[Told by Richard of the Middle-gîtî′ns]
One of the Point-town people [846] lived in Nass. Word came that he had
been killed there. Then the Point-town people started to war. After
they had drunk sea water for a while they raised their canoes. In the
canoes Skîlqē′xas [847] and Gia′ołins were the war chiefs. Presently
they started. They had their town at House-point. [848]
They then went by way of the Tlingit country. They even traveled during
the day. They discovered some dried salmon at Lᴀ′mas. [849] They (the
Nass people) thought that they did not care about the man who was
killed. After they had waited there until evening they went out early
in the morning. They killed then many of the Nass people. They also
took slaves. At that time Qogī′s ran after some. He ran quickly to some
women who were sitting together. He started to bring out ten by the
hair. He got only six of them out.
They got then all the heads of the Niska people. They got sixteen
slaves for Gia′ołins, and they got thirteen for Skîlqē′xas. Then they
occupied a fort at House-point.
After some time the Niska people came to fight in five canoes. That
time they began to fight at House-point. Five of the Point-town people
were killed. And one canoe load of Niska people was destroyed. They
then went away.
And the Point-town people again went to war. That time they fought at
Nass village. They enslaved ten for Skîlqē′xas. They also enslaved
eight for Gia′ołins. They then returned to House-point, singing songs
of victory.
And while they were living at Łi′elᴀñ [850] the Nass people came to
House-point to fight. The town of House-point was empty then, and the
Nass people burned the town. And the Nass people also seized the
provision house [851] of Skîlqē′xas behind the town.
Then the Point-town people again went to Nass to fight. At that time
they met four canoes below the town of Lag̣ᴀ′mkꜝida. [852] And they
destroyed three. They again took some slaves that time. They came away
to Łi′elᴀñ, singing songs of victory.
After they had lived there for a while, they thought the Nass people
too powerful for them, and they moved to Masset. After they had lived
there some time, the Nass people came to Łi′elᴀñ to fight. When the
Nass people came upon it very early in the morning they found the town
empty, and they burned it. And, when they saw the smoke from Masset,
the Point-town people went thither to fight. At that time they had a
pitched battle. They fought all day. Many were killed on both sides.
Four of the Up-inlet-gîtî′ns [853] went to fight with them. Two of them
were killed.
And, when they came back, the Up-inlet-gîtî′ns asked the Point-town
people to pay something for them. They gave then one slave for the two
men. And the Up-inlet-gîtî′ns went away and left the slave. That
evening they killed two of the Point-town people. The Up-inlet-gîtî′ns
began at once to fight with the Point-town people. Many were killed on
each side. After they had fought all winter they talked of peace. They
then gave many slaves back and forth as blood compensation. Then there
was peace.
When summer came the Point-town people went to the Nass to war. After
they had been unable to find an opportunity to do any damage for some
time three canoes came along, and they pursued them. They killed all
who were in them. But they were Tsimshian. They enslaved them.
On account of that the Tsimshian came to fight. Then they had a pitched
battle with the Point-town people. At that time many were killed on
both sides.
After that the Point-town people again went to fight. Some campers were
then drying halibut at the mouth of the Skeena. They destroyed them
all. They also took many as slaves.
After that the Tsimshian again came to war. At that time they took nine
women as slaves out of four canoes in which the people had gone out to
pick berries. They belonged to many families. They also killed three
men. Some escaped to the woods.
Many families went at once to war together. They destroyed then many
Tsimshian who were camping out. At that time they also enslaved a great
number. Then they came to Masset, singing songs of victory. Then they
did not come again to fight. When it was summer the Tsimshian came to
make peace. And, while the whole town danced together, they gave them
property. When that was over they wanted the Masset people to go across
in their turn. Those also then went over to make peace. They also gave
them a great deal of property.
The news then reached the Niska that they had made peace. And they also
came to dance [without having sent word in advance]. When the Nass
people landed in front of the town they shot at them. Many of the Nass
people were killed. Part escaped, and some time afterward they came to
fight. At that time many were killed on both sides.
Then the Point-town people also went to fight. They came to
Lag̣ᴀ′mkꜝida. That time the Nass people won. They killed many of the
Masset people. When they went to war the next time they killed many of
the Nass people. And they killed a town chief named Sqatꜝî′n. The Nass
people were very sorry on account of him. They wept and scratched their
faces. The others returned singing songs of victory.
And when they went thither to fight again the town of Lag̣ᴀ′mkꜝida was
empty. They then burned the town. They captured many boxes of grease.
When they returned Skîlqē′xas summoned the people. He said that he
would send feathers to the Niska. Then some of them did not like it.
And Gia′ołins also summoned the people. He said the same thing. Then
all agreed. And they took over feathers to the Tsimshian. After that
they carried them up to the Niska.
Some time afterward they came in ten canoes. They then carried the
dancers into all the houses. At that time they gave them a great deal
of blood money. They gave three slaves for the chief they had killed.
At that time there was not a single slave left in Masset. They gave
them all away as blood money. Then they went joyfully away. Some were
dancing; some were singing canoe songs. At that time they also left
feathers. They wanted the Masset people [to visit them].
