[Told by Wī′nats, chief of the Seaward Gîti′ns]
Her father came in from fishing. Then her mother cut up the fish, and
she tore up the liver and fat of the halibut and gave it to a raven.
After she had done this for some time spring came, and they were
hungry. Then they began to get things that were exposed at low tide.
[55]
One time the raven sat in front of her and made motions as if it were
eating something. Then she went to it. Chitons were piled up there. She
picked them up and gave them to her uncles’ wives. And next day she
again went after things that were exposed at low tide and gave the
things to one to whom she had not given them before. The raven had
begun helping her in return for what she had done.
After that they went out with her again. She found the tail of a spring
salmon. She took that to the house also. The pieces became larger and
larger each time until finally she found a whole one. Then she went
again for things that were exposed at low tide. She found a porpoise’s
tail. She came in after finding it. During all that time she gave food
to her uncles’ wives.
One day she was coming in after getting things with them. As she was
walking along last in the trail in front of Tow hill two good-looking
men came to her. One came up on each side of her, and they took her
home with them. They came to a town and led her into the house of the
town chief.
After she had stayed there a while she heard them say: “The one hunting
for things at North cape [56] stays away a long time.” She understood
their language plainly. After some time had passed they said: “He is
coming. Now he comes along, turning over at intervals.” She went out
with them to look at him. “He comes walking,” they said. Still the
raven came flying. It turned around as it came. They call it “taking a
basket off one’s back.” In that way it communicated news every now and
then. It came in and said: “I cut up a whale which had floated ashore
at North cape.”
Then the town chief said: “Give the woman you brought food in exchange
for the help she gave you.” At once all of the town people gave her
food. They gathered for food halibuts’ tails and heads and berries.
They gave these to the woman.
At the time when she went with them for things that were exposed at low
tide she was lost for a long time. Her father did not know where she
was. One day she [was found] sitting in front of her father’s house in
the morning surrounded by the food. Then she gave food to her uncles.
She gave them a part. By trading with the rest her father became a rich
man.
After that she told her father what she had heard at the Raven town:
“Father, a black whale lies at House point,[56] they say. He who went
hunting cut it all up. You would better go to it, father.” Then he went
thither. In truth, a whale lay there. Not one part of it was gone. Only
a little had been taken off the upper side of it. Then they began
cutting it up.
After he had cut up the whole upper part of it he was tired out. Then
he made a little house of driftwood and steamed himself. He became
stronger. Next he went away and told the town people about it. Then all
the town people went out and cut it up. That time they finished it.
This is all.
Some refer to this story for the origin of the Raven crest.