diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 9459-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 557668 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 9459-h/9459-h.htm | 1696 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 9459-h/images/ilvi01.png | bin | 0 -> 45215 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 9459-h/images/ilvi02.png | bin | 0 -> 23081 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 9459-h/images/ilvi03.png | bin | 0 -> 2776 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 9459-h/images/ilvi04.png | bin | 0 -> 50470 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 9459-h/images/ilvi05.png | bin | 0 -> 5776 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 9459-h/images/ilvi06.png | bin | 0 -> 2211 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 9459-h/images/ilvi07.png | bin | 0 -> 2431 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 9459-h/images/ilvi08.png | bin | 0 -> 43468 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 9459-h/images/ilvi09.png | bin | 0 -> 52594 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 9459-h/images/ilvi10.png | bin | 0 -> 2412 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 9459-h/images/ilvi11.png | bin | 0 -> 24644 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 9459-h/images/ilvi12.png | bin | 0 -> 50113 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 9459-h/images/ilvi13.png | bin | 0 -> 36608 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 9459-h/images/ilvi14.png | bin | 0 -> 54109 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 9459-h/images/ilvi15.png | bin | 0 -> 37946 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 9459-h/images/ilvi16.png | bin | 0 -> 3635 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 9459-h/images/ilvi17.png | bin | 0 -> 36917 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 9459-h/images/ilvi18.png | bin | 0 -> 45878 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 9459.txt | 1657 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 9459.zip | bin | 0 -> 32551 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/ndlvn10.txt | 1638 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/ndlvn10.zip | bin | 0 -> 31991 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/ndlvn10h.zip | bin | 0 -> 555912 bytes |
28 files changed, 5007 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/9459-h.zip b/9459-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..35ae437 --- /dev/null +++ b/9459-h.zip diff --git a/9459-h/9459-h.htm b/9459-h/9459-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0f3d73d --- /dev/null +++ b/9459-h/9459-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1696 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> +<title>Project Gutenberg's Indian Legends of Vancouver Island, by Alfred Carmichael</title> +<style type="text/css"><!-- +h1,h2,h3,h4 {text-align: center } +h3 {margin-top: 3em } +h4 {clear: left; margin-top: 2em } +div.c {text-align: center } +img.left {float: left } +--></style> +</head> + +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's Indian Legends of Vancouver Island, by Alfred Carmichael + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Indian Legends of Vancouver Island + +Author: Alfred Carmichael + +Release Date: January 3, 2005 [EBook #9459] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK INDIAN LEGENDS OF VANCOUVER ISLAND *** + + + + +Produced by Andrew Sly and the online Distributed Proofing team. + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="c"> +<img src="images/ilvi01.png" width="260" height="442" +alt="[Illustration: THE LONE INDIAN]"> +</div> + +<h1>INDIAN LEGENDS OF VANCOUVER ISLAND</h1> + +<h2>TEXT BY ALFRED CARMICHAEL</h2> + +<h2>ILLUSTRATED BY J. SEMEYN</h2> + +<div class="c"> +<img src="images/ilvi02.png" width="269" height="219" alt="[Illustration]"> +</div> + +<h3 id="c01">BY WAY OF INTRODUCTION</h3> + +<p>The unsophisticated aboriginal of British Columbia is almost a memory +of the past. He leaves no permanent monument, no ruins of former +greatness. His original habitation has long given place to the frame +house of sawn timber, and with the exception of the carvings in black +slate made by the Hydah Indians of the Queen Charlotte Islands, and +the stone hammers, spear and arrow points, fashioned in the days +before the coming of the white man, the mementos of his sojourn in +British Columbia are only relics in wood, bark or reeds.</p> + +<p>In the Alberni District of Vancouver Island there are two tribes +of Indians, the Seshaht and the Opitchesaht. During the winter +season the Seshahts live in a village which occupies a beautiful +and commanding site on the west bank of the Somass River.</p> + +<p>Some thirty years ago when I first knew the Seshahts, they still +celebrated the great Lokwana dance or wolf ritual on the occasion +of an important potlatch, and I remember well the din made by the +blowing of horns, the shaking of rattles, and the beating of sticks +on the roof boards of Big Tom's great potlatch house, when the +Indians sighted the suppositional wolves on the river bank opposite +the Village.</p> + +<p>In those days we were permitted to attend the potlatches and witness +the animal and other dances, among which were the "Panther," "Red +Headed Woodpecker," "Wild Swan" and the "Sawbill Duck." Generally +we were welcome at the festivals, provided we did not laugh or +show sign of any feeling save that of grave interest. Among my +Indian acquaintances of those days was Ka-coop-et, better known in +the district as Mr. Bill. Bill is a fine type of Seshaht, quite +intelligent and with a fund of humour. Having made friends, he told +me in a mixture of broken English and Chinook some of the old folk +lore of his tribe. Of these stories I have selected for publication +"How Shewish Became a Great Whale Hunter" and "The Finding of the +Tsomass." This latter story as I present it, is a composite of three +versions of the same tale, as received, by Gilbert Malcolm Sproat +about the year 1862; by myself from "Bill" in 1896, and by Charles A. +Cox, Indian Agent, resident at Alberni, from an old Indian called +Ka-kay-un, in September 1921. Ka-kay-un credits his great great +grandfather with being the father of the two young Indians who with +the slave See-na-ulth discovered the valley now known as Alberni, +while "Bill" gave the credit to the sons of "Wick-in-in-ish."</p> + +<p>The framework for "The Legend of Eut-le-ten," was related to me by +Rev. M. Swartout in the year 1897. Mr. Swartout was a missionary to +the West Coast Indian tribes. He spoke the language of the natives +fluently, and took great pains to get the story with as much accuracy +as possible. A few years later, Mr. Swartout was drowned during a +heavy storm while crossing in an open boat from the islands in +Barkley Sound to Ucluelet.</p> + +<p>In the making of the stories into English, I have worked in what +knowledge I have of the customs and habits of the West Coast Indians +of Vancouver Island. In a few instances, due to a lack of refinement +of thought in the original stories, I have taken some license in +their transcription. The legends indicate the poetry that lies hidden +in the folk lore of the British Columbia Coast Indian tribes. For +place names and other valuable information I am indebted to the +kindness of Mr. Cox. The illustrations are original and are the work +of Mr. J. Semeyn of Victoria.</p> + +<p>ALFRED CARMICHAEL,<br> +Victoria, B.C.</p> + +<h3>CONTENTS</h3> + +<ul> +<li><a href="#c01">By Way of Introduction</a></li> +<li><a href="#c02">A Pen Picture of Barkley Sound</a></li> +<li><a href="#c03">The Summer Home of the Seshahts</a></li> +<li><a href="#c04">The Legend of the Thunder Birds</a></li> +<li><a href="#c05">How Shewish Became a Great Whale Hunter</a></li> +<li><a href="#c06">The Finding of the Tsomass</a></li> +<li>The Legend of Eut-le-ten--in the following parts:-- +<ul><li><a href="#c07">The Witch E-ish-so-oolth</a></li> +<li><a href="#c08">The Birth of Eut-le-ten</a></li> +<li><a href="#c09">The Quest</a></li> +<li><a href="#c10">The Death of E-ish-so-oolth</a></li> +<li><a href="#c11">The Ogre</a></li> +<li><a href="#c12">The Destruction of the Ogre</a></li> +<li><a href="#c13">The Release of the Children</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Further Adventures of Eut-le-ten including:-- +<ul><li><a href="#c14">The Arrow Chain to Heaven</a></li> +<li><a href="#c15">The Two Blind Squaws</a></li> +<li><a href="#c16">The Four Terrors Guarding the House of Nas-nas-shup</a></li> +<li><a href="#c17">The Trial by Fire</a></li> +<li><a href="#c18">Astronomy According to Eut-el-ten</a></li></ul></li> +</ul> + +<h3>ILLUSTRATIONS</h3> + +<ul> +<li><a href="images/ilvi01.png">The Lone Indian</a></li> +<li><a href="images/ilvi04.png">On Jutting Rocks the Black Klap-Poose, the Shag in Silence Sits</a></li> +<li><a href="images/ilvi05.png">A West Coast Indian Wearing the Kut-sack</a></li> +<li><a href="images/ilvi08.png">A Pictographic Painting--The Coat of Arms of Shewish, Seshaht Chief</a></li> +<li><a href="images/ilvi09.png">The Bark Gives Way and Comes in Strips from off the Trees</a></li> +<li><a href="images/ilvi12.png">We Dance Round our Fires and Sing Again</a></li> +<li><a href="images/ilvi13.png">Next Day E're Mid-day Came They Had Set Sail</a></li> +<li><a href="images/ilvi14.png">Brushing the Hemlock Boughs, he Walked Stealthily</a></li> +<li><a href="images/ilvi15.png">Ka-koop-et</a></li> +<li><a href="images/ilvi16.png">Stone Hammer Used by the Indians of Barkley Sound</a></li> +<li><a href="images/ilvi17.png">He Shot an Arrow Straight Above his Head</a></li> +<li><a href="images/ilvi18.png">Then Eut-le-ten Stood Within the Fire</a></li> +</ul> + +<h3 id="c02">A PEN PICTURE OF BARKLEY SOUND</h3> + +<h4>THE ANCIENT HOME OF THE SESHAHTS</h4> + +<p>To the lone Indian, who slowly paddles his canoe upon the waters of +this western sound, each tree of different kind by shade of green and +shape of crown is known; the Toh-a-mupt or Sitca spruce with scaley +bark and prickly spine; the feathery foliage of the Quilth-kla-mupt, +the western hemlock, relieved in spring by the light green of tender +shoots. The frond-like branches and aromatic scent betray to him the +much-prized Hohm-ess, the giant cedar tree, from which he carves his +staunch canoe. These form the woods which sweep from rocky shore to +topmost hill.</p> + +<img src="images/ilvi03.png" width="162" height="231" class="left" +alt="[Illustration]"> + +<p>Small bays with sandy beaches white with broken clam shells mark the +shore, and if across the beach a stream of crystal water rippled +to the sea, one Indian lodge or more was sure to be erected on the +rising land behind; for Indians always choose to build their homes +on sheltered sandy bays where pure fresh water runs, and so in years +which are among those past and gone one could not fail to see the +blue wood smoke of Indian fires hanging like gauze above the little +bays; but most are now deserted and corner posts of old time houses +alone are seen, and beds of stinging nettle cover ancient kitchen +middens, and spirea and elderberry strive for space where once red +strips of salmon hung in the smoke of punk-wood fires, and stillness +reigns where once the Indians' mournful song was heard.</p> + +<p>Between the bays are rugged rocky points, where, by the constant +wash of winter waves the rocks are carved in shapes uncouth and +weird--giants in stone, whose heads are crowned with scrubby +conifers, upon whose feet the wild seas break, or in the summer time +the gentle wavelets lap. On jutting rocks the black Klap-poose, the +shag, in silence sits, while circling overhead the keen eyed gulls +watch for the shoals of fry on which they feed.</p> + +<div class="c"> +<img src="images/ilvi04.png" alt="[Illustration: ON JUTTING ROCKS THE BLACK +KLAP-POOSE, THE SHAG IN SILENCE SITS]" width="274" height="471"> +</div> + +<p>Come now with me and I will guide you to some beauty spots, unknown, +unguessed except to those who have explored the sea creeks and +sheltered passage ways abounding on that western coast. Perhaps +between two rugged rocks we may find an opening where it cuts its way +deep into the land. In many parts, the lichen-covered canyon walls +approach so close together that our canoe can scarcely pass, and more +than likely we shall find the passage bridged by some old fallen +tree, its ancient trunk enveloped in soft moss and seedling forest +trees. Reflected in the water's surface are flowering berry shrubs, +which adorn the banks on either side. We see the glossy-leaved +shalal, the fruit of which the Indians gather to dry for winter use, +and clumps of maiden hair and other ferns rooted in old tree trunks +and rocky crevices. Such is the picture of many a salt sea creek +found in the regions round fair Barkley Sound.</p> + +<p>Perhaps our fancy leads among the islands of the sound. It may be +that a storm has lately spent itself, and long deep swells are +rolling in from the wide ocean lying to the west. Our staunch canoe +is lost in the deep green waters of the heaving main. It climbs only +to descend and climb once more, and thus we slowly cross the Middle +Channel and reach calm water.</p> + +<p>Soon what at first appeared to be unbroken shore breaks up into many +passage ways. By one of these we enter, to find ourselves among a +hundred isles. Each one is wooded to the water's edge, which often +the trees overspread with outstretched boughs. Entranced, we paddle +on until we leave behind all trace of ocean swell, and if the tide +be low so that old sea-soaked snags are seen upon the shore, and +boulders thick with barnacles and varied coloured sea-weeds in shades +of brown and red, and here and there great clusters of blue mussel +shells, these all, if the water be calm and undisturbed by wind, are +mirrored on the surface of the stream, forming pictures most rare +and beautiful. Thus for hours with ever fresh delight we thread the +calm passage-ways between those isles. Beachlets of white sand and +powdered shells are found where ocean swells at times may reach. On +these we stroll and gather abalone shells and empty sea eggs and +other relics up-thrown by winter storms. At evening we may reach +a sheltered nook where years ago Indians built a little shelter +in which to sit and watch the sun descend into the western sea. +Perhaps we may conjure up the Indian's thought, who built that +little shelter, and night on night in glorious summer time, squatted +and watched the sun go down.</p> + +<p>Such is the setting for the following tales. Amid such scenes as +these, the Indians lived and died.</p> + +<div class="c"> +<img src="images/ilvi05.png" alt="[Illustration: A WEST COAST INDIAN WEARING +THE KUT-SACK]" width="248" height="304"> +</div> + +<h3 id="c03">THE SUMMER HOME OF THE SESHAHTS</h3> + +<p>There is an island larger than the rest, called Ho-moh-ah, where once +the tribe of Seshahts made their summer home. It lies well out to +sea, and on the sheltered side the Seshahts lived. The chief of the +tribe was Shewish. His house was large, so large that when he called +his people to a great potlatch, they all could find within its walls +an ample space to feast and dance. His house like all the old time +dwellings was built on simple lines, the three great roof-logs each +of single trees, upheld by posts of ample girth. The sides and roof +of wide-split cedar boards were adzed to lie close, and fastened +into place by twisted cedar rope. Within, on either side was raised +a wooden platform two feet high. This platform and a portion of +the floor adjoining it in sections was partitioned off by screens +of cedar mats. Each section was the home of such as claimed close +kinship with the chief. The centre of the lodge for its whole length +was common to all who lived therein. The people cooked their food +upon the common fire, the smoke of which curled up and found an exit +through the smoke hole in the roof. The section tenanted by the +family of Shewish lay furthest from the door. No feature except one +marked it as different from the homes of lesser men. A pictographic +painting--the Coat of Arms of the great family of Shewish hung upon +the wall. The picture told in graphic form how came the name of +Shewish to be famed among the hunters of the whale. It also told +the legend of the THUNDER BIRDS.</p> + +<div class="c"> +<img src="images/ilvi06.png" alt="[Illustration: HAND ADZE MADE AND USED BY +INDIANS OF BARKLEY SOUND]" width="283" height="141"> +</div> + +<h3 id="c04">THE LEGEND OF THE THUNDER BIRDS</h3> + +<h4>NAMES OCCURRING IN "THE LEGEND OF THE THUNDER BIRDS"</h4> + +<p><i>Kulakula</i> is the <sup>[1]</sup><i>Chinook</i> word for <i>Bird</i>.</p> + +<p><i>Tee-tse-kin</i> or <i>Tootooch</i> is the name given by the Barkley Sound +Indians to the <i>Thunder Bird</i>, a mighty supernatural bird in +Indian mythology.</p> + +<p><i>Howchulis</i>, the land of the <i>Howchucklesahts</i>, is better known by the +name <i>Uchucklesit</i>, a safe harbour on the west side of the Alberni +Canal at its junction with Barkley Sound. Uchucklesit is now the +centre of an important fishing industry.</p> + +<p><i>Quawteaht</i>, is a great personage in Indian mythology, a beneficent +being, and considered by many to be the progenitor of their race.</p> + +<p>[1] <i>CHINOOK</i>, is a jargon or trade language still used on the coast +of British Columbia both by the white men in conversing with the +Indians, also by the latter when talking to members of a tribe +speaking a different dialect. Chinook is a combination of English, +French and Indian words.</p> + +<h3>THE LEGEND OF THE THUNDER BIRDS</h3> + +<p>The figure at the base of the pictographic painting represents the +mammoth whale upon whose back the whole creation rests. Above the +whale are seen the head and wings of the giant <i>Kulakula</i> the +<i>Tee-tse-kin</i> the <i>Thunder Bird</i> which dwells aloft. When he flaps +his wings or even moves a quill the thunder peals. When he blinks his +eyes the lightning strikes. Upon his back a lake of large dimensions +lies, from which the water pours in thunder storms. He is the lone +survivor of four great Thunder Birds which dwelt upon the mountains +of <i>Uchucklesit</i>. These mighty birds sustained themselves on whales, +which they would carry to the mountain peaks, where Indians say, the +bones of many whales have been found.</p> + +<p>One time the "Great One," Quawteaht desiring to destroy the mighty +Thunder Birds, entered the body of a whale, and swimming slowly +approached Howchulis shore. The Thunder Birds espied it from their +high retreat, and sweeping down made ready for the fray. First one +attacked and drove his talons deep into the whale's back, then +spreading his broad wings he tried to rise. Then Quawteaht gave +strength to the great whale, which sounded, dragging the Tee-tse-kin +beneath the waves. Up came the whale; a second Thunder Bird with all +his force drove his strong claws deep into the quivering flesh. Then +Quawteaht a second time gave strength and down the mammal plunged +dragging with him the second Thunder Bird. A third was drowned in +manner similar. Thereat the fourth and last Tootooch took wing and +fled to distant heights, where he has ever since remained.</p> + +<p>This is the story of the Thunder Birds.</p> + +<div class="c"> +<img src="images/ilvi07.png" alt="[Illustration: WOODEN SCOOP FOR BALING +THE WATER OUT OF A CANOE]" width="279" height="145"> +</div> + +<h3 id="c05">HOW SHEWISH BECAME A GREAT WHALE HUNTER</h3> + +<h4>NAMES OCCURRING IN THE LEGEND OF SHEWISH</h4> + +<p>The <i>Killer Whale</i> or <i>Ka-Kow-in</i> has a large dorsal fin shown in a +conventional manner in the pictograph between the Thunder Bird and +the face of the Indian girl, sister to Shewish. The <i>Killer Whale</i> +was often used as a family emblem or crest and as a source from +which personal names were derived.</p> + +<p><i>Klootsmah</i> or <i>Kloots-a-mah</i> plural <i>Klootsmuk</i> the Indian word for +"married woman" but used in the legends for girls as well as women. +According to Gilbert Malcolm Sproat who lived in Alberni in the +early "sixties" the term used for a young girl or daughter was +"Ha-quitl-is" and for an unmarried woman "Ha-quatl."</p> + +<p><i>Toquaht</i>--the home of the <i>Toquaht</i> tribe of Indians, an old +settlement on the north shore of Barkley Sound between Ucluelet and +Pipestem Inlet.</p> + +<p>The <i>Kutsack</i>, or <i>Kats-hek</i> is a loose cloak or mantle woven from the +soft inner bark of the yellow cedar tree. Indian mats were made from +the inner bark of the red cedar.