[Told by Moses McKay, sole survivor of the Seaward-Sqoā′ładas]
From Da′x̣ua Ya′ʼgît sent to Masset inlet for a canoe. He belonged to
the Seaward-Sqoā′ładas. [151] He was town chief at Da′x̣ua. After some
time had passed they brought the canoe to him. Then, although Ya′ʼgît
owned it, while it was being brought Sg̣agᴀ′ño [152] bought the canoe,
his (Ya′ʼgît’s) head slave being then away fishing. [153] His (the
slave’s) name was Yū′lᴀñ.
He now came in from fishing. Then they said to him: “Yū′lᴀñ, Sg̣agᴀ′ño
has bought the canoe.” He at once became angry because they had taken
away the canoe from his master. Then he chewed native tobacco. After
that he tried to mix calcined shells with it, but he was so angry he
shoved it outside [of his mouth] against his cheek. [154]
And at night he went to the place where the canoe lay. He then said:
“Are you awake in the canoe?” And the one in the bow and the one in the
stern replied. “We are,” they said to him. And he further said to them:
“It is well that you are. They say that Yū′lañ says that he is going to
break up this canoe.”
And after he had waited some time longer, and it was midnight, he went
there again. And he spoke as before. And again they answered him. He
again went away.
And just before dawn, at the hour when it is always dark, he went
thither once more. He again asked: “Are you awake?” And they did not
answer him. He then struck upon the bow with his stone ax, and one who
was with him struck upon the stern. They split the canoe into pieces.
They then went away to the house.
When daylight came and people knew that he had smashed the canoe they
all moved at once. They put on their armor to fight one another. After
they had put on their gorgets, helmets, and hide coats they went out to
fight one another with spears and bows.
Now, after they had fought for a while, they shot Yū′lᴀñ in one eye and
put it out. He went to the house. And after he had sat in the house for
a while news came to him: “Yū′lᴀñ, we are being worsted.” At once he
again went out to fight. And after he had begun to drive them back they
put out his other eye.
He then crept to the house. While he was creeping along he fell into a
deep hole into which they used to defecate. Then he was creeping into
[the house] all covered with ordure. And his master’s wife said to him:
“Yū′lᴀñ, you never used to ask how an affair was started. [155] Look at
yourself.” “Well, noble woman, it is not so bad as if I sat below by
the creek.” [156]
Yū′lᴀñ could then do nothing. And his friends G̣a′nqꜝatxa and Sa′diya
passed. They alone fought. But still the Seaward-sqoā′ładas won the
day. [157]
Then Sg̣agᴀ′ño and his family fled to the woods. They were not then
called Pebble-town people. Sg̣agᴀ′ño’s family came to Pebble-town and
bought it. And the Sea-otter people [158] sold the town. Then they had
a town there.
The interest of this story lies in the fact that it tells of the first
civil disturbance among the people of Skidegate inlet, which ultimately
led a part of them to move to the west coast. This version was obtained
from the last survivor of the Seaward-Sqoā′ładas. Another, differing in
some particulars, was obtained in English from Wī′nats, chief of the
Seaward Gîtî′ns, also an inlet family, and may be found in Publications
of the Jesup North Pacific Expedition, volume V, part I, page 80. The
town of Da′x̣ua stood just north of Lawn hill, at the entrance of
Skidegate inlet.