[Told by Abraham, of Those-born-at-Qꜝā′dᴀsg̣o, to whom it was related by
an old Ninstints man.]
A man, along with his sister, was abandoned by his nine uncles. They
built a small house under a tree. He lived in this with his sister.
After they had lived there for a while two ravens came flying from the
west coast. Then they sat on a branch of the tree below which they
lived and wiped their bills. Afterward they flew back in the direction
from which they had come. They disappeared over the mountain.
After this had happened many times while they were living there they
began to be suspicious. Then they conferred with each other. He asked
his sister to go with him in the direction the ravens always took when
they flew over. Immediately they started up in the bed of Stasqa′os
creek.
When they got far up they came to the end of a trail. And they went up
upon it. When they got to the top of the mountain [they found] a hole
there. The bottom could not be seen. And when they started to leave it
they came back to it again. They kept doing so all day. A short time
after they had started from it they came back to it.
Then the man became angry, took dirt in his hand and threw it in.
“Yawaiyā′⁺, it makes people come back who try to go away from it,” said
he. [548] Then, when they started away, they came to the town-site of
Ku′ndi. [549]
Three rows of whales had floated ashore there. Those in the row nearest
land were rotten. Those in the next row were a little rotten. Those
next the sea were fresh. Killer whales came out to sleep on a reef
which ran out into the strait. They made a noise, touching each other.
Then he and his sister constructed a house. When it was finished he cut
up some fresh whales. At the same time he steamed them.
And one night he heard something whispering to his sister. He did not
ask her about it. The night after that he again heard something talking
to his sister. Then in the morning he asked his sister: “What talked to
you in the night?” “Brother, [550] they tell me a strange thing.
Kꜝū′dᴀña-point will marry me. If you agree, they say they will give you
much food. If you agree, they direct you to make a strong club. When
the house is full they direct you to stand outside the door. Then they
direct you to break their heads with your club.” He agreed. Evening
came again, and his sister was gone in the morning.
He finished his club. Then good-looking people came in to him. Some had
curly hair. When there was a great crowd in the house he stood outside.
And, as soon as they went out, he struck them on their heads. Right
there they fell dead. They became sea otters and hair seals. They say
that Kꜝū′dᴀña-point owns the west coast sea otters.
After some time had passed away, two of his uncles’ slaves hunted for
him. They came to him. Then, after he had given them food, he told them
that they should not say how he was situated. He did not give them food
to take home, but one slave concealed a small piece under his tongue
for his child. Then they went home.
After some time had passed, his uncles came around Sqa-i-point. The
slaves had told about him. That is why they were there. When they
abandoned him at Sqa-i his youngest uncle’s wife, although they were
watching each other, left him food enough in a neat way to last him for
some time.
As they came along his uncles’ daughters were dressed up and sat high
in the canoes. Near them coppers were raised upon poles. Then he called
in the youngest. But he refused the others. And they started back.
Then he married the daughter of the youngest. And after that a town
arose there. They bought food from him. He became a chief there.
See notes to preceding story.