</p> + +<div class="c"> +<img src="images/ilvi08.png" alt="[Illustration: PICTOGRAPHIC PAINTING, THE COAT +OF ARMS OF SHEWISH, SESHAHT CHIEF (Drawn by J. Semeyn from +original sketch by the author)]" width="430" height="285"> +</div> + +<h3>HOW SHEWISH BECAME A GREAT WHALE HUNTER</h3> + +<p>The centre figure in the pictographic painting is a wolf grotesquely +drawn. Within her body four young wolves are seen. Above the wolf is +a killer whale surmounted by a second picture of the Thunder Bird, +and in the left top corner of the pictograph is seen the face of +a young klootsmah or Indian girl. How strangely are her features +pictured. With upturned hands she gazes in a blank unvarying +stare. She holds the key to this old tale which the great scroll +perpetuates. One time this Indian maiden, daughter of a chief of +great renown, with her two sisters left their home on Village Island. +They went in search of yellow cedar bark which grew in quantity upon +the mountain top above the village, of Toquaht. The cedar bark is +highly prized, and when the sap ascends in May to feed the new born +green, the bark is loose and easily removed, and when the klootsmah +cuts the bark through to the sap half round the tree and pulls with +all her strength, it comes in strips from off the tree till the first +branch is reached, and then it breaks and falls obedient at her dark +feet. The klootsmah rolls it up and puts it in the basket on her +back, and when she reaches home she splits the bark, and pounds it +between stones, with water softening it, and after long and tedious +work the fibres being separated, she cleanses them and weaves them +into cloaks, and then with true artistic taste, trims them with +pretty fur.</p> + +<div class="c"> +<img src="images/ilvi09.png" alt="[Illustration: THE BARK GIVES WAY AND COMES +IN STRIPS FROM OFF THE TREES]" width="261" height="450"> +</div> + +<p>The daughters of the Village Island chief took with them food to last +for three whole suns. They started early, for many miles of paddling +lay between them and the Toquaht shore. At length they reached the +beach, and hiding their canoe beneath a giant spruce, they followed +where a little trail beckoned them on and up the mountain side. For +hours they climbed, wending their way through lonely, silent woods, +the twittering wren the only life they saw or heard. At times they +lost the trail, as it was overgrown with fern and berry bush. But +once the leading klootsmah stopped and signed to her companions to +keep still. Halting, they waited while she pointed to the root fangs +of a cedar tree, where well within the hollow butt a western timber +wolf had made her lair. Gone was the mother, perhaps in quest of deer +with which to feed her four young pups who calmly slept within that +sheltered cave, awaiting her return.</p> + +<p>The Indians are a superstitious race, and one of the old fetishes was +this: that if by chance they could secure the young of a wolf from +which to take some precious inner part, to rub upon the outer side of +their canoes, it gave great luck in whaling, and thus it came to pass +that when the klootsmuk found the she wolf's lair, they formed the +plan of taking to their brother the four wolf pups, in order that he +might become the chief of all whale hunters. Cautiously they placed +them in the baskets on their backs and then retraced their steps. In +time they reached the beach, and entered their canoe, when just as +they pushed off, with giant springs and angry howl leapt the great +mother wolf from the woods, but the klootsmuk were safe with their +strange prizes, and soon their canoe cut gleefully through the waves, +while their songs were wafted landward by the western breeze.</p> + +<p>Upon an isle not far from home they hid the young wolf pups. This +done, they squatted on the shore, and thought how best they might +inform their brother of their lucky find. They were puzzled as to how +this might be managed without awakening jealousies among the other +members of the tribe, and they were fearful to face their father's +wrath who surely would expect their craft well laden with the cedar +bark. They reasoned long and then decided on a stratagem. One of the +three would cut her foot with a mussel shell, and mark her tunic with +the blood, and tell the story, that when they landed on the Toquaht +shore an open mussel shell had cut her foot, therefore they could not +go for cedar bark. They carried out this plan, and paddled slowly to +Ho-moh-ah. The people saw them come, and wondered much what evil had +befallen them, but when they saw the blood upon the kutsack of the +youngest girl and saw her bound up foot, they guessed the trouble. +Before the sun had set, the brother had been told of the wolf pups, +and secretly that night he had taken from them the precious parts, +and when he went hunting, he rubbed the medicine on his canoe, and +had such wondrous luck he soon became the chief of all whale hunters. +Such is the story told by that weird painting, which could be seen +some years ago adorning the dark walls of the great potlatch house +of Shewish, Seshaht chief on Ho-moh-ah but better known as Village +Island, Barkley Sound.</p> + +<div class="c"> +<img src="images/ilvi10.png" alt="[Illustration: HALIBUT HOOK AND CLUB FOR +STUNNING FISH]" width="276" height="163"> +</div> + +<h3 id="c06">THE FINDING OF THE TSOMASS</h3> + +<h4>NAMES AND WORDS OCCURRING IN THE LEGEND "THE FINDING OF THE TSOMASS"</h4> + +<p><i>Alberni</i>, the valley at the head of the <i>Alberni Canal</i>, a wonderful +cleft or fjord which almost splits Vancouver Island in two. This +fjord has its outlet in <i>Barkley Sound</i> on the west side of the +island. The Alberni Canal was named by the Spaniards after Don Pedro +Alberni, captain of infantry in charge of soldiers stationed at +Nootka Sound, Vancouver Island, during the Spanish occupation.</p> + +<p><i>Tsomass River</i>--spelt and pronounced by the "Whites" <i>Somass</i>, a +fine river formed by the confluence of the Stamps and Sproat or +Klee-coot rivers, draining Great Central lake and Sproat or Klee-coot +lake respectively. The Tsomass river flows through the Alberni Valley +into the Alberni Canal.</p> + +<p>The <i>E-coulth-aht</i>, is one of the many divisions of what Gilbert +Malcolm Sproat called "the <i>Aht</i> tribes" inhabiting the west +coast of Vancouver Island.</p> + +<p><i>Po-po-moh-ah</i>, is now known by the Spanish name "San Mateo Bay" +situated on the east side of Barkley Sound, not far from the entrance +to the Alberni Canal.</p> + +<p><i>U-chuck-le-sit</i>, is a small but safe harbour on the north side +and near to the entrance to the Alberni Canal. The cannery, cold +storage plant and village of Kildonan are built on the harbour.</p> + +<p><i>Klu-quilth-soh</i>, is the Indian name for a rather forbidding passage +in the Alberni Canal, and known for strong winds and choppy seas. It +is named by the white people "Hell's Gate."</p> + +<p><i>Chehahs</i> were Supernatural spirits or influences; there were good +and bad chehahs.</p> + +<p><i>She-she-took-a-muck</i> was a ferocious whale supposed to have lived +at Hell's Gate, and to have swallowed Indians and their canoes. The +whale was killed by the aid of Quawteaht.</p> + +<p><i>Kah-oots</i> was supposed to be one of the deities of Seshaht mythology.</p> + +<p><i>Tsa-a-toos</i>,--(<i>Copper Island</i>) is a large island situated in +Barkley Sound and near to the entrance to the Alberni Canal.</p> + +<p><i>Toosh-ko, Hy-wach-es, Wak-ah-nit, (Copper Mountain) Tin-nim-ah</i>, and +<i>Klu-quilth-koose</i> (now known as <i>Coos Creek</i>) are place names on the +Alberni Canal.</p> + +<p><i>U-ah-tee</i>--the north wind, <i>Yuk-stees</i>--the south wind.</p> + +<p><i>O-lil-lie</i> and <i>Il-la-hie</i>, are Chinook for berries and land +or country respectively.</p> + +<p><i>Ah-tooch</i> is the Indian name for deer.</p> + +<p><i>Lup-se-kup-se</i> or <i>Nooh-see-cupis</i>, is a small piece of cleared land +on the left bank of the Tsomass river and about half way between the +towns of Port Alberni and Alberni.</p> + +<p><i>Kleet-sa</i>, is a high mountain rising from the waters of Taylor Arm, +Sproat Lake, so named because of its white or chalky appearance.</p> + +<p><i>Kuth-kah-chulth</i>, is the Indian name for Mount Arrowsmith, a +splendid peak rising directly east of the town of Port Alberni. Mount +Arrowsmith is one of the highest mountains of Vancouver Island; it is +5976 feet in elevation.</p> + +<p><i>Toh-a-muk-is</i>, is the land fronting on the little bay just north +of the foot of Argyle Street, Port Alberni.</p> + +<p><i>Kok-a-mah-kook</i>, is a place close to the stream known as Dry Creek, +and near to the railway round house, Port Alberni.</p> + +<p><i>Kwa-nis, Kam-mass</i> or <i>Gam-mas</i> as it is variously known, is a species +of lily which comes into flower about the middle of April and remains +in flower till June. It is gathered, roasted and preserved whole in +bags for winter use.</p> + +<h3>THE FINDING OF THE TSOMASS</h3> + +<p>Near thirty miles from where Alberni pours her crystal stream out to +the mighty fjord that cleaves Vancouver's Island nigh in twain, a +tribe of Indians lived. Their village nestled at the foot of wooded +hills, which everywhere on this indented coastline, rise straight up +from out the North Pacific. They were a powerful tribe, E-coulth-aht +by name; seven hundred strong, with many fighting men, and many +children who played upon that shore. I think even now I hear the echo +of their voices round the bay, and how marvelously clear an echo may +be, among the inlets of that rockbound coast! I have heard my call +flung back from side to side alternately, till it was lost among the +rocky heights and ceased to be.</p> + +<p>Across the bay from where the Indians lived, ran a stream, called +Po-po-moh-ah. Here every autumn, when the salmon came, they stayed +and caught the fish for winter use. Yet strange to say these +ancient E-coulth-ahts seemed unaware that at their very doors, a +nature hewn canal had its entrance. One fine September morning +Ha-houlth-thuk-amik and Han-ah-kut-ish, the sons of Wick-in-in-ish +or, as some say Ka-kay-un, accompanied by their father's slave +See-na-ulth were paddling slowly to Po-po-moh-ah, when half across +and near to Tsa-a-toos they saw dead salmon floating on the tide.</p> + +<p>The salmon had spawned, and is it not strange to think that this, the +king of fish should struggle up the rapid tumbling streams for many +miles, against strong currents, over falls where the water breaks +the least, perchance to fall within the wicker purse of Indian traps +placed there so cunningly to catch them if they should fall back; and +even if they escape the Indian traps and find the gravel bar where +they four years before, began their life, and having spent themselves +in giving life, sicken and die, their bodies even in death give +sustenance to gulls and eagles circling round those haunts.</p> + +<p>"These fish have come from where fresh water flows, so let us follow +up from whence they come. Let Quawteaht direct our course, and we +shall find new streams where salmon are in plenty and win great glory +in our tribe." Thus spake the sons of Wick-in-in-ish, and they turned +the prow of their canoe upstream, and followed where the trail of +salmon led, to the broad entrance of that splendid fjord.</p> + +<p>Soon they paddled by the harbour U-chuck-le-sit, long famed for its +safe anchorage and quiet retreat, when winter storms lash the waters +of the sound. Leaving this quiet harbour on the left, they followed +where the wider channel led to Klu-quilth-soh, that dark and stormy +gate, where Indians say the dreaded Chehahs dwell among the rocky +heights--"The Gates of Hell," and when men seek to pass those gates +the Chehahs blow upon them winds of evil fates from north and south +and east and west. The water boils in that great witches pot, while +Indians seek a sheltered beach in vain--no beach is there, no shelter +from the storm. The mighty cliffs frown down relentlessly; the whale +She-she-took-a-muck opens his great jaws and swallows voyagers, at +which the chehahs laugh, and their wild laughter, Klu-quilth-soh's +heights re-echo far away.</p> + +<p>On this eventful day the evil chehahs were absent from their home and +the Yuk-stees wind blew not too strong to cause the waves to dash +along in wild commotion, and after paddling uneventfully through +Klu-quilth-soh, the three E-coulth-ahts stopped beside Toosh-ko. +Looking back they could not see Nob Point which hid their home from +view,--it was as if the mountains which formed those stormy gates, +had closed and barred them in.</p> + +<p>"What chehah" they cried, "has lured us within this inland sea and +shut those gates? A-ha A-ha!" they called with anxious cry, and +prayed Kah-oots to save them from all dangers. To the Saghalie Tyee, +the chief above, they also prayed to potlach kloshe to them, and +guard them from the evil chehahs hovering round. After the relief +of prayer, their spirits rose, and once again the splashing of their +paddles marked their onward progress.</p> + +<p>Soon they glided by Hy-wach-es Creek and rounding Wak-ah-nit they +came in view of the great valley where the Tsomass flows. At once +they ceased from paddling to gaze with pleasure on that favoured +land, and as they looked they heard the sound of song from up the +river valley.</p> + +<p>The evening fell, the pleasant Yuk-stees wind blew more faintly, and +as it passed away, over those calm inland waters swelled again the +sound of many voices chanting Indian songs.</p> + +<p>"There are people dwelling there," they said. "It would be well if +we delayed until morning." Agreeing to this plan they crossed the +channel and camped at Klu-quilth-coose.</p> + +<p>Next morning while the grass was damp with dew, and long before the +U-ah-tee wind had ceased, the sons of Wick-in-in-ish, hearing again +the quaint alluring song, took their canoe and paddled on, to where +between two grassy slopes, the Tsomass ends. When they approached +the river mouth, they saw extending from the bank a salmon trap, and +even to-day, the Indians will show at Lup-se-kup-se some old rotten +sticks, which they affirm formed part of that same trap. The land was +green, the wild duck's quack was heard among the reeds which edged +the river bank, while flocks of geese were feeding on the grass +which grows thickly upon the tidal flats, the flats the Indians call +Kwi-chuc-a-nit.</p> + +<p>Upon the eastern bank the young men saw a wondrous house, which far +surpassed their father's lodge at home beyond the hills in Rainy Bay, +in size of beams and boards. The sons of Wick-in-in-ish were afraid +and would have turned the bow of their canoe home-bound, but that +from the house they heard a woman call. "Oh come and stay with us, go +not away. Our land is full of all the riches nature gives; our woods +are bright with o-lil-lie most luscious to the taste; on yonder hill +the nimble ah-tooch feed; in every stream the silver salmon swim so +come within our lodge with us and stay awhile." Ha-houlth-thuk-amik +was mesmerized by the sweet welcoming and entered in, whereat the +klootsmah said to him, "We welcome thee strange one unto our lodge, +for we have never seen a man before. Come and join us in our song and +dance, for when above great Kuth-kah-chulth the morning sun in glory +rises, we chant this song."</p> + +<div class="c"> +<img src="images/ilvi11.png" alt="[Illustration: THE INDIAN MAIDEN'S SONG]" +width="294" height="306"> +</div> + +<p>and when he sets over Kleetsa's snow white crown, we dance around our +fires, and sing again, and our hearts are happy in this our land."</p> + +<div class="c"> +<img src="images/ilvi12.png" alt="[Illustration: “WE DANCE ROUND OUR FIRES +AND SING AGAIN”]" width="426" height="277"> +</div> + +<p>Now Han-ah-kut-ish was alarmed and much afraid that if his brother +listened to the klootsmah and was attentive to her blandishments, he +would forget the mission in which they were engaged, therefore he +called to him to come, and after much persuasion the elder brother +left the lodge and joined the younger and the slave See-na-ulth, +and together they paddled up the stream to Ok-sock-tis opposite the +present village of O-pit-ches-aht. Across the river there were houses +in which more klootsmuk lived, but at this time they were employed in +gathering Kwanis in the land behind, and when the young men sought +them out they were afraid and all but one took flight escaping to the +woods. This one had no fear but coming near to Ha-houlth-thuk-amik +besought him with favour to look on her, but Han-ah-kut-ish again +reminded him that they had not as yet attained the object of their +quest.</p> + +<p>Still further up the stream they went, until they came to where +they found the Ty-ee salmon spawning on the gravel bars. Believing +they had found the object of their search they camped the night at +Sah-ah-hie. All through the darkness they listened to the rushing +of the fish, when the gaunt and savage males with flattened heads +and upper jaws curved like a hook about the lower, and armed with +dog-like teeth, fought for the females of their choice. With great +satisfaction they heard the wallowing of the fish, as, with their +heads and tails, they formed the elongated cavities in the gravel +in which to lay their eggs. Then Ha-houlth-thuk-amik declared that +this the Tsomass River was the source from which the dead fish came +which they had seen when paddling to Po-po-moh-ah.</p> + +<p>To Lup-se-kup-se they returned next day, and there they saw, +among the women in the lodge, the girl who spoke to them, when +they had landed on the river bank opposite Ok-sock-tis. Then +Ha-houlth-thuk-amik, desiring to convey her home with him, took her +aside and said, "If thou wilt come with me, say not a word, but +unbeknown make haste and leave the house, and run across the point +which forms the eastern bank where this the Tsomass river joins +the inland sea, then hide thyself until we take thee in, as we are +paddling home."</p> + +<p>The klootsmah did as she was told and as the young men passed she +jumped within the canoe, and was away with them. That night they +stayed at Chis-toh-nit not far from Coleman creek, so named because +in later days a white man of that name took up some land and dwelt +there some little while.</p> + +<p>Next morning the klootsmah said to Ha-houlth-thuk-amik, "I am +Kla-kla-as-suks and I am now thy rightful wife and therefore I +desire to make of thee a famous hunter of the whale, so come with +me and climb the mountain called Kuk-a-ma-com-ulth where high above +the timber line the green grass grows, and I will get for thee an +Ow-yie medicine."</p> + +<p>They climbed the mountain and she secured for him the medicine so +desired by all who hunt the whale, and early next morning, blown by +a strong U-ah-tee wind they started for Po-mo-moh-ah and when they +came to Klu-quilth-soh they found the gates wide open and passed +safely through between the frowning cliffs, arriving home before +the break of day.</p> + +<p>Then Ha-houlth-thuk-amik aroused his father who was still asleep, +and bade him light a fire, and when the fire was lit he told him how +they ventured up the unknown way, between high cliffs, where they had +lost all sight and sound of Rainy Bay. He told of the Tsomass land, +and the salmon stream which far eclipsed their own Po-po-moh-ah, and +then described the great and wondrous house, where the klootsmuk +dwelt, and how they sang to him "Yah-hin-in-ay." He told him also +of Kla-kla-as-suks, the klootsmah who had left her home to be his +rightful wife.</p> + +<div class="c"> +<img src="images/ilvi13.png" alt="[Illustration: NEXT DAY E'RE MIDDAY CAME +THEY HAD SET SAIL]" width="427" height="277"> +</div> + +<p>Then Wick-in-in-ish sent for all the tribe, and when they were +assembled in his lodge, he told to them the story of the Tsomass +land. Among the braves was much talking; and after speeches from +the lesser chiefs, it was decided that next day before the sun had +cast his shadow north and south, with Yuk-stees wind, they would set +sail for Tsomass land.</p> + +<p>That day in every house, in varied occupation, each family was +busied. The cedar boards, which form the sides and roof of all their +homes, were piled upon canoes. Atop of these were set their household +goods, the mats of cedar bark, the wooden tubs in which they boiled +their fish, the spears of flint, their hooks of bone, their fishing +lines of kelp, and mattresses of water reeds. Large quantities of +clams and mussels, also salmon cured by smoke they took with them, +for Wick-in-in-ish planned to give a great potlatch to the strange +tribe of Indian girls, from which his eldest son had chosen one to +be his wife.</p> + +<p>Next morning long before the sun had reached the zenith they had set +sail for Tsomass land. It truly must have been a sight to see that +fleet of dark canoes, piled high with all the wealth of that great +tribe, as with the sails of cedar bark filled with the Yuk-stees +wind, they glided by the green or rocky shores which led them inland +to the pleasant Tsomass land. Before the shadows of the night had +spread among the gloomy conifers, the dark canoes had rounded +Wak-a-nit, when, taking down their sails of cedar bark, they paddled +silently close to the shore.