er.

ri\er.

tlie

loiul

reported to his Irieiuls what

IK'

ami a ^rvM many men went up the river, but they were all Finally a younju' man by the name ol Koanatoi.ai'x* by the noise. lie went up tiie ri\ii in ^'o ami see what was causinj; the noise, iiceompanii'd by one Iriend. ami they saw a lar^'e Sneni'ii) sittinj,'

ioe.

a

lth'W

it

s\

imhws

hearti,

'

e,

as

one

ilay

lomi wailinj;

iVi'.'htened

his

ne\t

the

that they

otl'iK

As soon

was

\

ti)in|ile

iiiijj:lit

liiivc

two

Ol

TIIK IlKLl.A

iiiessciificrs

uttoieil the cries

;

to tlic

C< )OI,A

RavL-n's liousc, in order to

hut they saw

was covered mcssenfjers returned, and reported what they had the

fireplace,

and

noticed

he

that

INDIANS.

him

with

iyinj,'

ashes.

clown near

Then

the

The people

seen.

dis-

cussed the nieaninu of the cries, and finally resolved to send to the Raven,

who was renowned

Two

messenfj;ers

mean

on

account of his experience, and

went to see your enemies

hini.

come

to

a.^k

his

they asked him, he said,

\\'lien

opinion.

"Those

Escape while there is The people yet time. Don't stop to take your food alonjj^. hut run away." followed his advice. He said, "I cannot join you, because I am sick. It does not mattei whether the enemies kill me or whether I die of disease." As soon as the people hail left, he ai'ose, took all the meat, and hid it near his own house. On tiie tollowini^ mornint; the people returned, and saw tiiat Thej" looked the villaj^e was undisturbed, only tiie meat had disappeared. askance at the kaven, suspectinj;; that he had stolen their meat. On the followinji day the Raven thought, "I will go to visit the Deer." He went there, opened the door of the Deer's house, and said, " At what season are you tattest " The Deer replied, " At the time when the people ha\e dried all their rish." Then the Raven left him, and returned at the time when all the fish had been dried. He said, " i.Oqumai'. come! I want to speak to you. Let us go up the mountain, and let us tell about our ancestors." They went up the mountain and the Raven said, " Here is the place where I am accustomed to sit and to bask in the sun. Let us sit down here." It was a meadow near a steep precipice. The Raven induced the Deer to sit down near the precipice, while he himself sat down a little farther back. Now he supported his head on his hand, and began to cry. •' How long your forelegs are. how long your forelegs are !" Then the The Ra\ en said, Now you must cry next." Then Deer looked at him. the Deer began to cry. and sang, "How gray your nose is !" And the Raven retorted, singing. "How long your nose is !" Thus they continued for some time. When they had finished crying, the Raven asked. " IL)W long have you been in this world.'" The Deer have been here. Tell me first how long replied. " It is a long time that you iia\ e been liere." Then the Rav en said, " I became a man when the mountains began to rise." The Deer retorted, " That is not so long. am older than you are. became a man before the Sun gave the woild its I present form." Then they began to cry again and this time the Deer sang, " How ugly his foot is His foot is all covered with scars." Then the Raven grew angry, inisiied the Deer, and thiew him down the precipice. Then he assumed the sha]ie of the Raven, and Hew down the mountain, crying, "QpaxI" lie ate part of the Deer's meat, and concealed the rest under ciies

that

will

to kill you.

.'

;

*'

1

I

;

I

stones.

Then next ?"

lionie iuul

rctiinieil

lie

made up

lie

OF THE

IIIK M\lll()l.()(;\

liOAS,

his

mind

lay

liKl.I.A

He

down.

to travel.

After

COOl.A INDIANS.

