[Told by Walter McGregor of the Sealion-town people]
There were ten of them, and they went to hunt with dogs. After they had
gone along for some time it became misty about them, and they came to a
steep mountain [41] and sat there. Their dogs walked about on the
ground below. They yelped up at them.
Then they started a fire on top of the mountain, and one among them who
was full of mischief put his bow into the fire. But, when it was
consumed, it lay on the level ground below. Then he also put himself
in. After he had burned for a while and was consumed, lo, he stood on
the level ground below. Then he told his elder brothers to do the same
thing. “Come, do the same thing. I did not feel it.” So they threw
themselves into the fire. They were consumed and stood at once on the
level ground.
And when they put the next to the eldest in, his skin drew together as
he burned. His eyes were also swollen by the fire. That happened to him
because he was afraid to be put in. When he was consumed he also stood
below. The same thing happened to the eldest. This mountain was called
“Slender-rock.”
Then they left it. After they had traveled about for a while a wren
made a noise near them. They saw a blue hole in the heart of the one
who was traveling nearest to it. And after they had gone on a while
longer they came to the inner end of Masset inlet. When they had
traveled on still farther (they found) a hawk [42] feather floated
ashore. This they tied in the hair of the youngest. He put feathers
from the neck of a mallard around the lower part of it. It was pretty.
Now they came to a temporary village. They camped in a house in the
middle which had a roof. They began eating mussels which were to be
found at one end of the town. He who was mischievous made fun of the
mussels. He kept spitting them out upward. By and by they set out to
see who could blow them highest [through the smoke hole]. One went up
on the top of the house and held out his blanket, which was over his
shoulder. By and by he looked at it. His blanket was covered with
feathers. They did not know that this was caused by their having broken
their fast.
And after they had walked about for a while in the town they found an
old canoe. Moss grew on it. Nettles were also on it. They pulled these
off, threw them away, and repaired it. Then the mischievous one made a
bark bailer for it. On the handle he carved a figure like a bird. He
carved it in a sitting posture. They tied a bunch of feathers in the
hair of one of their number, and he got in forward with a pole. Another
went in and lay on his back in the stern. They poled along.
After they had gone along for a while they came to a village where a
drum was sounding. A shaman was performing there. The glow [of the
fire] shone out as far as the beach. Then they landed in front of the
place, bow first, and the bow man got off to look. When he got near
[the shaman said]: “Now, the chief
Supernatural-being-who-keeps-the-bow-off is going to get off.” He was
made ashamed and went directly back.
And the next one got off to look. When he got near [the shaman said]:
“Chief Hawk-hole [43] is going to get off.” And he looked at himself.
There was a blue hole in him. He became ashamed and went back.
The next one also got off to look. When he got near he heard the shaman
say again: “Now the chief Supernatural-being-on-whom-the-daylight-rests
is going to get off.” And he went back.
Then the next one got off. He (the shaman) said, as before: “Now the
chief Supernatural-being-on-the-water-on-whom-is-sunshine is going to
get off.”
And another one got off to look. When he got near [he said]: “Now the
chief Supernatural-puffin-on-the-water [44] is going to get off.” He
was also ashamed and went back.
And another got off. He (the shaman) said to him: “Now the chief
Hawk-with-one-feather-sticking-out-of-the-water [45] is going to get
off.” He looked at the shaman from near. He had a costume like his own.
Then he also went back.
Still another got off. When he, too, got near [the shaman said]: “Now
the chief Wearing-clouds-around-his-neck [46] is going to get off.” And
he, too, went back.
And another got off. When he came near [the shaman said]: “Now the
chief Supernatural-being-with-the-big-eyes is going to get off.” He
remembered that he had been thus. [47]
And yet another got off. When he, too, came near the door [the shaman
said]: “Now the chief Supernatural-being-lying-on-his-back-in-the-canoe
is going to get off.”
Then he got on again, and the oldest got off to look. When he came near
[the shaman said]: “Now the chief who owns the canoe,
Supernatural-being-half-of-whose-words-are-raven, is going to get off.”
Then the eldest brother said: “Truly, we have become supernatural
beings. Now, brothers, arrange yourselves in the canoe.” Then they took
on board some boys who were playing about the town. They put them in a
crack in the bottom of the canoe. And they pulled up grass growing at
one end of the town for nests. They arranged it around themselves where
they sat.
Then they started round the west coast. When the one who had a pole
slipped his hands along it, its surface became red. He alone pushed the
canoe along with his staff.
As they floated along, when they found any feathers floating about,
they put them into a small box. If they found flicker feathers floating
about, they were particularly pleased and kept them.
Then they came to a town. A woman went about crying near it. They took
her in with them. When this woman’s husband came from fishing with a
net [he thought] some man had his arms around his wife. Then he put
burning coals on the arms about her. But it was his wife who got up
crying. [48] It was she who was going about crying, whom they took in.
Then they made a crack in the bottom of the canoe for her and put her
hand into it, whereupon it ceased paining her. They made her their
sister. They placed her above the bailing hole.
Then they came in front of Kaisun. And the woman at the head of Djū,
Fine-weather-woman, [49] came to them. [She said]: “Come near, my
brothers, while I give you directions. The eldest brother in the middle
will own the canoe. His name shall be
‘Supernatural-being-half-of-whose-words-are-Raven.’ [50] Part of the
canoe shall be Eagle; part of it shall be Raven. Part of the dancing
hats shall be black; part of them shall be white. The next one’s name
shall be ‘Supernatural-being-with-the-big-eyes.’ The one next to him
will be called ‘Hawk-hole.’ The next one will be called
‘Supernatural-being-on-whom-the-daylight-rests.’ The next one will be
called ‘Supernatural-being-on-the-water-on-whom-is-sunshine.’ The next
one will be called ‘Puffin-putting-his-head-out-of-the-water.’ The next
will be called ‘Wearing-clouds-around-his-neck.’ The next will be
called ‘Supernatural-being-lying-on-his-back-in-the-canoe.’ The next
will be called ‘Supernatural-being-who-keeps-the-bow-off.’ He will give
orders. Wherever you give people supernatural power he will push the
canoe. And the next younger brother will be called
‘Hawk-with-one-feather-sticking-out-of-the-water.’ And the sister
sitting in the stern will be called
‘Supernatural-woman-who-does-the-bailing.’ Now, brothers, set
yourselves in the canoe. Paddle to Stā′ngwai. [51] It is he who paints
up those who are going to be supernatural beings. He will paint you up.
Dance four short nights in your canoe. Then you will be finished.” That
was how she spoke of four years.
Immediately, he (Stā′ngwai) dressed them up. He dressed them up with
dancing hats, dancing skirts, and puffins’-beak rattles. He pulled a
skin of cloud round the outside of the canoe. He arranged them inside
of it. Where they sat he arranged their nests. All was finished.
This is the end.
Compare with this the conclusion of the story of
The-supernatural-being-who-went-naked and a story in the Masset series
(Memoirs of the Jesup North Pacific Expedition, 1905, volume 5, part 1,
page 213). It tells the origin of certain supernatural beings who were
supposed to speak through shamans, how they received their names, etc.
The headdresses here referred to are the elaborate structures with
carved wooden fronts, sea-lion bristles around the tops, and rows of
weasel skins down the backs. Things thrown into the fire were supposed
to go to the land of souls, hence the idea of sending men thither in
that way is perfectly natural.