</p> + +<p>When near Tin-nim-ah, where the Indians say they find good stone for +sharpening arrow points, they rested on their paddles, and first +heard the women singing in their cedar lodge. Then Wick-in-in-ish +addressed his tribe. "My children we have sailed for many miles, +and our little ones are hungry and weary. Let us sojourn near this +old spruce."</p> + +<p>Thus they encamped near the conifer, and called the place +Toha-a-muk-is after the spruce they were afraid to touch. Water they +carried from near Kak-a-mak-kook, named from the alders growing round +the stream. All through the night they heard the salmon splash to +free themselves, so many Indians say, from sea lice clinging to their +silver sides, and their hearts were happy with that refrain, which +spoke to them of great supplies of food.</p> + +<p>Early next day, before the forest trees were gilded by the glorious +rising sun, the people heard the call of many birds, and looking +northward where the Tsomass flows, forth from the mist, which in the +early morning hangs like a veil of gauze among the trees, they saw a +flock of Sand Hill cranes appear. They flew far above their heads and +gradually ascending to the sky, vanished from their sight. These were +the maidens, so the Indians say, who left behind them all this lovely +land for regions unexplored, taking with them both clams and mussels. +This is the reason Indians give for the lack of these shell-fish now, +upon the shores of the great inland sea. The maidens also took the +Kwa-nis bulbs, but as they flew they dropt a few upon the ground, +hence the Kwa-nis bulb is still found in Tsomass land.</p> + +<p>Wick-in-in-ish, with his sons, now made haste to paddle to the +river mouth, but lo, the house was gone, no sign of it was left, +and with it all the klootsmah tribe had fled. Then he turned to +Ha-houlth-thuk-amik and said, "This is thy land, and this thy future +home shall be; thou and thy chosen one Kla-kla-as-suks shall dwell +therein, and may thy children be many."</p> + +<h3>THE LEGEND OF EUT-LE-TEN</h3> + +<h4>EXPLANATION OF "THE LEGEND OF EUT-LE-TEN"</h4> + +<p>As stated in the introduction, the details for this story were +given by the late Indian missionary, Mr. M. Swartout, who received +them direct from the Indians of Dodger's Cove, Barkley sound, in +the year 1897.</p> + +<p>The reader will recognize in this legend the Indian equivalent for +Hansel and Gretel, Jack the Giant Killer, Jack and the Bean stalk, +and other stories of childhood days.</p> + +<p>It is not likely that the exploits of Eut-le-ten were considered +by the older Indians to be the product of imagination, and most +probably they believed that some time in the distant past, a +supernatural being called Eut-le-ten was born and lived and +performed extraordinary feats and taught them wonderful things.</p> + +<p>This is an Ohyaht Indian story. The chief village of the Ohyahts +was at a bay called Keeh-him between Bamfield and Cape Beale, +Barkley Sound.</p> + +<h3>THE LEGEND OF EUT-LE-TEN</h3> + +<h4 id="c07">THE WITCH E-ISH-SO-OOLTH</h4> + +<p>Long, long ago, in the gloom of deep and silent woods there lived a +witch or evil chehah. The Indians called her E-ish-so-oolth. So tall +was she that, stalking through the forest, her head would brush the +lower branches of the giant fir.</p> + +<p>She dwelt in a huge lodge, the walls of which were built of cedar +logs as thick as men are high. This evil chehah was the dread of +young and old alike, for all believed that boys and girls and even +men and women, who left their homes, not to return again, were +taken to her lodge, there to be devoured at leisure. Therefore +mothers often said, when children misbehaved, "Be good or I will +call E-ish-so-oolth."</p> + +<p>One day some Keeh-hin village children paddled from their home and +landed on a nearby shore. Then something happened causing one to +cry, and all the others scolding, threatened to call E-ish-so-oolth. +The threat had no effect and the child cried on, till one in teasing +spirit called loudly, "E-ish-so-oolth! E-ish-so-oolth! Oh come +E-ish-so-oolth!"</p> + +<p>Then forth from the woods a figure stalked, a tall gaunt form of +terrible aspect. She leaned upon a gnarled and knotty stick and +scanning the beach with cruel eyes she cried, "Who called me by +my name E-ish-so-oolth?"</p> + +<p>The children screamed and tried to run away; the chehah laughed one +awful fiendish laugh, then caught them one by one with her lean +hands. With the sticky gum of Douglas fir, she sealed their little +jet black eyes so that they could not see which way led left or +right, and threw them in the basket on her back, starting for home +along the lonely forest trail.</p> + +<p>As I have said, E-ish-so-oolth was tall, and many times bent her head +to pass beneath low and spreading branches, and so it happened when +stooping under a tree which brushed the basket top, four little hands +gripped tightly hold of a kindly branch and held on fast.</p> + +<p>When E-ish-so-oolth had gone on further not missing the two children, +they clambered down, and partly freed their eyes from the vile pitch, +running for home as fast as they could go. To their mothers they +told the story, and how their playmates of that very morning, were +now perchance within the witch's lodge, and no help to save them +from a bloody fate. Then all the mothers of the kidnapped girls +chanted the weird and doleful death lament. Four days and nights the +dismal song was heard, beyond the blue wood smoke of Indian fires. +Weeks of mourning passed, and all but one were comforted, but she +sat all alone, and every morning she squatted on the sea grass at +the shore, chanting that drear and mournful song.</p> + +<h4 id="c08">THE BIRTH OF EUT-LE-TEN</h4> + +<p>Early one morning as she sat and cried, her tears flowed down and +formed a little pool, a very little pool among the grass, the lank +sea grass stems on which she crouched. Surprised, she saw a movement +in the sand, the pool of tears was being changed into a child, a very +little child, so small that when the mother picked up a mussel shell, +she could cradle the small form within its pearly curve. Gently she +carried it to her dark lodge, and set it in a safe and quiet place. +Next day within the shell, there lay a wonder-child, in face and form +most beautiful.</p> + +<p>The little creature grew so fast that every day his mother went out +to find new shells and larger shells in which to cradle him. She +called him by the name of Eut-le-ten, and in all the village there +was none so fair; in wisdom and in beauty none excelled. The child +was observing beyond his years, and felt deepest sorrow at his +mother's constant weeping. One day he inquired in tender tones, +full of love and sympathy. "My Mother, tell me why you cry so much; +why unconsoled you chant the death lament?"</p> + +<p>Then the mother drawing him to her side told him of the tragedy which +had befallen his sister. "The chehah came and carried off my girl, +carried away your little sister to the woods, the dark and gloomy +woods, and since that day her shadow has not crossed my mournful +path," she said.</p> + +<p>Then up spake Eut-le-ten and bravely said, "My Mother, I will seek +your daughter, my little sister. I will save her from that awful fate +you fear. Direct me now upon the lonesome road the dread witch took +and I will seek her out."</p> + +<p>And the mother knowing him to be a spirit-child, rejoiced and blessed +his errand. They next sought out the little ones who saved themselves +by clinging to the low branched tree, and from them they learned the +trail the old witch took. Then sallied forth brave Eut-le-ten alone, +off to give battle to E-ish-so-oolth.</p> + +<h4 id="c09">THE QUEST</h4> + +<img src="images/ilvi14.png" alt="[Illustration: BRUSHING THE HEMLOCK BOUGHS, +HE WALKED STEALTHILY]" width="260" height="451" class="left"> + +<p>Eut-le-ten started with no arms but his courage, to face the dread +witch who had spirited away the children. The trail lay long, unknown +and untrodden, save by the timber wolf, panther and black bear. It +was feared by the Indians for dangers most dreadful--the greatest +of all the chehah E-ish-so-oolth. He broke through dense shalal, +fringing the green woods, making the shore line all but impenetrable. +Into the thick woods, under the silvery spruce, brushing the hemlock +boughs he walked stealthily. Salmon berry thickets impeded his +progress, scratched his round limbs with the thorns on their canes. +He passed white helebore, so tall and so handsome. He saw how the +black bear had fed on swamp lily, tramping the glossy leaves into the +black mud. He spurned the devil's club with berries so red and with +poisonous thorns on stem and on leaf. Such was the trail as it led +him far inland, inland away from his home by the sea. At last by a +cool stream, the path lay before him. Hard by the stream a lodge was +erected, a house of such size the boy stood dumbfounded, and he knew +that this must be the dwelling of the children's dread captor.</p> + +<p>Night time had come, the shadows had fallen and Eut-le-ten was tired +with the long weary trail. Should he proceed or wait until morning? +He climbed a tree which grew by the water, and hid in the branches +to keep vigil, there to crave strength from the Saghalie spirit, the +Hyas Tyee who dwells in the heavens, to grant him the strength, the +wisdom, the courage to kill the dread witch. The night was long and +the vigil lone, soundless except for the night hawk on wing, or the +howl of the wolf in the quest of the red deer, or the splash of the +salmon in the stream underneath.</p> + +<p>Early next morning, before he descended, he plainly saw the form of +the witch, coming to wash in the stream just below him. The water was +clear reflecting her visage, fearsome in its hideous detail. Up in +the tree brave Eut-le-ten saw her, he thought himself safe from her +fierce prying eyes; he forgot that he too was mirrored below in the +still water which lay at her feet. When she had finished her morning +ablutions, she filled her vessel with water and turned to depart, +when she saw just below her, the features of Eut-le-ten in the still +water. Upturning her eyes to the branches above her, she saw there +the boy half concealed in the foliage, and she smiled with a smile +triumphant and cruel, thinking once more her fortune had found her, +and brought to her lodge the boy she was wanting.</p> + +<p>She greeted him, "Come, why tarriest up there? Come to my lodge, +perchance thou art hungry; the fire has been kindled, the water is +boiling, a welcome awaits thee, why tarriest longer? Descend from +the tree and let me behold thee".</p> + +<p>Down climbed Eut-le-ten nothing affrighted, but filled with the +knowledge no harm could befall him.</p> + +<p>"Why hast thou come, and whence dost thou go? Why didst thou leave +thy home by the sea?" Such were the questions E-ish-so-oolth asked +him. Then struck by his fairness and beauty of limb, she questioned +him thus, "Why is thy skin so fair, and why are thy limbs so +beautiful?"</p> + +<p>Then Eut-le-ten answered her, "When I was a boy my Mother laid me +upon the bare ground with my head on a stone, my Father placed a +large rock on my forehead. Thus I was given the gift of the fair."</p> + +<p>E-ish-so-oolth was envious of Eut-le-ten and much desired to look +as young as he, so that with face so comely and so fair, she could +entice the children to her lodge, wherefore she asked with evil +ill concealed, "Can I by any means obtain this gift?"</p> + +<p id="c10">Then Eut-le-ten divining her base thought and much desiring to make +an end of her, declared that if she would lie down, and on the stone +which lay beside the creek recline her head, he would place upon her +forehead the stone which would both mould her features like to his, +and make her skin as fair. The witch determined to try the charm at +once, stretching her great length upon the ground, placed her head +upon the stone.</p> + +<p>Then Eut-le-ten lifted a great rock and hurled it down upon the +witches head. "Die dread E-ish-so-oolth," he cried. "No more with +evil charms wilt thou entice the children to thy lonely forest home."</p> + +<p>So died the witch, and nevermore do mothers say when children +misbehave. "Be good or I will call E-ish-so-oolth."</p> + +<h4 id="c11">THE OGRE</h4> + +<p>E-ish-so-oolth's husband was a mighty man, greater than any Indian +on the coast. His limbs were rugged as the wind-swept fir which +grows upon the stormy outer shores. His thick and matted hair fell +in tangles over his great shoulders, and his sullen eyes looked from +out his forehead with angry stare. Cruel as the gaunt and hungry +timber wolf, such was the mate of dread E-ish-so-oolth. Beside him, +Eut-le-ten had no length of arm or strength of limb with which to +fend himself, still less attack this giant of the gloomy forest +track, but he possessed weapons more potent than the brutal strength +of this vile chehah man. A spirit child he was, a heaven sent boy, +whom no evil ever could destroy.</p> + +<h4 id="c12">THE DESTRUCTION OF THE OGRE</h4> + +<p>The Ogre was at work cleaving a fallen tree, using wedges formed from +the hardest, toughest wood the Indians know. It was the Kla-to-mupt, +the western yew. With mighty blows of his stone hammer, he sunk a +wedge deep in the log, rending it open, split to the centre of its +giant heart.</p> + +<p>The thunderous blows were heard by Eut-le-ten, who with fine courage +followed up the sound, until he came in view of where the huge man +worked with all his might.</p> + +<p>Blow upon blow fell upon the wedge, deeper it sank into the log. +The split grew wider. The sides of the great rent pressed hard upon +the wedge, so hard that if the wedge were hit a glancing blow, it +would fly out.</p> + +<p>Thus it was, when the Ogre saw the wonder boy approach, and his great +frame was filled with rage, because the boy betrayed no fear of him, +that his dark face lit up as with a flame.</p> + +<img src="images/ilvi15.png" alt="[Illustration: THIS IS NOT THE OGRE, BUT A +PORTRAIT OF KA-KOOP-ET (MR. BILL) <i>Drawn by J Semeyn from photograph +by Joseph Clegg of Port Alberni</i>]" width="253" height="436" class="left"> + +<p>Taking his sledge of stone he struck a blow, as if upon the wedge, +but let it drop; deep in the crack it fell far out of reach.</p> + +<p>"Come here my boy," he called, "I crave your help, I have lost my +hammer within this mighty tree, I cannot reach it, so, jump in and +get it, for I want it back."</p> + +<p>Eut-le-ten climbed upon the log, and dropt within the split as he was +bid; the Ogre gave the wedge a sudden jog and out it sprang, and the +sides came together like the jaws of some great trap.</p> + +<p>"Ha! Ha!" the Ogre cried, "Oh! what a joke! with but a single stroke +I have ground him small. E-ish-so-oolth that gentle little fey, will +dine on mince-meat."</p> + +<p>The ugly Ogre made his clumsy jest, little knowing of the fate his +spouse had met, when suddenly he saw upon the ground before him, an +awesome thing, a little pool of water from which there came a quite +unearthly sound. Then from the pool, with fear and awe, the Ogre saw +brave Eut-le-ten uprise. Nothing could lay low this boy of wondrous +parts, who could resolve himself to mother earth, and from the primal +pool of tears arise to save the helpless and destroy their foes.</p> + +<p>"Most wondrous boy, I feared that when the wedge slipt out you died; +instead, my heart is filled with joy to see you live when I had +thought you killed. Tell me from whence you draw your mystic power, +and I will seek the place this very day. When I have found it out, +I will repay you in ways more certain than I can now command."</p> + +<p>Thus spake the ogre, and Eut-le-ten replied, "'Tis easy done. This +gift is yours as well as mine. Test it but once, and you will see +that you have powers as great as I."</p> + +<p>The giant's bulky frame was filled with pride. "You're right," he +swore, "the thing that you can do, by all the Tyee salmon, so can I."</p> + +<p>Once more the wedge was driven to the heart, until again the sides +were spread a-gape. In climbed the giant,--he did not think the fit +would be so tight.</p> + +<p>"Are you all ready?" Eut-le-ten called out.</p> + +<p>"Yes!" roared the giant, with a thunderous shout.</p> + +<p>"Die then!" cried Eut-le-ten, as he took the hammer up, and struck +upon the side the great yew wedge. Out sprung the wedge, the sides +snapped together, crushing within the ogre's ponderous frame.</p> + +<p>Ignoring his wild shouts they crunched to powder all his giant bones.</p> + +<p>The ogre and his mate were thus destroyed, and never more have +children been led astray by E-ish-so-oolth's dread and magic craft, +to suffer death in ways too sad to tell.</p> + +<div class="c"> +<img src="images/ilvi16.png" alt="[Illustration: STONE HAMMER USED BY THE +INDIANS OF BARKLEY SOUND]" width="199" height="318"> +</div> + +<h4 id="c13">THE RELEASE OF THE CHILDREN</h4> + +<p>Then to the lodge sped brave Eut-le-ten to that great lodge of giant +cedar logs, the home of the dead witch E-ish-so-oolth. The house was +dark, for only through the door and the great smoke hole in the roof, +did the pale light find its dim way. It was gloomy, and for the full +time it takes a man to wake from a deep sleep, Eut-le-ten saw nothing +but just the darkness of a moonless night, then slowly as if the day +was dawning, objects were seen within the hall. In the centre was a +smouldering fire, and in the hot ashes, some heated stones with which +to boil the water in the wooden box in which the food was cooked. +There beside the wooden box he saw two little forms, prepared by that +old witch to satisfy her cruel appetite, and that of her bad chehah +man. Then Eut-le-ten was very sad indeed, to think that he had come +too late to save the little girls from such an awful fate, and as he +looked and moaned within himself believing that his sister lay there +dead, he heard a sound which seemed to come from the further end of +the dark lodge, and turning round he saw some children imprisoned +in a wicker cage. Then he spoke and told them to be brave, that he +had come to save them from the witch; but they were frightened at +the very sound of his strange voice, and cried aloud with fear. +Eut-le-ten whispered softly, and with grease from the great whale +he rubbed their eyes free from the pitch with which E-ish-so-oolth +had closed them. Afterward he told them that his name was Eut-le-ten, +who had killed E-ish-so-oolth, and how he had crushed the ogre within +the log.</p> + +<p>The frightened children were much comforted and followed Eut-le-ten +from out of the lodge away from the dark house of E-ish-so-oolth +into the sunlit woods, along the trail which led for many miles to +the small bay. Then there was much rejoicing in the homes of all +the children saved by Eut-le-ten, and joy unspeakable in his own +lodge, when he gently led to his sorrowing mother the little sister, +safe from the clutches of E-ish-so-oolth.</p> + +<p>Then all the tribe did honor to Eut-le-ten. He was found in the +councils of the chiefs, and tribes with homes on distant shores heard +the great news--the news of how this wonder boy had killed the ogre +and his dreaded wife, E-ish-so-oolth.</p> + +<h3>FURTHER ADVENTURES OF EUT-LE-TEN</h3> + +<h4 id="c14">THE ARROW CHAIN TO HEAVEN</h4> + +<p>Some time passed by, and Eut-le-ten conceived a plan to reach the +land above the sky, which he believed, like all the Indian race, to +be the roof of this our world, and hiding from our view the Illahie +where the great chief--the Sagh-al-lie Tyee, Nas-nas-shup, the chief +of all the chiefs abode. Nas-nas-shup had a daughter, far famed for +her exceeding beauty, and the tales of her attractions were often +related among the younger braves, and Eut-le-ten became enamoured of +the thought of winning her, although the stories also told of dangers +and death most terrible to him who strove to undergo the tests the +old chief set for all who would desire his daughter's love.</p> + +<p>Now Eut-le-ten was skillful with the bow, for many times he had +brought down the deer as they were bounding through the forest +glade, and with his arrow he had often pierced the silver salmon +when they jumped from out the rushing waters of his native stream, +and he had shot down from off the tallest tree, golden eagles or the +great fish hawk.</p> + +<p>Eut-le-ten called the men together, for he was highly favoured in +his tribe, and counted as a chief because he killed the evil chehah, +dread E-ish-so-oolth, and he directed them to make a multitude of +arrows, straight and strong, and have them ready by a day he named to +them. Forthwith they followed his instructions, and fashioned many +arrows, long and straight and strong, and each one tipped with bone +or flint, so sharp that it would pierce the thickest hide of the +great elk which roamed in bands among the hills and in the open +lands.