"What

thoiiglu,

93 shall

some time he reached

a

do I house

stepped in and looked about. He saw that which was moNinfj as thoufjfh women were working at it but he did not see anybody. Then he went out and called his sisters StsuwaastE'lqs ("crow"). Nuk-'OxnE'm ("mouse"), XMlx* ("

IK" askoil tho knot-hcU-.

ri'plv.

wlidin

IH'opii'

DciT was

ory

\

ajiusi'il

\\eretl

dl'

in

Smoke was

yoint;; on,

order to

ordei' In

risimj

people

the

hail

rejiort

to

from one assembled

stranyer

host that a

tiie

When

stram;er.

lie

iiim.

I

a

came

he

is

ol in

very yooil dancer.

a

On

call

tears.

the

hous

I

••

is

1

iiii',

into the

readied he

came

a

woods

iiiteml-

ii\er.

There

near, she asked,

Stump." She asked. "Where from here." " Do vou know replied, " know where it is.

—

I

iioAs,

but

I

shall

iKtt

you.

ti'll

aiu'

way of

led

towards a patch

They

and

Alter

(ooi a immans.

lol

marry you." 'I'hi- poor yirl did not sec Stump. Soon they rraihed a trail which rmier tiiese trees was the Stump's house.

tlu-

ilown.

sat.

short

a

trees,

ol"

riiK hki.i.a

wiint to

I

ami followeil

i'sca|)i.'.

enteretl

iiioi.iKiv or

M\

iiii;

.Stump

time

to

saiil

his

wit'e.

" Let us

;fo

outsiile.

My

want you to louse me." She consenteil. The man hut when she w.as went out tlrst. and his wile was ,i;oin,ii to follow him She sloppeil, and on looknear the ilooi', she hearil some one eallinti' her. she saw a woman who was rooted to the lloor of the house. ini; around Her name was Nus(|ecxtei,pOts.Va.\. She fjave her a brad-awl. anil said, " The lice of which your husbaiul is speaking; arc toads. Use 'I'ake this. this brail-awl to catcii them. Don't be fri recpiested her to stop, and they went into tlie house. Mefore they went to bod he said, " I am jj^oinii' ;iway early in tiie morninij." When the younj; woman awoke, she saw that iier husband hail left the house. Then she arose, went to the woman who was rooted to the tlooi', and asked, " Is there an\' hope of my esc^ipinij; if run away ? " She replied, •• ^'ou may try it, Init \ cur husband is keeping; watch of you. I lis chamber-pot is his watchman, and will tell him whate\er happens duriui; his absence." it Late in the evenin"; the Stump returned. Then the woman jirctended to be \ery happy to see him back home. In the exenin;,' he said attain that he was lcouilc out early in the mornin;,'. The followinfjf morniny the woman awoke ayain after her husband had left. Then she told the woman who was rooted to the lloor that she intended to escape. As soon as she left the house, the chamber-pot called to its master, sayinj; that his wife was I

niakinu;

her escape,

and took her back. tlie

lie

On

woman who was and

make

heard

it,

althoui^h

he was

the followinjj day the

rooted

to

the

floor

told

far

away, pursued her,

man went away the

younii'

ati'.iin.

Then

wife to t.ike the

round the rim of the chamber-pot. After bladder tilled with urine, a comb, and a ;an to shout, but its voice was not lire-drill,

to

holes

she had done so, she ^ave

all

her a

lOi

s(i

|Ui\>.

as

IdtuI

luaiil

st

his

iiiiiu- ci\

to

Stump

\\'l\iri

it Iut sIkuiIiKt

iktainiil

up

I'.iti'li

wliiih

siiouliliT.

wile.

wliiili

lal«t',

INJtl \NS.

\

N\'Vi.Ttluli's«> tlir

tirillrii.

binan

hi'

(Mil

(

piiixuil

liilitl

xmn

Hut

it.

bryan

was

ap-

lu'

ami ran pnrsner.

llu'

Iut

aj,'ain.

iianslotnu'il

into a

uitti

hail to ail Theu siu'

llol.dia

I

iH'litrc. boiiiiiso

till-

away.

Nh

111,

I

(the Sun)

openeil the iloor. but

>lu'

I'ouml a trail, whiili siu'

ami on lookiny throujih

sittin;:

insiile,

iloorway was

thi'

The man

dare to enter.

m.

