WHEN RAVEN MARRIED OFF HIS SISTER

_Haida_

Raven wanted to find a good husband for his sister. He went out one

day and cried, “Who will marry my sister?”

“I,” “I,” “I,” “I,” said all the animals. So Raven began to question

them.

“What can you do?” he asked Grizzly Bear.

“When I see people, I will roar,” said Grizzly.

“You are too bad-tempered,” said Raven. He refused him.

Wolf offered. “What can you do?” asked Raven.

“I snap at people if I am alone. When the pack is with me, I devour

them,” said Wolf.

“You are too bad-tempered,” said Raven.

Then Elk offered. “I can crash through the forests,” said Elk. Raven

refused him.

“What can you do?” asked Raven of Deer and Porpoise. They were

cousins.

“I can pull out any skunk cabbage with my teeth,” said Deer.

Porpoise said, “I will always eat clean things. I always eat

herring.” That is why, when Deer swims to an island, Porpoise always

swims with him.

So Raven consented. He let Porpoise marry his sister.

Myths and Legends of British North America · 第 90 / 107 题