</p> + +<img src="images/ilvi17.png" alt="[Illustration: “HE SHOT THE ARROW +STRAIGHT ABOVE HIS HEAD”]" width="263" height="446" class="left"> + +<p>The arrows were completed in four suns, when Eut-le-ten went out upon +the beach taking with him his strongest bow of yew, and shot an arrow +straight above his head, high into the vault of heaven, far out of +sight. Again he shot, and again, until at last an arrow line was +formed from the earth beneath to heaven above, for his first shaft +had fixed itself into the roof of this old world of ours, and the +second arrow aimed with such great skill, had caught the end of it. +The third, the fourth, and each succeeding one had attached itself, +until a rope of shafts was made, for Eut-le-ten to climb into the +world above--the Illahie, where Nas-nas-shup, the Sagh-al-lie Tyee, +the chief of chiefs, and his fair daughter dwelt.</p> + +<p>Then Eut-le-ten took leave of all the tribe and climbed the rope +of arrows to the sky, beyond the peoples' sight, until at last he +reached the portals of the land above.</p> + +<h4 id="c15">THE TWO BLIND SQUAWS</h4> + +<p>First, Eut-le-ten saw two blind and ancient squaws preparing simple +food for their repast, and when it was all ready they began to help +each other to the food, not hearing Eut-le-ten who quietly watched +until impelled by thoughts of mischief or of jest, took the food +away from them.</p> + +<p>Soon each old squaw accused the other of taking all the food and +giving none, and angrily they talked and quarrelled much, each +upbraiding the other for a misdeed of which neither was guilty, +while Eut-le-ten stood by enjoying their discomfiture. Presently +he spoke however, and at the sound of his young voice they stopped +their noise, and ceased to wrangle more about the food. Instead they +asked him to tell from whence he came, and who he was, and what had +brought him there.</p> + +<p>"I am a being from the lower world, and I have come to ask from +Nas-nas-shup, the love of one, of whose great charms long tales +are told among the young men of the world below." Thus Eut-le-ten +answered the questions put by the old squaws, and when they heard +his words, they were alarmed, and warned him to desist from his bold +quest which was full of peril, as many men had found before, for none +had yet returned who dared essay to win the daughter of Nas-nas-shup. +Eut-le-ten would not be turned away from his resolve by any craven +fear of perils or of dire calamity. Had he not killed the witch +E-ish-so-oolth, and also her much dreaded chehah man? But before he +left to go upon his quest, he asked the aged squaws what he could +do to make amends for playing tricks at their expense.</p> + +<p>"Oh stranger, give us sight, that we may see," they said, "for we +have long been blind."</p> + +<p>Eut-le-ten then bored a little hole into each eye of both the ancient +squaws, and when they saw the pure white light of day after their +long darkness, they were overjoyed, and thanking Eut-le-ten, they +told to him the secrets of the house of Nas-nas-shup. They gave him +charms to overcome the fire, in which he would be made to stand +alone, and last, a stone of wondrous power to break the spikes which +were set round the resting place of her he sought to win.</p> + +<h4 id="c16">THE FOUR TERRORS GUARDING THE HOUSE OF NAS-NAS-SHUP</h4> + +<p>Before the house of Nas-nas-shup there was a lake in which there +lived great demon frogs, which croaked loud warnings when any dared +approach. Inside the outer door a codfish lay, of size enormous, +ready to devour the bold intruder who might gain entrance there, and +if the stranger safely passed the cod, his body would be entered by +two snakes which waiting, sought to kill the fearless one. All these +were safely passed by Eut-le-ten, who changed himself, when danger +pressed too close, to that small primal pool of tears from which +he sprang.</p> + +<p>Within the house he saw chief Nas-nas-shup clothed in his robe of +prime sea otter skins. He also saw the spikes which surrounded +the sacred place where lay the daughter of the chief.</p> + +<p>The spikes were hidden in the ground, just where a stranger would be +asked to rest awhile, but Eut-le-ten remembered what the old squaws +said to him, and taking the stone charm he broke them down. The chief +was astonished to see the power of Eut-le-ten, and forthwith asked of +him from whence he came and what his errand was.</p> + +<p>Then Eut-le-ten declared himself and said, "I come from that great +world beneath the sky where many people live who do not know the land +where dwells the Tyee Nas-nas-shup. I come to see the wonders of his +lodge, and learn the many secrets hid from man, so that returning to +my home below, I may be able so to teach the tribes, that many things +of which they do not dream, may be revealed, and made as plain as +day. But there is one of whom great tales are told among the young +men of the world below, it is of her that I would speak to thee. Thy +daughter, chief, I come to ask of thee, to be the mother of my little +ones."</p> + +<h4 id="c17">THE TRIAL BY FIRE</h4> + +<img src="images/ilvi18.png" alt="[Illustration: THEN EUT-LE-TEN STOOD WITHIN +THE FIRE]" width="260" height="442" class="left"> + +<p>Then Nas-nas-shup gathered many sticks of wood and built a fire so +blazing hot that none could bear the heat, and turned to Eut-le-ten, +"Stand in the fire that I may see if you are brave and strong enough +to be worthy of her, my daughter."</p> + +<p>So Eut-le-ten stood within the fire, and with the charms provided him +by the old squaws, reduced the heat, and came thereout alive and none +the worse.</p> + +<p>Now Nas-nas-shup proposed that they should seek some firewood upon +the steep hill-side close by. Eut-le-ten consented, and next morning +they went to gather firewood. While thus engaged Nas-nas-shup rolled +a giant log down the steep hill toward Eut-le-ten, who never moved or +sought to escape. The log rolled over him, but once again he turned +into the pool of tears and sprang to life when danger passed away. +Thereat the chief became convinced that he was more than mortal man, +and gave his leave.</p> + +<p>Thus Eut-le-ten was wed, and lived sometime within the higher realms, +until one day he thought to visit those he left below. Then down the +rope of arrow shafts he climbed, until he found himself upon the +earth among his people, and to them he told wonderful things of the +world above.</p> + +<h4 id="c18">ASTRONOMY ACCORDING TO EUT-LE-TEN</h4> + +<p>The sun and moon emerge from out the house of Nas-nas-shup. The giant +codfish guarding the entrance to the house, attempts to catch them +passing. He often fails, but there are times when he succeeds, then +there is darkness--an eclipse of the sun or moon the white men say, +but that is false, it is the cod. The many stars which sparkle in the +skies are Indians, who dwell above the earth. Such things and many +more were told by him, and Eut-le-ten was counted as a chief more +learned than any that had ever been.</p> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Indian Legends of Vancouver Island +by Alfred Carmichael + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK INDIAN LEGENDS OF VANCOUVER ISLAND *** + +***** This file should be named 9459-h.htm or 9459-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/9/4/5/9459/ + +Produced by Andrew Sly and the online Distributed Proofing team. + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> + diff --git a/9459-h/images/ilvi01.png b/9459-h/images/ilvi01.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3c5b4ad --- /dev/null +++ b/9459-h/images/ilvi01.png diff --git a/9459-h/images/ilvi02.png b/9459-h/images/ilvi02.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..68e93f0 --- /dev/null +++ b/9459-h/images/ilvi02.png diff --git a/9459-h/images/ilvi03.png b/9459-h/images/ilvi03.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..980466a --- /dev/null +++ b/9459-h/images/ilvi03.png diff --git a/9459-h/images/ilvi04.png b/9459-h/images/ilvi04.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8214b61 --- /dev/null +++ b/9459-h/images/ilvi04.png diff --git a/9459-h/images/ilvi05.png b/9459-h/images/ilvi05.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e06af80 --- /dev/null +++ b/9459-h/images/ilvi05.png diff --git a/9459-h/images/ilvi06.png b/9459-h/images/ilvi06.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ca6d0b2 --- /dev/null +++ b/9459-h/images/ilvi06.png diff --git a/9459-h/images/ilvi07.png b/9459-h/images/ilvi07.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c3c1953 --- /dev/null +++ b/9459-h/images/ilvi07.png diff --git a/9459-h/images/ilvi08.png b/9459-h/images/ilvi08.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..886e6ee --- /dev/null +++ b/9459-h/images/ilvi08.png diff --git a/9459-h/images/ilvi09.png b/9459-h/images/ilvi09.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b4a18fa --- /dev/null +++ b/9459-h/images/ilvi09.png diff --git a/9459-h/images/ilvi10.png b/9459-h/images/ilvi10.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8260243 --- /dev/null +++ b/9459-h/images/ilvi10.png diff --git a/9459-h/images/ilvi11.png b/9459-h/images/ilvi11.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..49c1f27 --- /dev/null +++ b/9459-h/images/ilvi11.png diff --git a/9459-h/images/ilvi12.png b/9459-h/images/ilvi12.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..201e53d --- /dev/null +++ b/9459-h/images/ilvi12.png diff --git a/9459-h/images/ilvi13.png b/9459-h/images/ilvi13.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4b695d3 --- /dev/null +++ b/9459-h/images/ilvi13.png diff --git a/9459-h/images/ilvi14.png b/9459-h/images/ilvi14.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0294044 --- /dev/null +++ b/9459-h/images/ilvi14.png diff --git a/9459-h/images/ilvi15.png b/9459-h/images/ilvi15.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..be844bb --- /dev/null +++ b/9459-h/images/ilvi15.png diff --git a/9459-h/images/ilvi16.png b/9459-h/images/ilvi16.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..aa5d978 --- /dev/null +++ b/9459-h/images/ilvi16.png diff --git a/9459-h/images/ilvi17.png b/9459-h/images/ilvi17.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b0d6399 --- /dev/null +++ b/9459-h/images/ilvi17.png diff --git a/9459-h/images/ilvi18.png b/9459-h/images/ilvi18.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..88f6b3e --- /dev/null +++ b/9459-h/images/ilvi18.png diff --git a/9459.txt b/9459.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8bf68b0 --- /dev/null +++ b/9459.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1657 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Indian Legends of Vancouver Island, by Alfred Carmichael + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Indian Legends of Vancouver Island + +Author: Alfred Carmichael + +Release Date: January 3, 2005 [EBook #9459] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK INDIAN LEGENDS OF VANCOUVER ISLAND *** + + + + +Produced by Andrew Sly and the online Distributed Proofing team. + + + + + + +[Illustration: THE LONE INDIAN] + + +INDIAN LEGENDS OF VANCOUVER ISLAND + +TEXT BY ALFRED CARMICHAEL + +ILLUSTRATED BY J. SEMEYN + + + +BY WAY OF INTRODUCTION + + +The unsophisticated aboriginal of British Columbia is almost a memory +of the past. He leaves no permanent monument, no ruins of former +greatness. His original habitation has long given place to the frame +house of sawn timber, and with the exception of the carvings in black +slate made by the Hydah Indians of the Queen Charlotte Islands, and +the stone hammers, spear and arrow points, fashioned in the days +before the coming of the white man, the mementos of his sojourn in +British Columbia are only relics in wood, bark or reeds. + +In the Alberni District of Vancouver Island there are two tribes +of Indians, the Seshaht and the Opitchesaht. During the winter +season the Seshahts live in a village which occupies a beautiful +and commanding site on the west bank of the Somass River. + +Some thirty years ago when I first knew the Seshahts, they still +celebrated the great Lokwana dance or wolf ritual on the occasion +of an important potlatch, and I remember well the din made by the +blowing of horns, the shaking of rattles, and the beating of sticks +on the roof boards of Big Tom's great potlatch house, when the +Indians sighted the suppositional wolves on the river bank opposite +the Village. + +In those days we were permitted to attend the potlatches and witness +the animal and other dances, among which were the "Panther," "Red +Headed Woodpecker," "Wild Swan" and the "Sawbill Duck." Generally +we were welcome at the festivals, provided we did not laugh or +show sign of any feeling save that of grave interest. Among my +Indian acquaintances of those days was Ka-coop-et, better known in +the district as Mr. Bill. Bill is a fine type of Seshaht, quite +intelligent and with a fund of humour. Having made friends, he told +me in a mixture of broken English and Chinook some of the old folk +lore of his tribe. Of these stories I have selected for publication +"How Shewish Became a Great Whale Hunter" and "The Finding of the +Tsomass." This latter story as I present it, is a composite of three +versions of the same tale, as received, by Gilbert Malcolm Sproat +about the year 1862; by myself from "Bill" in 1896, and by Charles A. +Cox, Indian Agent, resident at Alberni, from an old Indian called +Ka-kay-un, in September 1921. Ka-kay-un credits his great great +grandfather with being the father of the two young Indians who with +the slave See-na-ulth discovered the valley now known as Alberni, +while "Bill" gave the credit to the sons of "Wick-in-in-ish." + +The framework for "The Legend of Eut-le-ten," was related to me by +Rev. M. Swartout in the year 1897. Mr. Swartout was a missionary to +the West Coast Indian tribes. He spoke the language of the natives +fluently, and took great pains to get the story with as much accuracy +as possible. A few years later, Mr. Swartout was drowned during a +heavy storm while crossing in an open boat from the islands in +Barkley Sound to Ucluelet. + +In the making of the stories into English, I have worked in what +knowledge I have of the customs and habits of the West Coast Indians +of Vancouver Island. In a few instances, due to a lack of refinement +of thought in the original stories, I have taken some license in +their transcription. The legends indicate the poetry that lies hidden +in the folk lore of the British Columbia Coast Indian tribes. For +place names and other valuable information I am indebted to the +kindness of Mr. Cox. The illustrations are original and are the work +of Mr. J. Semeyn of Victoria. + + ALFRED CARMICHAEL, + Victoria, B.C. + + + +CONTENTS + + By Way of Introduction + A Pen Picture of Barkley Sound + The Summer Home of the Seshahts + The Legend of the Thunder Birds + How Shewish Became a Great Whale Hunter + The Finding of the Tsomass + The Legend of Eut-le-ten--in the following parts:-- + The Witch E-ish-so-oolth + The Birth of Eut-le-ten + The Quest + The Death of E-ish-so-oolth + The Ogre + The Destruction of the Ogre + The Release of the Children + Further Adventures of Eut-le-ten including:-- + The Arrow Chain to Heaven + The Two Blind Squaws + The Four Terrors Guarding the House of Nas-nas-shup + The Trial by Fire + Astronomy According to Eut-el-ten + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + The Lone Indian + On Jutting Rocks the Black Klap-Poose, the Shag in Silence Sits + A West Coast Indian Wearing the Kut-sack + A Pictographic Painting--The Coat of Arms of Shewish, Seshaht Chief + The Bark Gives Way and Comes in Strips from off the Trees + We Dance Round our Fires and Sing Again + Next Day E're Mid-day Came They Had Set Sail + Brushing the Hemlock Boughs, he Walked Stealthily + Ka-koop-et + Stone Hammer Used by the Indians of Barkley Sound + He Shot an Arrow Straight Above his Head + Then Eut-le-ten Stood Within the Fire + + + +A PEN PICTURE OF BARKLEY SOUND + +THE ANCIENT HOME OF THE SESHAHTS + + +To the lone Indian, who slowly paddles his canoe upon the waters of +this western sound, each tree of different kind by shade of green and +shape of crown is known; the Toh-a-mupt or Sitca spruce with scaley +bark and prickly spine; the feathery foliage of the Quilth-kla-mupt, +the western hemlock, relieved in spring by the light green of tender +shoots. The frond-like branches and aromatic scent betray to him the +much-prized Hohm-ess, the giant cedar tree, from which he carves his +staunch canoe. These form the woods which sweep from rocky shore to +topmost hill. + +Small bays with sandy beaches white with broken clam shells mark the +shore, and if across the beach a stream of crystal water rippled +to the sea, one Indian lodge or more was sure to be erected on the +rising land behind; for Indians always choose to build their homes +on sheltered sandy bays where pure fresh water runs, and so in years +which are among those past and gone one could not fail to see the +blue wood smoke of Indian fires hanging like gauze above the little +bays; but most are now deserted and corner posts of old time houses +alone are seen, and beds of stinging nettle cover ancient kitchen +middens, and spirea and elderberry strive for space where once red +strips of salmon hung in the smoke of punk-wood fires, and stillness +reigns where once the Indians' mournful song was heard. + +Between the bays are rugged rocky points, where, by the constant +wash of winter waves the rocks are carved in shapes uncouth and +weird--giants in stone, whose heads are crowned with scrubby +conifers, upon whose feet the wild seas break, or in the summer time +the gentle wavelets lap. On jutting rocks the black Klap-poose, the +shag, in silence sits, while circling overhead the keen eyed gulls +watch for the shoals of fry on which they feed. + +[Illustration: ON JUTTING ROCKS THE BLACK KLAP-POOSE, THE SHAG IN +SILENCE SITS] + +Come now with me and I will guide you to some beauty spots, unknown, +unguessed except to those who have explored the sea creeks and +sheltered passage ways abounding on that western coast. Perhaps +between two rugged rocks we may find an opening where it cuts its way +deep into the land. In many parts, the lichen-covered canyon walls +approach so close together that our canoe can scarcely pass, and more +than likely we shall find the passage bridged by some old fallen +tree, its ancient trunk enveloped in soft moss and seedling forest +trees. Reflected in the water's surface are flowering berry shrubs, +which adorn the banks on either side. We see the glossy-leaved +shalal, the fruit of which the Indians gather to dry for winter use, +and clumps of maiden hair and other ferns rooted in old tree trunks +and rocky crevices. Such is the picture of many a salt sea creek +found in the regions round fair Barkley Sound. + +Perhaps our fancy leads among the islands of the sound. It may be +that a storm has lately spent itself, and long deep swells are +rolling in from the wide ocean lying to the west. Our staunch canoe +is lost in the deep green waters of the heaving main. It climbs only +to descend and climb once more, and thus we slowly cross the Middle +Channel and reach calm water. + +Soon what at first appeared to be unbroken shore breaks up into many +passage ways. By one of these we enter, to find ourselves among a +hundred isles. Each one is wooded to the water's edge, which often +the trees overspread with outstretched boughs. Entranced, we paddle +on until we leave behind all trace of ocean swell, and if the tide +be low so that old sea-soaked snags are seen upon the shore, and +boulders thick with barnacles and varied coloured sea-weeds in shades +of brown and red, and here and there great clusters of blue mussel +shells, these all, if the water be calm and undisturbed by wind, are +mirrored on the surface of the stream, forming pictures most rare +and beautiful. Thus for hours with ever fresh delight we thread the +calm passage-ways between those isles. Beachlets of white sand and +powdered shells are found where ocean swells at times may reach. On +these we stroll and gather abalone shells and empty sea eggs and +other relics up-thrown by winter storms. At evening we may reach +a sheltered nook where years ago Indians built a little shelter +in which to sit and watch the sun descend into the western sea. +Perhaps we may conjure up the Indian's thought, who built that +little shelter, and night on night in glorious summer time, squatted +and watched the sun go down. + +Such is the setting for the following tales. Amid such scenes as +these, the Indians lived and died. + +[Illustration: A WEST COAST INDIAN WEARING THE KUT-SACK] + + + +THE SUMMER HOME OF THE SESHAHTS + + +There is an island larger than the rest, called Ho-moh-ah, where once +the tribe of Seshahts made their summer home. It lies well out to +sea, and on