.Sun.

oi' thi'

who

"Come

saiil,

with

bla/.in;:

iur to jump thinm^h the

told

lie looked in throuiih a ehink, and

tiie

Sun

told

in

the wail-

The woman

in."

so that she .Slu'

tin'.

Stump

Altir a short time the

entered the housi' sateh.

fire,

Soon

I'ollowi'd.

ihink

a

di,!

liid

not

so. a\m.\

leaeheil the housi-.

him to enter. the doorway.

'I'he

Stump

was eonsiinied b\ the liie in The woman was iiuited to live in a room in oiu' eorner ol' the house. There shle staid, and al'ti'r some time she had a boy. the son (il' the .Sun. 11'.' m* lie was viry u

aioiiL;- the Sun on her back, ami ileseemled alonySun'ss eyelashes.

*''iflii'r'< lather's

liMiKi' house

in in

the I'vi'iiintr e\eninJ,^ till'

lli'i* Her

).

Slu' took llu-

.She reached her

and ti'ii'iiilIriends vviTe were vi»f\\ery

niircnt^; parents

.'itifl

crhwl ut bo was not yot ablo to walk. 'i"bo woman took still anotlu- piooo iVom bor loft broast, and jj^axo it to bim. After lio bad tinisbod oatinu. tbo

_

>

Soon thoy roacbod tho opens and closes in

mo

\()U

will

si'o

\()u

may

oonie and

sittinu'

at

my

his

said.

mo man

IIo told

lor us.

waitiiiii

boail

'I'lu'ii

Tbo w oman

till

on, and tbo

stoop

it

tbo

have opens

jump

to

'1

y-lacier

coming

He

\'er\-

put on hii,di

up

Here he sat down, leanimr tiom which the ri\er was ibrth

from

a

ca\e

in

the

li

f

IIO

liOAS.

^^lacKM-.ancl

cL.wn .u-.r him. .onncctcd i, with ,h. cav..

li-v

'.I

TlIK MVHI()|,(),;v Ol

lall,,,,.

IIIK

|l|.;|.|,.\

it

piaee . henee ,he

whde.t re-appeared

thr.,u,,d,

nu.vino

a,.un ,nt„

the

P'""^ ••"-

-'-I' the

a..nn

had eonie.

it

The unu.^ man was .ire

had e.Mne.

mueh

ver v

Alter a

little

the air over the sea. and then returned yonn. man eantionslv erept up to th

the

Soon he saw

e,ner,a-d.

tire

A

tlu- .nnuntain. thread turned back, and disappeared

,t

eonnn. out a,nn. and '

returned

,t

Then

-dae.er.

INDIANS.

n.lled cl,.w„

It

S.ulclcniv

-ve ,n.m uhieh surpnsed. He looked at the t'H-

>"

c,),,! A

to

the

Then

,lacier.

he

though,.

-. I

kntte and

will

take

mv

^ton

cut the thread which holds it to the ^dacier." As soon hs it a^ain. he cut the thread. The ball of tire tell down. lie took it up and hul ,t under his blanket. Then he ran ho„K. as tast as he could When he was near the villa^a-. he hid the tire in his .p.iver. which he tied up. I he v,lla,a. ,n which he lived was very lar,... and behind the houses hue was an open stretch of land. lie hun. the cp.ivcr on the branch of a t.ee when he entered h,s house. Karly the next morning, he arose made a tue and told his friends to call the people.

came

ut

He

intended to show"

-"' -hat he had .ound. I lis friends went into all the houses and called IHpeope. I he youn^. man told them to assemble on the open place

bch.nd

the

oppos.te

He

honses.

each

told

Then

other.

then,

arrange

to

he took

then,sehes ,uiver and said to

his

t'wo

in

the

n

w

people.

open th,s Do not be afraid. I shall throw to vou what I \L,~ ound. and y.n. wdl throw it across to the people standing' on the opposite I

shall

Do

s.de.