They then also went over. They gave them a great deal of blood money.
They had then a true peace with each other. The Nass people also told
them to come and get boxes of grease, and they went over to get them.
They [the Niska] then settled again in the burned town. The Nass people
gave them boxes of grease.
And when they came home the Point-town people again fought with the
Up-inlet-gîtî′ns. Five chiefs of the Point-town people were killed.
After they had fought for a while the Point-town people carried over
two copper plates to Qꜝayā′ñ. [854] There they threw them into the
water. Then those, too, had peace with each other. They gave slaves
back and forth as blood money. And they had women on each side marry
with the opposites, because they feared that they would be angry again.
Now there was peace.
Afterward, when they had been visiting among the Tsimshian for some
time, one of the Rocky-coast-gîtî′ns [855] was killed among the
Tsimshian. When they came to make peace on account of him they were so
easy to kill on the coast that they destroyed them. Then they brought
those [dead bodies] home also.
At that time some went behind the town of Masset to keep watch. And
when the Tsimshian had almost got ashore behind Masset they shot at
them. They drove the warriors away. Then the Rocky-coast-gîtî′ns went
to war. They killed many Tsimshian.
Afterward, when the Tsimshian came to fight, they enslaved nine of the
Masset people. Then all the families again started to make war on the
Tsimshian. At that time they continually killed each other.
At one time, when they went to war and had approached some who were
living in a lonely place, one came out on shore wearing a grizzly-bear
crest. They then thought that he was all right. [856] They suggested
making peace. The warriors returned. And the Masset people went to make
peace. They then gave a great deal of property to the Masset people.
After they had started away they shot another Tsimshian. The Tsimshian
then did nothing in return. They shot down the one who was going to
take Lgiäx’s [857] place without his saying a word. Then he did not
want his nephew to be killed for nothing and came to make peace. That
time they gave a great amount of property to him. Then there was peace
again everywhere.
At that time he (Lgiäx) felt very good and went to visit the Kaigani.
After they had gone along for a while they fell into the hands of the
Middle-town people, who were going to war upon the Niska. They then
shot at each other. The Gîtsqoalʼâ′tcꜝî [858] they completely
destroyed. Nine escaped along with Lgiäx to the woods. They also broke
up five canoes. Part of the Middle-town people were also killed.
After two nights had passed the Tlingit came to him. During all that
time they lived on the food which had been thrown overboard and had
floated ashore. The Tlingit then carried news about Lgiäx [to his
people]. And the Tsimshian went to get him in four canoes. Then he said
that he was too great to be taken away. “Do you come after me because
you think that our grandfathers ever got into strange canoes? Lgiäx
does not get into a stranger’s canoe.” [859]
He then sent word to have food brought to himself. And, after they had
started away, they made a 6-fathom canoe. When it was finished he came
to his town. Then the house chiefs came and danced before him.
Some time after they prepared for war. They set out. At that time the
Tsimshian destroyed the fort of Sidī′kun. [860] They enslaved many of
the Middle-town people. They killed then many of the renowned men of
the Middle-town people.
The Middle-town people began at once to eat medicine, and did so all
winter. When summer came they went to war. At that time they killed or
enslaved many Tsimshian. They went up directly [among the Tlingit] to
sell them. They got a lot of ammunition and guns in exchange. Then they
again fortified themselves.
Some time afterward the Tsimshian came against the fort. At that time
the Middle-town people went out in their canoes. They shot at each
other on the ocean. Only five of the Middle-town people were killed
then. But many of the Tsimshian were killed.
And, after the Tsimshian had started off, they said that they would
raise their canoes. On the very next day after they had raised them
they went to fight. They enslaved then very many women who were out
after berries. At that time they came to the fort singing songs of
victory. They remained there then on the watch.
By and by the Tsimshian came to fight again. And again many were killed
on both sides. Some time afterward they settled at Kꜝᴀgā′ni.
And, after they had lived there for a while, a 3-sail canoe came. The
Middle people were going to destroy it then because a man of the Eagle
side who lived with them had gone to Masset and had been killed there.
One of the Middle-town people then came out to talk to the Middle-born.
[861]
After it (the canoe) had approached the town for a while, the
Middle-born got ready for it. And when the canoe came in front they
upset it by shooting. The Middle-town people and the Middle people at
once had a pitched battle outside. Some of the Salᴀ′ndas [862] who were
neutral went to look at the canoe. Under it they found the owner of the
canoe and his wife.
After they had fought and killed each other for a while they said that
Gî′tg̣ax̣ī′liña [863] was killed. He was kept under some slaves, but
still he was killed. Many also were wounded. When they told his
grandfather, he said: “Be careful how you tell me that Gî′tg̣ax̣ī′liña is
killed.” He thought he was too great to be killed. He went then to see
him sitting up. Then he turned around quickly. There was a high cliff
there. He was going to throw himself over, when they seized him.
Afterward, as he went crying around the fire, he dashed himself against
a [white man’s] anvil.