the sheltered side the Seshahts lived. The chief of the +tribe was Shewish. His house was large, so large that when he called +his people to a great potlatch, they all could find within its walls +an ample space to feast and dance. His house like all the old time +dwellings was built on simple lines, the three great roof-logs each +of single trees, upheld by posts of ample girth. The sides and roof +of wide-split cedar boards were adzed to lie close, and fastened +into place by twisted cedar rope. Within, on either side was raised +a wooden platform two feet high. This platform and a portion of +the floor adjoining it in sections was partitioned off by screens +of cedar mats. Each section was the home of such as claimed close +kinship with the chief. The centre of the lodge for its whole length +was common to all who lived therein. The people cooked their food +upon the common fire, the smoke of which curled up and found an exit +through the smoke hole in the roof. The section tenanted by the +family of Shewish lay furthest from the door. No feature except one +marked it as different from the homes of lesser men. A pictographic +painting--the Coat of Arms of the great family of Shewish hung upon +the wall. The picture told in graphic form how came the name of +Shewish to be famed among the hunters of the whale. It also told +the legend of the THUNDER BIRDS. + +[Illustration: HAND ADZE MADE AND USED BY INDIANS OF BARKLEY SOUND] + + + +THE LEGEND OF THE THUNDER BIRDS + + +NAMES OCCURRING IN "THE LEGEND OF THE THUNDER BIRDS" + +Kulakula is the [1]Chinook word for Bird. + +Tee-tse-kin or Tootooch is the name given by the Barkley Sound +Indians to the Thunder Bird, a mighty supernatural bird in +Indian mythology. + +Howchulis, the land of the Howchucklesahts, is better known by the +name Uchucklesit, a safe harbour on the west side of the Alberni +Canal at its junction with Barkley Sound. Uchucklesit is now the +centre of an important fishing industry. + +Quawteaht, is a great personage in Indian mythology, a beneficent +being, and considered by many to be the progenitor of their race. + +[1] CHINOOK, is a jargon or trade language still used on the coast +of British Columbia both by the white men in conversing with the +Indians, also by the latter when talking to members of a tribe +speaking a different dialect. Chinook is a combination of English, +French and Indian words. + + +THE LEGEND OF THE THUNDER BIRDS + + +The figure at the base of the pictographic painting represents the +mammoth whale upon whose back the whole creation rests. Above the +whale are seen the head and wings of the giant Kulakula the +Tee-tse-kin the Thunder Bird which dwells aloft. When he flaps +his wings or even moves a quill the thunder peals. When he blinks his +eyes the lightning strikes. Upon his back a lake of large dimensions +lies, from which the water pours in thunder storms. He is the lone +survivor of four great Thunder Birds which dwelt upon the mountains +of Uchucklesit. These mighty birds sustained themselves on whales, +which they would carry to the mountain peaks, where Indians say, the +bones of many whales have been found. + +One time the "Great One," Quawteaht desiring to destroy the mighty +Thunder Birds, entered the body of a whale, and swimming slowly +approached Howchulis shore. The Thunder Birds espied it from their +high retreat, and sweeping down made ready for the fray. First one +attacked and drove his talons deep into the whale's back, then +spreading his broad wings he tried to rise. Then Quawteaht gave +strength to the great whale, which sounded, dragging the Tee-tse-kin +beneath the waves. Up came the whale; a second Thunder Bird with all +his force drove his strong claws deep into the quivering flesh. Then +Quawteaht a second time gave strength and down the mammal plunged +dragging with him the second Thunder Bird. A third was drowned in +manner similar. Thereat the fourth and last Tootooch took wing and +fled to distant heights, where he has ever since remained. + +This is the story of the Thunder Birds. + +[Illustration: WOODEN SCOOP FOR BALING THE WATER OUT OF A CANOE] + + + +HOW SHEWISH BECAME A GREAT WHALE HUNTER + + +NAMES OCCURRING IN THE LEGEND OF SHEWISH + +The Killer Whale or Ka-Kow-in has a large dorsal fin shown in a +conventional manner in the pictograph between the Thunder Bird and +the face of the Indian girl, sister to Shewish. The Killer Whale +was often used as a family emblem or crest and as a source from +which personal names were derived. + +Klootsmah or Kloots-a-mah plural Klootsmuk the Indian word for +"married woman" but used in the legends for girls as well as women. +According to Gilbert Malcolm Sproat who lived in Alberni in the +early "sixties" the term used for a young girl or daughter was +"Ha-quitl-is" and for an unmarried woman "Ha-quatl." + +Toquaht--the home of the Toquaht tribe of Indians, an old +settlement on the north shore of Barkley Sound between Ucluelet and +Pipestem Inlet. + +The Kutsack, or Kats-hek is a loose cloak or mantle woven from the +soft inner bark of the yellow cedar tree. Indian mats were made from +the inner bark of the red cedar. + +[Illustration: PICTOGRAPHIC PAINTING, THE COAT OF ARMS OF SHEWISH, +SESHAHT CHIEF (Drawn by J. Semeyn from original sketch by the author)] + + +HOW SHEWISH BECAME A GREAT WHALE HUNTER + + +The centre figure in the pictographic painting is a wolf grotesquely +drawn. Within her body four young wolves are seen. Above the wolf is +a killer whale surmounted by a second picture of the Thunder Bird, +and in the left top corner of the pictograph is seen the face of +a young klootsmah or Indian girl. How strangely are her features +pictured. With upturned hands she gazes in a blank unvarying +stare. She holds the key to this old tale which the great scroll +perpetuates. One time this Indian maiden, daughter of a chief of +great renown, with her two sisters left their home on Village Island. +They went in search of yellow cedar bark which grew in quantity upon +the mountain top above the village, of Toquaht. The cedar bark is +highly prized, and when the sap ascends in May to feed the new born +green, the bark is loose and easily removed, and when the klootsmah +cuts the bark through to the sap half round the tree and pulls with +all her strength, it comes in strips from off the tree till the first +branch is reached, and then it breaks and falls obedient at her dark +feet. The klootsmah rolls it up and puts it in the basket on her +back, and when she reaches home she splits the bark, and pounds it +between stones, with water softening it, and after long and tedious +work the fibres being separated, she cleanses them and weaves them +into cloaks, and then with true artistic taste, trims them with +pretty fur. + +[Illustration: THE BARK GIVES WAY AND COMES IN STRIPS FROM +OFF THE TREES] + +The daughters of the Village Island chief took with them food to last +for three whole suns. They started early, for many miles of paddling +lay between them and the Toquaht shore. At length they reached the +beach, and hiding their canoe beneath a giant spruce, they followed +where a little trail beckoned them on and up the mountain side. For +hours they climbed, wending their way through lonely, silent woods, +the twittering wren the only life they saw or heard. At times they +lost the trail, as it was overgrown with fern and berry bush. But +once the leading klootsmah stopped and signed to her companions to +keep still. Halting, they waited while she pointed to the root fangs +of a cedar tree, where well within the hollow butt a western timber +wolf had made her lair. Gone was the mother, perhaps in quest of deer +with which to feed her four young pups who calmly slept within that +sheltered cave, awaiting her return. + +The Indians are a superstitious race, and one of the old fetishes was +this: that if by chance they could secure the young of a wolf from +which to take some precious inner part, to rub upon the outer side of +their canoes, it gave great luck in whaling, and thus it came to pass +that when the klootsmuk found the she wolf's lair, they formed the +plan of taking to their brother the four wolf pups, in order that he +might become the chief of all whale hunters. Cautiously they placed +them in the baskets on their backs and then retraced their steps. In +time they reached the beach, and entered their canoe, when just as +they pushed off, with giant springs and angry howl leapt the great +mother wolf from the woods, but the klootsmuk were safe with their +strange prizes, and soon their canoe cut gleefully through the waves, +while their songs were wafted landward by the western breeze. + +Upon an isle not far from home they hid the young wolf pups. This +done, they squatted on the shore, and thought how best they might +inform their brother of their lucky find. They were puzzled as to how +this might be managed without awakening jealousies among the other +members of the tribe, and they were fearful to face their father's +wrath who surely would expect their craft well laden with the cedar +bark. They reasoned long and then decided on a stratagem. One of the +three would cut her foot with a mussel shell, and mark her tunic with +the blood, and tell the story, that when they landed on the Toquaht +shore an open mussel shell had cut her foot, therefore they could not +go for cedar bark. They carried out this plan, and paddled slowly to +Ho-moh-ah. The people saw them come, and wondered much what evil had +befallen them, but when they saw the blood upon the kutsack of the +youngest girl and saw her bound up foot, they guessed the trouble. +Before the sun had set, the brother had been told of the wolf pups, +and secretly that night he had taken from them the precious parts, +and when he went hunting, he rubbed the medicine on his canoe, and +had such wondrous luck he soon became the chief of all whale hunters. +Such is the story told by that weird painting, which could be seen +some years ago adorning the dark walls of the great potlatch house +of Shewish, Seshaht chief on Ho-moh-ah but better known as Village +Island, Barkley Sound. + +[Illustration: HALIBUT HOOK AND CLUB FOR STUNNING FISH] + + + +THE FINDING OF THE TSOMASS + + +NAMES AND WORDS OCCURRING IN THE LEGEND "THE FINDING OF THE TSOMASS" + +Alberni, the valley at the head of the Alberni Canal, a wonderful +cleft or fjord which almost splits Vancouver Island in two. This +fjord has its outlet in Barkley Sound on the west side of the +island. The Alberni Canal was named by the Spaniards after Don Pedro +Alberni, captain of infantry in charge of soldiers stationed at +Nootka Sound, Vancouver Island, during the Spanish occupation. + +Tsomass River--spelt and pronounced by the "Whites" Somass, a +fine river formed by the confluence of the Stamps and Sproat or +Klee-coot rivers, draining Great Central lake and Sproat or Klee-coot +lake respectively. The Tsomass river flows through the Alberni Valley +into the Alberni Canal. + +The E-coulth-aht, is one of the many divisions of what Gilbert +Malcolm Sproat called "the Aht tribes" inhabiting the west +coast of Vancouver Island. + +Po-po-moh-ah, is now known by the Spanish name "San Mateo Bay" +situated on the east side of Barkley Sound, not far from the entrance +to the Alberni Canal. + +U-chuck-le-sit, is a small but safe harbour on the north side +and near to the entrance to the Alberni Canal. The cannery, cold +storage plant and village of Kildonan are built on the harbour. + +Klu-quilth-soh, is the Indian name for a rather forbidding passage +in the Alberni Canal, and known for strong winds and choppy seas. It +is named by the white people "Hell's Gate." + +Chehahs were Supernatural spirits or influences; there were good +and bad chehahs. + +She-she-took-a-muck was a ferocious whale supposed to have lived +at Hell's Gate, and to have swallowed Indians and their canoes. The +whale was killed by the aid of Quawteaht. + +Kah-oots was supposed to be one of the deities of Seshaht mythology. + +Tsa-a-toos,--(Copper Island) is a large island situated in +Barkley Sound and near to the entrance to the Alberni Canal. + +Toosh-ko, Hy-wach-es, Wak-ah-nit, (Copper Mountain) Tin-nim-ah, and +Klu-quilth-koose (now known as Coos Creek) are place names on the +Alberni Canal. + +U-ah-tee--the north wind, Yuk-stees--the south wind. + +O-lil-lie and Il-la-hie, are Chinook for berries and land +or country respectively. + +Ah-tooch is the Indian name for deer. + +Lup-se-kup-se or Nooh-see-cupis, is a small piece of cleared land +on the left bank of the Tsomass river and about half way between the +towns of Port Alberni and Alberni. + +Kleet-sa, is a high mountain rising from the waters of Taylor Arm, +Sproat Lake, so named because of its white or chalky appearance. + +Kuth-kah-chulth, is the Indian name for Mount Arrowsmith, a +splendid peak rising directly east of the town of Port Alberni. Mount +Arrowsmith is one of the highest mountains of Vancouver Island; it is +5976 feet in elevation. + +Toh-a-muk-is, is the land fronting on the little bay just north +of the foot of Argyle Street, Port Alberni. + +Kok-a-mah-kook, is a place close to the stream known as Dry Creek, +and near to the railway round house, Port Alberni. + +Kwa-nis, Kam-mass or Gam-mas as it is variously known, is a species +of lily which comes into flower about the middle of April and remains +in flower till June. It is gathered, roasted and preserved whole in +bags for winter use. + + +THE FINDING OF THE TSOMASS + + +Near thirty miles from where Alberni pours her crystal stream out to +the mighty fjord that cleaves Vancouver's Island nigh in twain, a +tribe of Indians lived. Their village nestled at the foot of wooded +hills, which everywhere on this indented coastline, rise straight up +from out the North Pacific. They were a powerful tribe, E-coulth-aht +by name; seven hundred strong, with many fighting men, and many +children who played upon that shore. I think even now I hear the echo +of their voices round the bay, and how marvelously clear an echo may +be, among the inlets of that rockbound coast! I have heard my call +flung back from side to side alternately, till it was lost among the +rocky heights and ceased to be. + +Across the bay from where the Indians lived, ran a stream, called +Po-po-moh-ah. Here every autumn, when the salmon came, they stayed +and caught the fish for winter use. Yet strange to say these +ancient E-coulth-ahts seemed unaware that at their very doors, a +nature hewn canal had its entrance. One fine September morning +Ha-houlth-thuk-amik and Han-ah-kut-ish, the sons of Wick-in-in-ish +or, as some say Ka-kay-un, accompanied by their father's slave +See-na-ulth were paddling slowly to Po-po-moh-ah, when half across +and near to Tsa-a-toos they saw dead salmon floating on the tide. + +The salmon had spawned, and is it not strange to think that this, the +king of fish should struggle up the rapid tumbling streams for many +miles, against strong currents, over falls where the water breaks +the least, perchance to fall within the wicker purse of Indian traps +placed there so cunningly to catch them if they should fall back; and +even if they escape the Indian traps and find the gravel bar where +they four years before, began their life, and having spent themselves +in giving life, sicken and die, their bodies even in death give +sustenance to gulls and eagles circling round those haunts. + +"These fish have come from where fresh water flows, so let us follow +up from whence they come. Let Quawteaht direct our course, and we +shall find new streams where salmon are in plenty and win great glory +in our tribe." Thus spake the sons of Wick-in-in-ish, and they turned +the prow of their canoe upstream, and followed where the trail of +salmon led, to the broad entrance of that splendid fjord. + +Soon they paddled by the harbour U-chuck-le-sit, long famed for its +safe anchorage and quiet retreat, when winter storms lash the waters +of the sound. Leaving this quiet harbour on the left, they followed +where the wider channel led to Klu-quilth-soh, that dark and stormy +gate, where Indians say the dreaded Chehahs dwell among the rocky +heights--"The Gates of Hell," and when men seek to pass those gates +the Chehahs blow upon them winds of evil fates from north and south +and east and west. The water boils in that great witches pot, while +Indians seek a sheltered beach in vain--no beach is there, no shelter +from the storm. The mighty cliffs frown down relentlessly; the whale +She-she-took-a-muck opens his great jaws and swallows voyagers, at +which the chehahs laugh, and their wild laughter, Klu-quilth-soh's +heights re-echo far away. + +On this eventful day the evil chehahs were absent from their home and +the Yuk-stees wind blew not too strong to cause the waves to dash +along in wild commotion, and after paddling uneventfully through +Klu-quilth-soh, the three E-coulth-ahts stopped beside Toosh-ko. +Looking back they could not see Nob Point which hid their home from +view,--it was as if the mountains which formed those stormy gates, +had closed and barred them in. + +"What chehah" they cried, "has lured us within this inland sea and +shut those gates? A-ha A-ha!" they called with anxious cry, and +prayed Kah-oots to save them from all dangers. To the Saghalie Tyee, +the chief above, they also prayed to potlach kloshe to them, and +guard them from the evil chehahs hovering round. After the relief +of prayer, their spirits rose, and once again the splashing of their +paddles marked their onward progress. + +Soon they glided by Hy-wach-es Creek and rounding Wak-ah-nit they +came in view of the great valley where the Tsomass flows. At once +they ceased from paddling to gaze with pleasure on that favoured +land, and as they looked they heard the sound of song from up the +river valley. + +The evening fell, the pleasant Yuk-stees wind blew more faintly, and +as it passed away, over those calm inland waters swelled again the +sound of many voices chanting Indian songs. + +"There are people dwelling there," they said. "It would be well if +we delayed until morning." Agreeing to this plan they crossed the +channel and camped at Klu-quilth-coose. + +Next morning while the grass was damp with dew, and long before the +U-ah-tee wind had ceased, the sons of Wick-in-in-ish, hearing again +the quaint alluring song, took their canoe and paddled on, to where +between two grassy slopes, the Tsomass ends. When they approached +the river mouth, they saw extending from the bank a salmon trap, and +even to-day, the Indians will show at Lup-se-kup-se some old rotten +sticks, which they affirm formed part of that same trap. The land was +green, the wild duck's quack was heard among the reeds which edged +the river bank, while flocks of geese were feeding on the grass +which grows thickly upon the tidal flats, the flats the Indians call +Kwi-chuc-a-nit. + +Upon the eastern bank the young men saw a wondrous house, which far +surpassed their father's lodge at home beyond the hills in Rainy Bay, +in size of beams and boards. The sons of Wick-in-in-ish were afraid +and would have turned the bow of their canoe home-bound, but that +from the house they heard a woman call. "Oh come and stay with us, go +not away. Our land is full of all the riches nature gives; our woods +are bright with o-lil-lie most luscious to the taste; on yonder hill +the nimble ah-tooch feed; in every stream the silver salmon swim so +come within our lodge with us and stay awhile." Ha-houlth-thuk-amik +was mesmerized by the sweet welcoming and entered in, whereat the +klootsmah said to him, "We welcome thee strange one unto our lodge, +for we have never seen a man before. Come and join us in our song and +dance, for when above great Kuth-kah-chulth the morning sun in glory +rises, we chant this song." + +[Illustration: THE INDIAN MAIDEN'S SONG] + +and when he sets over Kleetsa's snow white crown, we dance around our +fires, and sing again, and our hearts are happy in this our land." + +[Illustration: "WE DANCE ROUND OUR FIRES AND SING AGAIN"] + +Now Han-ah-kut-ish was alarmed and much afraid that if his brother +listened to the klootsmah and was attentive to her blandishments, he +would forget the mission in which they were engaged, therefore he +called to him to come, and after much persuasion the elder brother +left the lodge and joined the younger and the slave See-na-ulth, +and together they paddled up the stream to Ok-sock-tis opposite the +present village of O-pit-ches-aht. Across the river there were houses +in which more klootsmuk lived, but at this time they were employed in +gathering Kwanis in the land behind, and when the young men sought +them out they were afraid and all but one took flight escaping to the +woods. This one had no fear but coming near to Ha-houlth-thuk-amik +besought him with favour to look on her, but Han-ah-kut-ish again +reminded him that they had not as yet attained the object of their +quest. + +Still further up the stream they went, until they came to where +they found the Ty-ee salmon spawning on the gravel bars. Believing +they had found the object of their search they camped the night at +Sah-ah-hie. All through the darkness they listened to the rushing +of the fish, when the gaunt and savage males with flattened heads +and upper jaws curved like a hook about the lower, and armed with +dog-like teeth, fought for the females of their choice. With great +satisfaction they heard the wallowing of the fish, as, with their +heads and tails, they formed the elongated cavities in the gravel +in which to lay their eggs. Then Ha-houlth-thuk-amik declared that +this the Tsomass River was the source from which the dead fish came +which they had seen when paddling to Po-po-moh-ah. + +To Lup-se-kup-se they returned next day, and there they saw, +among the women in the lodge, the girl who spoke to them, when +they had landed on the river bank opposite Ok-sock-tis. Then +Ha-houlth-thuk-amik, desiring to convey her home with him, took her +aside and said, "If thou wilt come with me, say not a word, but +unbeknown make haste and leave the house, and run across the point +which forms the eastern bank where this the Tsomass river joins +the inland sea, then hide thyself until we take thee in, as we are +paddling home." + +The klootsmah did as she was told and as the young men passed she +jumped within the canoe, and was away with them. That night they +stayed at Chis-toh-nit not far from Coleman creek, so named because +in later days a white man of that name took up some land and dwelt +there some little while. + +Next morning the klootsmah said to Ha-houlth-thuk-amik, "I am +Kla-kla-as-suks and I am now thy rightful wife and therefore I +desire to make of thee a famous hunter of the whale, so come with +me and climb the mountain called Kuk-a-ma-com-ulth where high above +the timber line the green grass grows, and I will get for thee an +Ow-yie medicine." + +They climbed the mountain and she secured for him the medicine so +desired by all who hunt the whale, and early next morning, blown by +a strong U-ah-tee wind they started for Po-mo-moh-ah and when they +came to Klu-quilth-soh they found the gates wide open and passed +safely through between the frowning cliffs, arriving home before +the break of day. + +Then Ha-houlth-thuk-amik aroused his father who was still asleep, +and bade him light a fire, and when the fire was lit he told him how +they ventured up the unknown way, between high cliffs, where they had +lost all sight and sound of Rainy Bay. He told of the Tsomass land, +and the salmon stream which far eclipsed their own Po-po-moh-ah, and +then described the great and wondrous house, where the klootsmuk +dwelt, and how they sang to him "Yah-hin-in-ay." He told him also +of Kla-kla-as-suks, the klootsmah who had left her home to be his +rightful wife. + +[Illustration: NEXT DAY E'RE MIDDAY CAME THEY HAD SET SAIL] + +Then Wick-in-in-ish sent for all the tribe, and when they were +assembled in his lodge, he told to them the story of the Tsomass +land. Among the braves was much talking; and after speeches from +the lesser chiefs, it was decided that next day before the sun had +cast his shadow north and south, with Yuk-stees wind, they would +set sail for Tsomass land. + +That day in every house, in varied occupation, each family was +busied. The cedar boards, which form the sides and roof of all their +homes, were piled upon canoes. Atop of these were set their household +goods, the mats of cedar bark, the wooden tubs in which they boiled +their fish, the spears of flint, their hooks of bone, their fishing +lines of kelp, and mattresses of water reeds. Large quantities of +clams and mussels, also salmon cured by smoke they took with them, +for Wick-in-in-ish planned to give a great potlatch to the strange +tribe of Indian girls, from which his eldest son had chosen one to +be his wife. + +Next morning long before the sun had reached the zenith they had set +sail for Tsomass land. It truly must have been a sight to see that +fleet of dark canoes, piled high with all the wealth of that great +tribe, as with the sails of cedar bark filled with the Yuk-stees +wind, they glided by the green or rocky shores which led them inland +to the pleasant Tsomass land. Before the shadows of the night had +spread among the gloomy conifers, the dark canoes had rounded +Wak-a-nit, when, taking down their sails of cedar bark, they paddled +silently close to the shore. + +When near Tin-nim-ah, where the Indians say they find good stone for +sharpening arrow points, they rested on their paddles, and first +heard the women singing in their cedar lodge. Then Wick-in-in-ish +addressed his tribe. "My children we have sailed for many miles, +and our little ones are hungry and weary. Let us sojourn near this +old spruce." + +Thus they encamped near the conifer, and called the place +Toha-a-muk-is after the spruce they were afraid to touch. Water they +carried from near Kak-a-mak-kook, named from the alders growing round +the stream. All through the night they heard the salmon splash to +free themselves, so many Indians say, from sea lice clinging to their +silver sides, and their hearts were happy with that refrain, which +spoke to them of great supplies of food. + +Early next day, before the forest trees were gilded by the glorious +rising sun, the people heard the call of many birds, and looking +northward where the Tsomass flows, forth from the mist, which in the +early morning hangs like a veil of gauze among the trees, they saw a +flock of Sand Hill cranes appear. They flew far above their heads and +gradually ascending to the sky, vanished from their sight. These were +the maidens, so the Indians say, who left behind them all this lovely +land for regions unexplored, taking with them both clams and mussels. +This is the reason Indians give for the lack of these shell-fish now, +upon the shores of the great inland sea. The maidens also took the +Kwa-nis bulbs, but as they flew they dropt a few upon the ground, +hence the Kwa-nis bulb is still found in Tsomass land. + +Wick-in-in-ish, with his sons, now made haste to paddle to the +river mouth, but lo, the house was gone, no sign of it was left, +and with it all the klootsmah tribe had fled. Then he turned to +Ha-houlth-thuk-amik and said, "This is thy land, and this thy future +home shall be; thou and thy chosen one Kla-kla-as-suks shall dwell +therein, and may thy children be many." + + + +THE LEGEND OF EUT-LE-TEN + + +EXPLANATION OF "THE LEGEND OF EUT-LE-TEN" + +As stated in the introduction, the details for this story were +given by the late Indian missionary, Mr. M. Swartout, who received +them direct from the Indians of Dodger's Cove, Barkley sound, in +the year 1897. + +The reader will recognize in this legend the Indian equivalent for +Hansel and Gretel, Jack the Giant Killer, Jack and the Bean stalk, +and other stories of childhood days. + +It is not likely that the exploits of Eut-le-ten were considered +by the older Indians to be the product of imagination, and most +probably they believed that some time in the distant past, a +supernatural being called Eut-le-ten was born and lived and +performed extraordinary feats and taught them wonderful things. + +This is an Ohyaht Indian story. The chief village of the Ohyahts +was at a bay called Keeh-him between Bamfield and Cape Beale, +Barkley Sound. + + +THE LEGEND OF EUT-LE-TEN + + +THE WITCH E-ISH-SO-OOLTH + +Long, long ago, in the gloom of deep and silent woods there lived a +witch or evil chehah. The Indians called her E-ish-so-oolth. So tall +was she that, stalking through the forest, her head would brush the +lower branches of the giant fir. + +She dwelt in a huge lodge, the walls of which were built of cedar +logs as thick as men are high. This evil chehah was the dread of +young and old alike, for all believed that boys and girls and even +men and women, who left their homes, not to return again, were +taken to her lodge, there to be devoured at leisure. Therefore +mothers often said, when children misbehaved, "Be good or I will +call E-ish-so-oolth." + +One day some Keeh-hin village children paddled from their home and +landed on a nearby shore. Then something happened causing one to +cry, and all the others scolding, threatened to call E-ish-so-oolth. +The threat had no effect and the child cried on, till one in teasing +spirit called loudly, "E-ish-so-oolth! E-ish-so-oolth! Oh come +E-ish-so-oolth!" + +Then forth from the woods a figure stalked, a tall gaunt form of +terrible aspect. She leaned upon a gnarled and knotty stick and +scanning the beach with cruel eyes she cried, "Who called me by +my name E-ish-so-oolth?" + +The children screamed and tried to run away; the chehah laughed one +awful fiendish laugh, then caught them one by one with her lean +hands. With the sticky gum of Douglas fir, she sealed their little +jet black eyes so that they could not see which way led left or +right, and threw them in the basket on her back, starting for home +along the lonely forest trail. + +As I have said, E-ish-so-oolth was tall, and many times bent her head +to pass beneath low and spreading branches, and so it happened when +stooping under a tree which brushed the basket top, four little hands +gripped tightly hold of a kindly branch and held on fast. + +When E-ish-so-oolth had gone on further not missing the two children, +they clambered down, and partly freed their eyes from the vile pitch, +running for home as fast as they could go. To their mothers they +told the story, and how their playmates of that very morning, were +now perchance within the witch's lodge, and no help to save them +from a bloody fate. Then all the mothers of the kidnapped girls +chanted the weird and doleful death lament. Four days and nights the +dismal song was heard, beyond the blue wood smoke of Indian fires. +Weeks of mourning passed, and all but one were comforted, but she +sat all alone, and every morning she squatted on the sea grass at +the shore, chanting that drear and mournful song. + + +THE BIRTH OF EUT-LE-TEN + +Early one morning as she sat and cried, her tears flowed down and +formed a little pool, a very little pool among the grass, the lank +sea grass stems on which she crouched. Surprised, she saw a movement +in the sand, the pool of tears was being changed into a child, a very +little child, so small that when the mother picked up a mussel shell, +she could cradle the small form within its pearly curve. Gently she +carried it to her dark lodge, and set it in a safe and quiet place. +Next day within the shell, there lay a wonder-child, in face and form +most beautiful. + +The little creature grew so fast that every day his mother went out +to find new shells and larger shells in which to cradle him. She +called him by the name of Eut-le-ten, and in all the village there +was none so fair; in wisdom and in beauty none excelled. The child +was observing beyond his years, and felt deepest sorrow at his +mother's constant weeping. One day he inquired in tender tones, +full of love and sympathy. "My Mother, tell me why you cry so much; +why unconsoled you chant the death lament?" + +Then the mother drawing him to her side told him of the tragedy which +had befallen his sister. "The chehah came and carried off my girl, +carried away your little sister to the woods, the dark and gloomy +woods, and since that day her shadow has not crossed my mournful +path," she said. + +Then up spake Eut-le-ten and bravely said, "My Mother, I will seek +your daughter, my little sister. I will save her from that awful fate +you fear. Direct me now upon the lonesome road the dread witch took +and I will seek her out." + +And the mother knowing him to be a spirit-child, rejoiced and blessed +his errand. They next sought out the little ones who saved themselves +by clinging to the low branched tree, and from them they learned the +trail the old witch took. Then sallied forth brave Eut-le-ten alone, +off to give battle to E-ish-so-oolth. + + +THE QUEST + +[Illustration: BRUSHING THE HEMLOCK BOUGHS, HE WALKED STEALTHILY] + +Eut-le-ten started with no arms but his courage, to face the dread +witch who had spirited away the children. The trail lay long, unknown +and untrodden, save by the timber wolf, panther and black bear. It +was feared by the Indians for dangers most dreadful--the greatest +of all the chehah E-ish-so-oolth. He broke through dense shalal, +fringing the green woods, making the shore line all but impenetrable. +Into the thick woods, under the silvery spruce, brushing the hemlock +boughs he walked stealthily. Salmon berry thickets impeded his +progress, scratched his round limbs with the thorns on their canes. +He passed white helebore, so tall and so handsome. He saw how the +black bear had fed on swamp lily, tramping the glossy leaves into the +black mud. He spurned the devil's club with berries so red and with +poisonous thorns on stem and on leaf. Such was the trail as it led +him far inland, inland away from his home by the sea. At last by a +cool stream, the path lay before him. Hard by the stream a lodge was +erected, a house of such size the boy stood dumbfounded, and he knew +that this must be the dwelling of the children's dread captor. + +Night time had come, the shadows had fallen and Eut-le-ten was tired +with the long weary trail. Should he proceed or wait until morning? +He climbed a tree which grew by the water, and hid in the branches +to keep vigil, there to crave strength from the Saghalie spirit, the +Hyas Tyee who dwells in the heavens, to grant him the strength, the +wisdom, the courage to kill the dread witch. The night was long and +the vigil lone, soundless except for the night hawk on wing, or the +howl of the wolf in the quest of the red deer, or the splash of the +salmon in the stream underneath. + +Early next morning, before he descended, he plainly saw the form of +the witch, coming to wash in the stream just below him. The water was +clear reflecting her visage, fearsome in its hideous detail. Up in +the tree brave Eut-le-ten saw her, he thought himself safe from her +fierce prying eyes; he forgot that he too was mirrored below in the +still water which lay at her feet. When she had finished her morning +ablutions, she filled her vessel with water and turned to depart, +when she saw just below her, the features of Eut-le-ten in the still +water. Upturning her eyes to the branches above her, she saw there +the boy half concealed in the foliage, and she smiled with a smile +triumphant and cruel, thinking once more her fortune had found her, +and brought to her lodge the boy she was wanting. + +She greeted him, "Come, why tarriest up there? Come to my lodge, +perchance thou art hungry; the fire has been kindled, the water is +boiling, a welcome awaits thee, why tarriest longer? Descend from +the tree and let me behold thee". + +Down climbed Eut-le-ten nothing affrighted, but filled with the +knowledge no harm could befall him. + +"Why hast thou come, and whence dost thou go? Why didst thou leave +thy home by the sea?" Such were the questions E-ish-so-oolth asked +him. Then struck by his fairness and beauty of limb, she questioned +him thus, "Why is thy skin so fair, and why are thy limbs so +beautiful?" + +Then Eut-le-ten answered her, "When I was a boy my Mother laid me +upon the bare ground with my head on a stone, my Father placed a +large rock on my forehead. Thus I was given the gift of the fair." + +E-ish-so-oolth was envious of Eut-le-ten and much desired to look +as young as he, so that with face so comely and so fair, she could +entice the children to her lodge, wherefore she asked with evil +ill concealed, "Can I by any means obtain this gift?" + +Then Eut-le-ten divining her base thought and much desiring to make +an end of her, declared that if she would lie down, and on the stone +which lay beside the creek recline her head, he would place upon her +forehead the stone which would both mould her features like to his, +and make her skin as fair. The witch determined to try the charm at +once, stretching her great length upon the ground, placed her head +upon the stone. + +Then Eut-le-ten lifted a great rock and hurled it down upon the +witches head. "Die dread E-ish-so-oolth," he cried. "No more with +evil charms wilt thou entice the children to thy lonely forest home." + +So died the witch, and nevermore do mothers say when children +misbehave. "Be good or I will call E-ish-so-oolth." + + +THE OGRE + +E-ish-so-oolth's husband was a mighty man, greater than any Indian +on the coast. His limbs were rugged as the wind-swept fir which +grows upon the stormy outer shores. His thick and matted hair fell +in tangles over his great shoulders, and his sullen eyes looked from +out his forehead with angry stare. Cruel as the gaunt and hungry +timber wolf, such was the mate of dread E-ish-so-oolth. Beside him, +Eut-le-ten had no length of arm or strength of limb with which to +fend himself, still less attack this giant of the gloomy forest +track, but he possessed weapons more potent than the brutal strength +of this vile chehah man. A spirit child he was, a heaven sent boy, +whom no evil ever could destroy. + + +THE DESTRUCTION OF THE OGRE + +The Ogre was at work cleaving a fallen tree, using wedges formed from +the hardest, toughest wood the Indians know. It was the Kla-to-mupt, +the western yew. With mighty blows of his stone hammer, he sunk a +wedge deep in the log, rending it open, split to the centre of its +giant heart. + +The thunderous blows were heard by Eut-le-ten, who with fine courage +followed up the sound, until he came in view of where the huge man +worked with all his might. + +Blow upon blow fell upon the wedge, deeper it sank into the log. +The split grew wider. The sides of the great rent pressed hard upon +the wedge, so hard that if the wedge were hit a glancing blow, it +would fly out. + +Thus it was, when the Ogre saw the wonder boy approach, and his great +frame was filled with rage, because the boy betrayed no fear of him, +that his dark face lit up as with a flame. + +[Illustration: THIS IS NOT THE OGRE, BUT A PORTRAIT OF KA-KOOP-ET +(MR. BILL) Drawn by J Semeyn from photograph by Joseph Clegg of +Port Alberni] + +Taking his sledge of stone he struck a blow, as if upon the wedge, +but let it drop; deep in the crack it fell far out of reach. + +"Come here my boy," he called, "I crave your help, I have lost my +hammer within this mighty tree, I cannot reach it, so, jump in and +get it, for I want it back." + +Eut-le-ten climbed upon the log, and dropt within the split as he was +bid; the Ogre gave the wedge a sudden jog and out it sprang, and the +sides came together like the jaws of some great trap. + +"Ha! Ha!" the Ogre cried, "Oh! what a joke! with but a single stroke +I have ground him small. E-ish-so-oolth that gentle little fey, will +dine on mince-meat." + +The ugly Ogre made his clumsy jest, little knowing of the fate his +spouse had met, when suddenly he saw upon the ground before him, an +awesome thing, a little pool of water from which there came a quite +unearthly sound. Then from the pool, with fear and awe, the Ogre saw +brave Eut-le-ten uprise. Nothing could lay low this boy of wondrous +parts, who could resolve himself to mother earth, and from the primal +pool of tears arise to save the helpless and destroy their foes. + +"Most wondrous boy, I feared that when the wedge slipt out you died; +instead, my heart is filled with joy to see you live when I had +thought you killed. Tell me from whence you draw your mystic power, +and I will seek the place this very day. When I have found it out, +I will repay you in ways more certain than I can now command." + +Thus spake the ogre, and Eut-le-ten replied, "'Tis easy done. This +gift is yours as well as mine. Test it but once, and you will see +that you have powers as great as I." + +The giant's bulky frame was filled with pride. "You're right," he +swore, "the thing that you can do, by all the Tyee salmon, so can I." + +Once more the wedge was driven to the heart, until again the sides +were spread a-gape. In climbed the giant,--he did not think the fit +would be so tight. + +"Are you all ready?" Eut-le-ten called out. + +"Yes!" roared the giant, with a thunderous shout. + +"Die then!" cried Eut-le-ten, as he took the hammer up, and struck +upon the side the great yew wedge. Out sprung the wedge, the sides +snapped together, crushing within the ogre's ponderous frame. + +Ignoring his wild shouts they crunched to powder all his giant bones. + +The ogre and his mate were thus destroyed, and never more have +children been led astray by E-ish-so-oolth's dread and magic craft, +to suffer death in ways too sad to tell. + +[Illustration: STONE HAMMER USED BY THE INDIANS OF BARKLEY SOUND] + + +THE RELEASE OF THE CHILDREN + +Then to the lodge sped brave Eut-le-ten to that great lodge of giant +cedar logs, the home of the dead witch E-ish-so-oolth. The house was +dark, for only through the door and the great smoke hole in the roof, +did the pale light find its dim way. It was