not

let

down, but

tall

,t

At once

qu.ver.

the

Hery

let

tiew

ball

it

vo

fly

out.

and

and thcv

fro."

from one si'le to the other. A very few people had staid in the houses, and when no.se.they also came out to see what thrown!.,'

was

unable to nunc, staid

and then they returned

Uu.ba

toand

Ihe

woman was

M At

Me

la.,a.

last

ball

with

it

it

who was

old

opened the

IK-

plaved

tro.

to the

and

her

on.

all

thev heard the

Onlv one old woman

After a

open place and continued

the onlv person

the

house.

whenever any one

opened the doors of found

in

j^oin,.

while

to plav.

the

Thev threw

thev 'shouted'^ staid behind

who

hit

peoplj

it.

wlV"

the houses, but he did not see a soul

woman.

He asked her. "Where are all' thesuppose you have just arrived here, else vou would know that a n.an found a wonderful ball of fire. All the people 'are Playu,. w,th .t behind the houses."-"Qh " said the man. people

Jie

She

.

replied,

old "

I

!

lK.|on,.s

to

'that

nu-.

I

a.u lookin-. for

it,

and

I

ca.ue here to recover

it."

b.l

t'iustranger touched the feet, the le^s, the body, and the head of the old won.an Ihen she lay there dead. He asstnned her shape, took her stafi". which was lyuig next to her. and left the house. Then he went to the openin.. where

1

iioAs,

the

iiii;

were

people-

m\th()I.ih;v ok tiik kki.i.a cooi.a Indians.

1

1

Tliey saw

playini,'.

liiin eMtnini,'. and believed him to he and were >ihii\ to see her eominj,' too. They tolil him to sit down, and promised to throw the ball of tire to him too. As soon as the hall was thrown to liim. he took hold of it, spread his leys, and |nit it into his anus. He jumped up, tore off his skin, and appeared

woman.

the oKl

his

in

own

and the

they

'I'iien

shape as a

fier\

hall

was

laiif,'hed,

heantifiii

his

man.

yoiiiif,'

was

lie

the ^dacier himself,

wind.

TllK Bl.ACK Hf.ar.

A

daughter went

chief's

place where

on some

many

dunj,'

roots

were

diyyiny ared

who was

skin

to

linished

harilly

Then

dead.

lell

the

two

tlo^js

sur-

o\\er to assume the form o a bear: so he did not objeet any longer, but left the Innise

during the

to j^o

huntini,^ in

arosi-

befine the break of

breakfast,

iil*0^..

a distant valle\.

ni^rht

The woman she

bcyan

to

clean

the

d.av,

bear-skin.

and,

\\

Alter

ithout this

sto|)|)ini,f

was

to take

linished, she

Tin; .\1VHI()|.(H,\ Ol

liOAS,

iiwiikcncti

llu'

iH'opIc,

lor a Ik.hl-

iiskiii!,'

She was -ivni

••M\

(ii\e

nocdif

hr..kin.

is

near her. to

sittinii

nw

oik'.

another one."

another

r

compare

to

order to

in

As

of their peculiar or

ol"

the >k\. it

will

In

we

tribes

liotii

prayers

to the

tind

tlie

man

he clear weather, and

directed

C'oola

lU'lla

tiie

remarkable reseinMance

ol' tlu'

idea

to

or

Si.iix

hear

Ta'ata

a

'rsimshiaii adchessed to I-a\l)a.

tliat

when

Sun wipes

the

his

tiue

he happy; consequently the prayer lo

will

"to wipe his taee " occurs (|iiite ol'teii. 'oola borrowed from the most important customs that the Uella ihe C'oast tribes is the ku'siut lereinonial, with which are connecti'd the various secret societii'S. particilai iy the custom ol ceienionial cannibalism. The ceremonies and the paraphernalia used by die Mella L'oola and by the Kwakiutl are practically identical. I told abo\ e (p. .^4) the legend exidainiiiL' Amon