Gî′tg̣ax̣ī′liña’s elder brother, Î′ldjiwas, [864] was sitting at the time
in front of his younger brother. They then stopped shooting one
another. And Gî′tg̣ax̣ī′liña’s parents got ten slaves from the house of
the Middle-town people. Then Î′ldjiwas asked the Middle-town people to
stay awake with [the body of] Gî′tg̣ax̣ī′liña. Although they had just
shot at each other, they were called for it.
Then they came in a crowd. They were afraid to enter. By and by they
came in. They let them stay awake there. They were ten nights in the
house. All the time they gave them food. And, after they buried him,
they gave property to the Middle-town people to pay for the wake. After
that Î′ldjiwas started to kill the Middle-town people. [865] Each time
much property was given as blood money.
By and by Nᴀñ-gut-tcî′ng̣a went off on a vessel. After that, when a
vessel came with him and they went out to trade, Gîtkudja′os approached
Î′ldjiwas to kill him. Nᴀñ-gut-tcî′ng̣a said to him: “Take care, they
are coming to kill you.” At that time Î′ldjiwas shot Gîtkudja′os
alongside the vessel, so that he fell into the water. The crowd of
people who were about then fled to their homes. When all had got in he
went home. They then shot at him. He escaped into his house.
The Middle-town people and the Middle people at once fought together.
Then they again gave a great deal of property to each other. Some time
afterward a vessel again stopped there with Nᴀñ-gut-tcî′ng̣a on board.
He then remained there. After they had drunk whisky [866] one of the
Middle-town people shot at Nᴀñ-gut-tcî′ng̣a, but his gun missed fire.
He, however, killed the Middle-town man. They fought again at once.
After peace had been made the father of Î′ldjiwas bought a pistol for
him which was all silver. And, when he had it in his hand in front of
the town, his father’s younger brother asked to look at it. At that
time he told him that people could not be killed by it [but only
wounded]. So he shot his father’s younger brother with it. And they
again began fighting.
After that they also killed Î′ldjiwas. They wounded him. After he had
remained alive for fifteen nights he held his gun loaded and said:
“Now, they are coming down for me.” He then shot through the smoke
hole. And he talked again. “I am going up, and I will throw down the
planks that are inside his house. I will also throw down his burning
coals.” Then he said: “Now, I am going up to be with him.” After he had
finished speaking he was as those who go to sleep.
And, when evening was coming on, something made a slight noise in the
air. Then something red fell out of the sky. It happened as he had
said. [867]
Afterward Nᴀñ-gut-tcî′ng̣a killed one of the Middle-town people, and
they again had a fight. They again made peace with each other after one
of the nephews of Nᴀñ-gut-tcî′ng̣a was killed. After they had given
property to him, Nᴀñ-gut-tcî′ng̣a went away and settled among the
Tsimshian. His nephews lived at Kꜝᴀgā′ni.
At that time a youth, Sg̣ā′gia, lived with Sg̣atcꜝîdā′łgîñ, who took care
of him. Then he treated Sg̣ā′gia badly. Getting angry with him, he drew
blood. And two nights afterward he killed Sg̣atcꜝîdā′łgîñ. He then took
his three slaves. When he was going to kill his wife also she used good
words to him. He went away in his canoe.
He then passed right by in front of Kꜝᴀgā′ni. He crossed the sea. He
went to Tcꜝā′ał. [868] Sg̣ā′gia’s gun was heard to sound at Kaisun [869]
as he came along. And, when he landed and stood among them, he related
his adventure.
All that summer, while they were fishing for black cod, he kept a watch
for war people. After they had caught salmon, they moved to Skidegate
inlet.
When we camped for the night [we heard] a Tsimshian named Xagu′n of the
Gîtgwî′lgiaodjî, [870] who had enslaved some Pebble-people, sing songs
of victory in front of us.
Some who were returning home from Skidegate were enslaved by the
Tsimshian. We then carried the news to Skidegate. At that time we
started to live at Xā′na. [871] They then asked property of us on
account of what we had done to the Tsimshian. [872] After that, when we
were living at Kaisun, more news came. They said that some canoes had
been destroyed in Skidegate passage. Part of the people were enslaved
also. It happened to three families. They did it to the
Gîtî′ns’-servants, [873] Those-born-at-Stasa′os, [874] and
Those-born-at-Pebble-town. [875] The Tlingit were the ones who did it.
When we came to Xā′na Those-born-at-House-point [876] asked property of
us for some who had been captured. Then they first gave us property.
After that we also gave them property. When we came to Tcꜝā′ał
Those-born-at-Stasa′os also asked blood money of us. We also gave to
them blood money.
After that the Ninstints people invited the people of Kaisun. The
Kaisun people went thither at once. And, after they had been there for
a while, they went after house planks. The Ninstints people went out
also to fish near by. Some time afterward they discovered enemies. The
Bellabella [877] destroyed or enslaved those who were out fishing. At
that time the Bellabella killed many of the Ninstints people. They also
enslaved many of the Sand-town people [878] of high rank. Then they at
once stopped getting the parts of the house. Things went badly. We went
away immediately.