gloomy, and for the full +time it takes a man to wake from a deep sleep, Eut-le-ten saw nothing +but just the darkness of a moonless night, then slowly as if the day +was dawning, objects were seen within the hall. In the centre was a +smouldering fire, and in the hot ashes, some heated stones with which +to boil the water in the wooden box in which the food was cooked. +There beside the wooden box he saw two little forms, prepared by that +old witch to satisfy her cruel appetite, and that of her bad chehah +man. Then Eut-le-ten was very sad indeed, to think that he had come +too late to save the little girls from such an awful fate, and as he +looked and moaned within himself believing that his sister lay there +dead, he heard a sound which seemed to come from the further end of +the dark lodge, and turning round he saw some children imprisoned +in a wicker cage. Then he spoke and told them to be brave, that he +had come to save them from the witch; but they were frightened at +the very sound of his strange voice, and cried aloud with fear. +Eut-le-ten whispered softly, and with grease from the great whale +he rubbed their eyes free from the pitch with which E-ish-so-oolth +had closed them. Afterward he told them that his name was Eut-le-ten, +who had killed E-ish-so-oolth, and how he had crushed the ogre within +the log. + +The frightened children were much comforted and followed Eut-le-ten +from out of the lodge away from the dark house of E-ish-so-oolth +into the sunlit woods, along the trail which led for many miles to +the small bay. Then there was much rejoicing in the homes of all +the children saved by Eut-le-ten, and joy unspeakable in his own +lodge, when he gently led to his sorrowing mother the little sister, +safe from the clutches of E-ish-so-oolth. + +Then all the tribe did honor to Eut-le-ten. He was found in the +councils of the chiefs, and tribes with homes on distant shores heard +the great news--the news of how this wonder boy had killed the ogre +and his dreaded wife, E-ish-so-oolth. + + + +FURTHER ADVENTURES OF EUT-LE-TEN + + +THE ARROW CHAIN TO HEAVEN + +Some time passed by, and Eut-le-ten conceived a plan to reach the +land above the sky, which he believed, like all the Indian race, to +be the roof of this our world, and hiding from our view the Illahie +where the great chief--the Sagh-al-lie Tyee, Nas-nas-shup, the chief +of all the chiefs abode. Nas-nas-shup had a daughter, far famed for +her exceeding beauty, and the tales of her attractions were often +related among the younger braves, and Eut-le-ten became enamoured of +the thought of winning her, although the stories also told of dangers +and death most terrible to him who strove to undergo the tests the +old chief set for all who would desire his daughter's love. + +Now Eut-le-ten was skillful with the bow, for many times he had +brought down the deer as they were bounding through the forest +glade, and with his arrow he had often pierced the silver salmon +when they jumped from out the rushing waters of his native stream, +and he had shot down from off the tallest tree, golden eagles or the +great fish hawk. + +Eut-le-ten called the men together, for he was highly favoured in +his tribe, and counted as a chief because he killed the evil chehah, +dread E-ish-so-oolth, and he directed them to make a multitude of +arrows, straight and strong, and have them ready by a day he named to +them. Forthwith they followed his instructions, and fashioned many +arrows, long and straight and strong, and each one tipped with bone +or flint, so sharp that it would pierce the thickest hide of the +great elk which roamed in bands among the hills and in the open +lands. + +[Illustration: "HE SHOT THE ARROW STRAIGHT ABOVE HIS HEAD"] + +The arrows were completed in four suns, when Eut-le-ten went out upon +the beach taking with him his strongest bow of yew, and shot an arrow +straight above his head, high into the vault of heaven, far out of +sight. Again he shot, and again, until at last an arrow line was +formed from the earth beneath to heaven above, for his first shaft +had fixed itself into the roof of this old world of ours, and the +second arrow aimed with such great skill, had caught the end of it. +The third, the fourth, and each succeeding one had attached itself, +until a rope of shafts was made, for Eut-le-ten to climb into the +world above--the Illahie, where Nas-nas-shup, the Sagh-al-lie Tyee, +the chief of chiefs, and his fair daughter dwelt. + +Then Eut-le-ten took leave of all the tribe and climbed the rope +of arrows to the sky, beyond the peoples' sight, until at last he +reached the portals of the land above. + + +THE TWO BLIND SQUAWS + +First, Eut-le-ten saw two blind and ancient squaws preparing simple +food for their repast, and when it was all ready they began to help +each other to the food, not hearing Eut-le-ten who quietly watched +until impelled by thoughts of mischief or of jest, took the food +away from them. + +Soon each old squaw accused the other of taking all the food and +giving none, and angrily they talked and quarrelled much, each +upbraiding the other for a misdeed of which neither was guilty, +while Eut-le-ten stood by enjoying their discomfiture. Presently +he spoke however, and at the sound of his young voice they stopped +their noise, and ceased to wrangle more about the food. Instead they +asked him to tell from whence he came, and who he was, and what had +brought him there. + +"I am a being from the lower world, and I have come to ask from +Nas-nas-shup, the love of one, of whose great charms long tales +are told among the young men of the world below." Thus Eut-le-ten +answered the questions put by the old squaws, and when they heard +his words, they were alarmed, and warned him to desist from his bold +quest which was full of peril, as many men had found before, for none +had yet returned who dared essay to win the daughter of Nas-nas-shup. +Eut-le-ten would not be turned away from his resolve by any craven +fear of perils or of dire calamity. Had he not killed the witch +E-ish-so-oolth, and also her much dreaded chehah man? But before he +left to go upon his quest, he asked the aged squaws what he could +do to make amends for playing tricks at their expense. + +"Oh stranger, give us sight, that we may see," they said, "for we +have long been blind." + +Eut-le-ten then bored a little hole into each eye of both the ancient +squaws, and when they saw the pure white light of day after their +long darkness, they were overjoyed, and thanking Eut-le-ten, they +told to him the secrets of the house of Nas-nas-shup. They gave him +charms to overcome the fire, in which he would be made to stand +alone, and last, a stone of wondrous power to break the spikes which +were set round the resting place of her he sought to win. + + +THE FOUR TERRORS GUARDING THE HOUSE OF NAS-NAS-SHUP + +Before the house of Nas-nas-shup there was a lake in which there +lived great demon frogs, which croaked loud warnings when any dared +approach. Inside the outer door a codfish lay, of size enormous, +ready to devour the bold intruder who might gain entrance there, and +if the stranger safely passed the cod, his body would be entered by +two snakes which waiting, sought to kill the fearless one. All these +were safely passed by Eut-le-ten, who changed himself, when danger +pressed too close, to that small primal pool of tears from which +he sprang. + +Within the house he saw chief Nas-nas-shup clothed in his robe of +prime sea otter skins. He also saw the spikes which surrounded +the sacred place where lay the daughter of the chief. + +The spikes were hidden in the ground, just where a stranger would be +asked to rest awhile, but Eut-le-ten remembered what the old squaws +said to him, and taking the stone charm he broke them down. The chief +was astonished to see the power of Eut-le-ten, and forthwith asked of +him from whence he came and what his errand was. + +Then Eut-le-ten declared himself and said, "I come from that great +world beneath the sky where many people live who do not know the land +where dwells the Tyee Nas-nas-shup. I come to see the wonders of his +lodge, and learn the many secrets hid from man, so that returning to +my home below, I may be able so to teach the tribes, that many things +of which they do not dream, may be revealed, and made as plain as +day. But there is one of whom great tales are told among the young +men of the world below, it is of her that I would speak to thee. Thy +daughter, chief, I come to ask of thee, to be the mother of my little +ones." + + +THE TRIAL BY FIRE + +[Illustration: THEN EUT-LE-TEN STOOD WITHIN THE FIRE] + +Then Nas-nas-shup gathered many sticks of wood and built a fire so +blazing hot that none could bear the heat, and turned to Eut-le-ten, +"Stand in the fire that I may see if you are brave and strong enough +to be worthy of her, my daughter." + +So Eut-le-ten stood within the fire, and with the charms provided him +by the old squaws, reduced the heat, and came thereout alive and none +the worse. + +Now Nas-nas-shup proposed that they should seek some firewood upon +the steep hill-side close by. Eut-le-ten consented, and next morning +they went to gather firewood. While thus engaged Nas-nas-shup rolled +a giant log down the steep hill toward Eut-le-ten, who never moved or +sought to escape. The log rolled over him, but once again he turned +into the pool of tears and sprang to life when danger passed away. +Thereat the chief became convinced that he was more than mortal man, +and gave his leave. + +Thus Eut-le-ten was wed, and lived sometime within the higher realms, +until one day he thought to visit those he left below. Then down the +rope of arrow shafts he climbed, until he found himself upon the +earth among his people, and to them he told wonderful things of the +world above. + + +ASTRONOMY ACCORDING TO EUT-LE-TEN + +The sun and moon emerge from out the house of Nas-nas-shup. The giant +codfish guarding the entrance to the house, attempts to catch them +passing. He often fails, but there are times when he succeeds, then +there is darkness--an eclipse of the sun or moon the white men say, +but that is false, it is the cod. The many stars which sparkle in the +skies are Indians, who dwell above the earth. Such things and many +more were told by him, and Eut-le-ten was counted as a chief more +learned than any that had ever been. + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Indian Legends of Vancouver Island +by Alfred Carmichael + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK INDIAN LEGENDS OF VANCOUVER ISLAND *** + +***** This file should be named 9459.txt or 9459.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/9/4/5/9459/ + +Produced by Andrew Sly and the online Distributed Proofing team. + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + diff --git a/9459.zip b/9459.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d13245e --- /dev/null +++ b/9459.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f996fad --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #9459 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/9459) diff --git a/old/ndlvn10.txt b/old/ndlvn10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8fb4e05 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/ndlvn10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1638 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Indian Legends of Vancouver Island, by Alfred Carmichael + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: Indian Legends of Vancouver Island + +Author: Alfred Carmichael + +Release Date: December, 2005 [EBook #9459] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on October 3, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK INDIAN LEGENDS OF VANCOUVER ISLAND *** + + + + +Produced by Andrew Sly and the online Distributed Proofing team. + + + + + +[Illustration: THE LONE INDIAN] + + +INDIAN LEGENDS OF VANCOUVER ISLAND + +TEXT BY ALFRED CARMICHAEL + +ILLUSTRATED BY J. SEMEYN + + + +BY WAY OF INTRODUCTION + + +The unsophisticated aboriginal of British Columbia is almost a memory +of the past. He leaves no permanent monument, no ruins of former +greatness. His original habitation has long given place to the frame +house of sawn timber, and with the exception of the carvings in black +slate made by the Hydah Indians of the Queen Charlotte Islands, and +the stone hammers, spear and arrow points, fashioned in the days +before the coming of the white man, the mementos of his sojourn in +British Columbia are only relics in wood, bark or reeds. + +In the Alberni District of Vancouver Island there are two tribes +of Indians, the Seshaht and the Opitchesaht. During the winter +season the Seshahts live in a village which occupies a beautiful +and commanding site on the west bank of the Somass River. + +Some thirty years ago when I first knew the Seshahts, they still +celebrated the great Lokwana dance or wolf ritual on the occasion +of an important potlatch, and I remember well the din made by the +blowing of horns, the shaking of rattles, and the beating of sticks +on the roof boards of Big Tom's great potlatch house, when the +Indians sighted the suppositional wolves on the river bank opposite +the Village. + +In those days we were permitted to attend the potlatches and witness +the animal and other dances, among which were the "Panther," "Red +Headed Woodpecker," "Wild Swan" and the "Sawbill Duck." Generally +we were welcome at the festivals, provided we did not laugh or +show sign of any feeling save that of grave interest. Among my +Indian acquaintances of those days was Ka-coop-et, better known in +the district as Mr. Bill. Bill is a fine type of Seshaht, quite +intelligent and with a fund of humour. Having made friends, he told +me in a mixture of broken English and Chinook some of the old folk +lore of his tribe. Of these stories I have selected for publication +"How Shewish Became a Great Whale Hunter" and "The Finding of the +Tsomass." This latter story as I present it, is a composite of three +versions of the same tale, as received, by Gilbert Malcolm Sproat +about the year 1862; by myself from "Bill" in 1896, and by Charles A. +Cox, Indian Agent, resident at Alberni, from an old Indian called +Ka-kay-un, in September 1921. Ka-kay-un credits his great great +grandfather with being the father of the two young Indians who with +the slave See-na-ulth discovered the valley now known as Alberni, +while "Bill" gave the credit to the sons of "Wick-in-in-ish." + +The framework for "The Legend of Eut-le-ten," was related to me by +Rev. M. Swartout in the year 1897. Mr. Swartout was a missionary to +the West Coast Indian tribes. He spoke the language of the natives +fluently, and took great pains to get the story with as much accuracy +as possible. A few years later, Mr. Swartout was drowned during a +heavy storm while crossing in an open boat from the islands in +Barkley Sound to Uclulet. + +In the making of the stories into English, I have worked in what +knowledge I have of the customs and habits of the West Coast Indians +of Vancouver Island. In a few instances, due to a lack of refinement +of thought in the original stories, I have taken some license in +their transcription. The legends indicate the poetry that lies hidden +in the folk lore of the British Columbia Coast Indian tribes. For +place names and other valuable information I am indebted to the +kindness of Mr. Cox. The illustrations are original and are the work +of Mr. J. Semeyn of Victoria. + + ALFRED CARMICHAEL, + Victoria, B.C. + + + +CONTENTS + + By Way of Introduction + A Pen Picture of Barkley Sound + The Summer Home of the Seshahts + The Legend of the Thunder Birds + How Shewish Became a Great Whale Hunter + The Finding of the Tsomass + The Legend of Eut-le-ten--in the following parts:-- + The Witch E-ish-so-oolth + The Birth of Eut-le-ten + The Quest + The Death of E-ish-so-oolth + The Ogre + The Destruction of the Ogre + The Release of the Children + Further Adventures of Eut-le-ten including:-- + The Arrow Chain to Heaven + The Two Blind Squaws + The Four Terrors Guarding the House of Nas-nas-shup + The Trial by Fire + Astronomy According to Eut-el-ten + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + The Lone Indian + On Jutting Rocks the Black Klap-Poose, the Shag in Silence Sits + A West Coast Indian Wearing the Kut-sack + A Pictographic Painting--The Coat of Arms of Shewish, Seshaht Chief + The Bark Gives Way and Comes in Strips from off the Trees + We Dance Round our Fires and Sing Again + Next Day E're Mid-day Came They Had Set Sail + Brushing the Hemlock Boughs, he Walked Stealthily + Ka-koop-et + Stone Hammer Used by the Indians of Barkley Sound + He Shot an Arrow Straight Above his Head + Then Eut-le-ten Stood Within the Fire + + + +A PEN PICTURE OF BARKLEY SOUND + +THE ANCIENT HOME OF THE SESHAHTS + + +To the lone Indian, who slowly paddles his canoe upon the waters of +this western sound, each tree of different kind by shade of green and +shape of crown is known; the Toh-a-mupt or Sitca spruce with scaley +bark and prickly spine; the feathery foliage of the Quilth-kla-mupt, +the western hemlock, relieved in spring by the light green of tender +shoots. The frond-like branches and aromatic scent betray to him the +much-prized Hohm-ess, the giant cedar tree, from which he carves his +staunch canoe. These form the woods which sweep from rocky shore to +topmost hill. + +Small bays with sandy beaches white with broken clam shells mark the +shore, and if across the beach a stream of crystal water rippled +to the sea, one Indian lodge or more was sure to be erected on the +rising land behind; for Indians always choose to build their homes +on sheltered sandy bays where pure fresh water runs, and so in years +which are among those past and gone one could not fail to see the +blue wood smoke of Indian fires hanging like gauze above the little +bays; but most are now deserted and corner posts of old time houses +alone are seen, and beds of stinging nettle cover ancient kitchen +middens, and spirea and elderberry strive for space where once red +strips of salmon hung in the smoke of punk-wood fires, and stillness +reigns where once the Indians' mournful song was heard. + +Between the bays are rugged rocky points, where, by the constant +wash of winter waves the rocks are carved in shapes uncouth and +weird--giants in stone, whose heads are crowned with scrubby +conifers, upon whose feet the wild seas break, or in the summer time +the gentle wavelets lap. On jutting rocks the black Klap-poose, the +shag, in silence sits, while circling overhead the keen eyed gulls +watch for the shoals of fry on which they feed. + +[Illustration: ON JUTTING ROCKS THE BLACK KLAP-POOSE, THE SHAG IN +SILENCE SITS] + +Come now with me and I will guide you to some beauty spots, unknown, +unguessed except to those who have explored the sea creeks and +sheltered passage ways abounding on that western coast. Perhaps +between two rugged rocks we may find an opening where it cuts its way +deep into the land. In many parts, the lichen-covered canyon walls +approach so close together that our canoe can scarcely pass, and more +than likely we shall find the passage bridged by some old fallen +tree, its ancient trunk enveloped in soft moss and seedling forest +trees. Reflected in the water's surface are flowering berry shrubs, +which adorn the banks on either side. We see the glossy-leaved +shalal, the fruit of which the Indians gather to dry for winter use, +and clumps of maiden hair and other ferns rooted in old tree trunks +and rocky crevices. Such is the picture of many a salt sea creek +found in the regions round fair Barkley Sound. + +Perhaps our fancy leads among the islands of the sound. It may be +that a storm has lately spent itself, and long deep swells are +rolling in from the wide ocean lying to the west. Our staunch canoe +is lost in the deep green waters of the heaving main. It climbs only +to descend and climb once more, and thus we slowly cross the Middle +Channel and reach calm water. + +Soon what at first appeared to be unbroken shore breaks up into many +passage ways. By one of these we enter, to find ourselves among a +hundred isles. Each one is wooded to the water's edge, which often +the trees overspread with outstretched boughs. Entranced, we paddle +on until we leave behind all trace of ocean swell, and if the tide +be low so that old sea-soaked snags are seen upon the shore, and +boulders thick with barnacles and varied coloured sea-weeds in shades +of brown and red, and here and there great clusters of blue mussel +shells, these all, if the water be calm and undisturbed by wind, are +mirrored on the surface of the stream, forming pictures most rare +and beautiful. Thus for hours with ever fresh delight we thread the +calm passage-ways between those isles. Beachlets of white sand and +powdered shells are found where ocean swells at times may reach. On +these we stroll and gather abalone shells and empty sea eggs and +other relics up-thrown by winter storms. At evening we may reach +a sheltered nook where years ago Indians built a little shelter +in which to sit and watch the sun descend into the western sea. +Perhaps we may conjure up the Indian's thought, who built that +little shelter, and night on night in glorious summer time, squatted +and watched the sun go down. + +Such is the setting for the following tales. Amid such scenes as +these, the Indians lived and died. + +[Illustration: A WEST COAST INDIAN WEARING THE KUT-SACK] + + + +THE SUMMER HOME OF THE SESHAHTS + + +There is an island larger than the rest, called Ho-moh-ah, where once +the tribe of Seshahts made their summer home. It lies well out to +sea, and on the sheltered side the Seshahts lived. The chief of the +tribe was Shewish. His house was large, so large that when he called +his people to a great potlatch, they all could find within its walls +an ample space to feast and dance. His house like all the old time +dwellings was built on simple lines, the three great roof-logs each +of single trees, upheld by posts of ample girth. The sides and roof +of wide-split cedar boards were adzed to lie close, and fastened +into place by twisted cedar rope. Within, on either side was raised +a wooden platform two feet high. This platform and a portion of +the floor adjoining it in sections was partitioned off by screens +of cedar mats. Each section was the home of such as claimed close +kinship with the chief. The centre of the lodge for its whole length +was common to all who lived therein. The people cooked their food +upon the common fire, the smoke of which curled up and found an exit +through the smoke hole in the roof. The section tenanted by the +family of Shewish lay furthest from the door. No feature except one +marked it as different from the homes of lesser men. A pictographic +painting--the Coat of Arms of the great family of Shewish hung upon +the wall. The picture told in graphic form how came the name of +Shewish to be famed among the hunters of the whale. It also told +the legend of the THUNDER BIRDS. + +[Illustration: HAND ADZE MADE AND USED BY INDIANS OF BARKLEY SOUND] + + + +THE LEGEND OF THE THUNDER BIRDS + + +NAMES OCCURRING IN "THE LEGEND OF THE THUNDER BIRDS" + +Kulakula is the [1]Chinook word for Bird. + +Tee-tse-kin or Tootooch is the name given by the Barkley Sound +Indians to the Thunder Bird, a mighty supernatural bird in +Indian mythology. + +Howchulis, the land of the Howchucklesahts, is better known by the +name Uchucklesit, a safe harbour on the west side of the Alberni +Canal at its junction with Barkley Sound. Uchucklesit is now the +centre of an important fishing industry. + +Quawteaht, is a great personage in Indian mythology, a beneficent +being, and considered by many to be the progenitor of their race. + +[1] CHINOOK, is a jargon or trade language still used on the coast +of British Columbia both by the white men in conversing with the +Indians, also by the latter when talking to members of a tribe +speaking a different dialect. Chinook is a combination of English, +French and Indian words. + + +THE LEGEND OF THE THUNDER BIRDS + + +The figure at the base of the pictographic painting represents the +mammoth whale upon whose back the whole creation rests. Above the +whale are seen the head and wings of the giant Kulakula the +Tee-tse-kin the Thunder Bird which dwells aloft. When he flaps +his wings or even moves a quill the thunder peals. When he blinks his +eyes the lightning strikes. Upon his back a lake of large dimensions +lies, from which the water pours in thunder storms. He is the lone +survivor of four great Thunder Birds which dwelt upon the mountains +of Uchucklesit. These mighty birds sustained themselves on whales, +which they would carry to the mountain peaks, where Indians say, the +bones of many whales have been found. + +One time the "Great One," Quawteaht desiring to destroy the mighty +Thunder Birds, entered the body of a whale, and swimming slowly +approached Howchulis shore. The Thunder Birds espied it from their +high retreat, and sweeping down made ready for the fray. First one +attacked and drove his talons deep into the whale's back, then +spreading his broad wings he tried to rise. Then Quawteaht gave +strength to the great whale, which sounded, dragging the Tee-tse-kin +beneath the waves. Up came the whale; a second Thunder Bird with all +his force drove his strong claws deep into the quivering flesh. Then +Quawteaht a second time gave strength and down the mammal plunged +dragging with him the second Thunder Bird. A third was drowned in +manner similar. Thereat the fourth and last Tootooch took wing and +fled to distant heights, where he has ever since remained. + +This is the story of the Thunder Birds. + +[Illustration: WOODEN SCOOP FOR BALING THE WATER OUT OF A CANOE] + + + +HOW SHEWISH BECAME A GREAT WHALE HUNTER + + +NAMES OCCURRING IN THE LEGEND OF SHEWISH + +The Killer Whale or Ka-Kow-in has a large dorsal fin shown in a +conventional manner in the pictograph between the Thunder Bird and +the face of the Indian girl, sister to Shewish. The Killer Whale +was often used as a family emblem or crest and as a source from +which personal names were derived. + +Klootsmah or Kloots-a-mah plural Klootsmuk the Indian word for +"married woman" but used in the legends for girls as well as women. +According to Gilbert Malcolm Sproat who lived in Alberni in the +early "sixties" the term used for a young girl or daughter was +"Ha-quitl-is" and for an unmarried woman "Ha-quatl." + +Toquaht--the home of the Toquaht tribe of Indians, an old +settlement on the north shore of Barkley Sound between Ucluelet and +Pipestem Inlet. + +The Kutsack, or Kats-hek is a loose cloak or mantle woven from the +soft inner bark of the yellow cedar tree. Indian mats were made from +the inner bark of the red cedar. + +[Illustration: PICTOGRAPHIC PAINTING, THE COAT OF ARMS OF SHEWISH, +SESHAHT CHIEF (Drawn by J. Semeyn from original sketch by the author)] + + +HOW SHEWISH BECAME A GREAT WHALE HUNTER + + +The centre figure in the pictographic painting is a wolf grotesquely +drawn. Within her body four young wolves are seen. Above the wolf is +a killer whale surmounted by a second picture of the Thunder Bird, +and in the left top corner of the pictograph is seen the face of +a young klootsmah or Indian girl. How strangely are her features +pictured. With upturned hands she gazes in a blank unvarying +stare. She holds the key to this old tale which the great scroll +perpetuates. One time this Indian maiden, daughter of a chief of +great renown, with her two sisters left their home on Village Island. +They went in search of yellow cedar bark which grew in quantity upon +the mountain top above the village, of Toquaht. The cedar bark is +highly prized, and when the sap ascends in May to feed the new born +green, the bark is loose and easily removed, and when the klootsmah +cuts the bark through to the sap half round the tree and pulls with +all her strength, it comes in strips from off the tree till the first +branch is reached, and then it breaks and falls obedient at her dark +feet. The klootsmah rolls it up and puts it in the basket on her +back, and when she reaches home she splits the bark, and pounds it +between stones, with water softening it, and after long and tedious +work the fibres being separated, she cleanses them and weaves them +into cloaks, and then with true artistic taste, trims them with +pretty fur. + +[Illustration: THE BARK GIVES WAY AND COMES IN STRIPS FROM +OFF THE TREES] + +The daughters of the Village Island chief took with them food to last +for three whole suns. They started early, for many miles of paddling +lay between them and the Toquaht shore. At length they reached the +beach, and hiding their canoe beneath a giant spruce, they followed +where a little trail beckoned them on and up the mountain side. For +hours they climbed, wending their way through lonely, silent woods, +the twittering wren the only life they saw or heard. At times they +lost the trail, as it was overgrown with fern and berry bush. But +once the leading klootsmah stopped and signed to her companions to +keep still. Halting, they waited while she pointed to the root fangs +of a cedar tree, where well within the hollow butt a western timber +wolf had made her lair. Gone was the mother, perhaps in quest of deer +with which to feed her four young pups who calmly slept within that +sheltered cave, awaiting her return. + +The Indians are a superstitious race, and one of the old fetishes was +this: that if by chance they could secure the young of a wolf from +which to take some precious inner part, to rub upon the outer side of +their canoes, it gave great luck in whaling, and thus it came to pass +that when the klootsmuk found the she wolf's lair, they formed the +plan of taking to their brother the four wolf pups, in order that he +might become the chief of all whale hunters. Cautiously they placed +them in the baskets on their backs and then retraced their steps. In +time they reached the beach, and entered their canoe, when just as +they pushed off, with giant springs and angry howl leapt the great +mother wolf from the woods, but the klootsmuk were safe with their +strange prizes, and soon their canoe cut gleefully through the waves, +while their songs were wafted landward by the western breeze. + +Upon an isle not far from home they hid the young wolf pups. This +done, they squatted on the shore, and thought how best they might +inform their brother of their lucky find. They were puzzled as to how +this might be managed without awakening jealousies among the other +members of the tribe, and they were fearful to face their father's +wrath who surely would expect their craft well laden with the cedar +bark. They reasoned long and then decided on a stratagem. One of the +three would cut her foot with a mussel shell, and mark her tunic with +the blood, and tell the story, that when they landed on the Toquaht +shore an open mussel shell had cut her foot, therefore they could not +go for cedar bark. They carried out this plan, and paddled slowly to +Ho-moh-ah. The people saw them come, and wondered much what evil had +befallen them, but when they saw the blood upon the kutsack of the +youngest girl and saw her bound up foot, they guessed the trouble. +Before the sun had set, the brother had been told of the wolf pups, +and secretly that night he had taken from them the precious parts, +and when he went hunting, he rubbed the medicine on his canoe, and +had such wondrous luck he soon became the chief of all whale hunters. +Such is the story told by that weird painting, which could be seen +some years ago adorning the dark walls of the great potlatch house +of Shewish, Seshaht chief on Ho-moh-ah but better known as Village +Island, Barkley Sound. + +[Illustration: HALIBUT HOOK AND CLUB FOR STUNNING FISH] + + + +THE FINDING OF THE TSOMASS + + +NAMES AND WORDS OCCURRING IN THE LEGEND "THE FINDING OF THE TSOMASS" + +Alberni, the valley at the head of the Alberni Canal, a wonderful +cleft or fjord which almost splits Vancouver Island in two. This +fjord has its outlet in Barkley Sound on the west side of the +island. The Alberni Canal was named by the Spaniards after Don Pedro +Alberni, captain of infantry in charge of soldiers stationed at +Nootka Sound, Vancouver Island, during the Spanish occupation. + +Tsomass River--spelt and pronounced by the "Whites" Somass, a +fine river formed by the confluence of the Stamps and Sproat or +Klee-coot rivers, draining Great Central lake and Sproat or Klee-coot +lake respectively. The Tsomass river flows through the Alberni Valley +into the Alberni Canal. + +The E-coulth-aht, is one of the many divisions of what Gilbert +Malcolm Sproat called "the Aht tribes" inhabiting the west +coast of Vancouver Island. + +Po-po-moh-ah, is now known by the Spanish name "San Mateo Bay" +situated on the east side of Barkley Sound, not far from the entrance +to the Alberni Canal. + +U-chuck-le-sit, is a small but safe harbour on the north side +and near to the entrance to the Alberni Canal. The cannery, cold +storage plant and village of Kildonan are built on the harbour. + +Klu-quilth-soh, is the Indian name for a rather forbidding passage +in the Alberni Canal, and known for strong winds and choppy seas. It +is named by the white people "Hell's Gate." + +Chehahs were Supernatural spirits or influences; there were good +and bad chehahs. + +She-she-took-a-muck was a ferocious whale supposed to have lived +at Hell's Gate, and to have swallowed Indians and their canoes. The +whale was killed by the aid of Quawteaht. + +Kah-oots was supposed to be one of the deities of Seshaht mythology. + +Tsa-a-toos,--(Copper Island) is a large island situated in +Barkley Sound and near to the entrance to the Alberni Canal. + +Toosh-ko, Hy-wach-es, Wak-ah-nit, (Copper Mountain) Tin-nim-ah, and +Klu-quilth-koose (now known as Coos Creek) are place names on the +Alberni Canal. + +U-ah-tee--the north wind, Yuk-stees--the south wind. + +O-lil-lie and Il-la-hie, are Chinook for berries and land +or country respectively. + +Ah-tooch is the Indian name for deer. + +Lup-se-kup-se or Nooh-see-cupis, is a small piece of cleared land +on the left bank of the Tsomass river and about half way between the +towns of Port Alberni and Alberni. + +Kleet-sa, is a high mountain rising from the waters of Taylor Arm, +Sproat Lake, so named because of its white or chalky appearance. + +Kuth-kah-chulth, is the Indian name for Mount Arrowsmith, a +splendid peak rising directly east of the town of Port Alberni. Mount +Arrowsmith is one of the highest mountains of Vancouver Island; it is +5976 feet in elevation. + +Toh-a-muk-is, is the land fronting on the little bay just north +of the foot of Argyle Street, Port Alberni. + +Kok-a-mah-kook, is a place close to the stream known as Dry Creek, +and near to the railway round house, Port Alberni. + +Kwa-nis, Kam-mass or Gam-mas as it is variously known, is a species +of lily which comes into flower about the middle of April and remains +in flower till June. It is gathered, roasted and preserved whole in +bags for winter use. + + +THE FINDING OF THE TSOMASS + + +Near thirty miles from where Alberni pours her crystal stream out to +the mighty fjord that cleaves Vancouver's Island nigh in twain, a +tribe of Indians lived. Their village nestled at the foot of wooded +hills, which everywhere on this indented coastline, rise straight up +from out the North Pacific. They were a powerful tribe, E-coulth-aht +by name; seven hundred strong, with many fighting men, and many +children who played upon that shore. I think even now I hear the echo +of their voices round the bay, and how marvelously clear an echo may +be, among the inlets of that rockbound coast! I have heard my call +flung back from side to side alternately, till it was lost among the +rocky heights and ceased to be. + +Across the bay from where the Indians lived, ran a stream, called +Po-po-moh-ah. Here every autumn, when the salmon came, they stayed +and caught the fish for winter use. Yet strange to say these +ancient E-coulth-ahts seemed unaware that at their very doors, a +nature hewn canal had its entrance. One fine September morning +Ha-houlth-thuk-amik and Han-ah-kut-ish, the sons of Wick-in-in-ish +or, as some say Ka-kay-un, accompanied by their father's slave +See-na-ulth were paddling slowly to Po-po-moh-ah, when half across +and near to Tsa-a-toos they saw dead salmon floating on the tide. + +The salmon had spawned, and is it not strange to think that this, the +king of fish should struggle up the rapid tumbling streams for many +miles, against strong currents, over falls where the water breaks +the least, perchance to fall within the wicker purse of Indian traps +placed there so cunningly to catch them if they should fall back; and +even if they escape the Indian traps and find the gravel bar where +they four years before, began their life, and having spent themselves +in giving life, sicken and die, their bodies even in death give +sustenance to gulls and eagles circling round those haunts. + +"These fish have come from where fresh water flows, so let us follow +up from whence they come. Let Quawteaht direct our course, and we +shall find new streams where salmon are in plenty and win great glory +in our tribe." Thus spake the sons of Wick-in-in-ish, and they turned +the prow of their canoe upstream, and followed where the trail of +salmon led, to the broad entrance of that splendid fjord. + +Soon they paddled by the harbour U-chuck-le-sit, long famed for its +safe anchorage and quiet retreat, when winter storms lash the waters +of the sound. Leaving this quiet harbour on the left, they followed +where the wider channel led to Klu-quilth-soh, that dark and stormy +gate, where Indians say the dreaded Chehahs dwell among the rocky +heights--"The Gates of Hell," and when men seek to pass those gates +the Chehahs blow upon them winds of evil fates from north and south +and east and west. The water boils in that great witches pot, while +Indians seek a sheltered beach in vain--no beach is there, no shelter +from the storm. The mighty cliffs frown down relentlessly; the whale +She-she-took-a-muck opens his great jaws and swallows voyagers, at +which the chehahs laugh, and their wild laughter, Klu-quilth-soh's +heights re-echo far away. + +On this eventful day the evil chehahs were absent from their home and +the Yuk-stees wind blew not too strong to cause the waves to dash +along in wild commotion, and after paddling uneventfully through +Klu-quilth-soh, the three E-coulth-ahts stopped beside Toosh-ko. +Looking back they could not see Nob Point which hid their home from +view,--it was as if the mountains which formed those stormy gates, +had closed and barred them in. + +"What chehah" they cried, "has lured us within this inland sea and +shut those gates? A-ha A-ha!" they called with anxious cry, and +prayed Kah-oots to save them from all dangers. To the Saghalie Tyee, +the chief above, they also prayed to potlach kloshe to them, and +guard them from the evil chehahs hovering round. After the relief +of prayer, their spirits rose, and once again the splashing of their +paddles marked their onward progress. + +Soon they glided by Hy-wach-es Creek and rounding Wak-ah-nit they +came in view of the great valley where the Tsomass flows. At once +they ceased from paddling to gaze with pleasure on that favoured +land, and as they looked they heard the sound of song from up the +river valley. + +The evening fell, the pleasant Yuk-stees wind blew more faintly, and +as it passed away, over those calm inland waters swelled again the +sound of many voices chanting Indian songs. + +"There are people dwelling there," they said. "It would be well if +we delayed until morning." Agreeing to this plan they crossed the +channel and camped at Klu-quilth-coose. + +Next morning while the grass was damp with dew, and long before the +U-ah-tee wind had ceased, the sons of Wick-in-in-ish, hearing again +the quaint alluring song, took their canoe and paddled on, to where +between two grassy slopes, the Tsomass ends. When they approached +the river mouth, they saw extending from the bank a salmon trap, and +even to-day, the Indians will show at Lup-se-kup-se some old rotten +sticks, which they affirm formed part of that same trap. The land was +green, the wild duck's quack was heard among the reeds which edged +the river bank, while flocks of geese were feeding on the grass +which grows thickly upon the tidal flats, the flats the Indians call +Kwi-chuc-a-nit. + +Upon the eastern bank the young men saw a wondrous house, which far +surpassed their father's lodge at home beyond the hills in Rainy Bay, +in size of beams and boards. The sons of Wick-in-in-ish were afraid +and would have turned the bow of their canoe home-bound, but that +from the house they heard a woman call. "Oh come and stay with us, go +not away. Our land is full of all the riches nature gives; our woods +are bright with o-lil-lie most luscious to the taste; on yonder hill +the nimble ah-tooch feed; in every stream the silver salmon swim so +come within our lodge with us and stay awhile." Ha-houlth-thuk-amik +was mesmerized by the sweet welcoming and entered in, whereat the +klootsmah said to him, "We welcome thee strange one unto our lodge, +for we have never seen a man before. Come and join us in our song and +dance, for when above great Kuth-kah-chulth the morning sun in glory +rises, we chant this song." + +[Illustration: THE INDIAN MAIDEN'S SONG] + +and when he sets over Kleetsa's snow white crown, we dance around our +fires, and sing again, and our hearts are happy in this our land." + +[Illustration: "WE DANCE ROUND OUR FIRES AND SING AGAIN"] + +Now Han-ah-kut-ish was alarmed and much afraid that if his brother +listened to the klootsmah and was attentive to her blandishments, he +would forget the mission in which they were engaged, therefore he +called to him to come, and after much persuasion the elder brother +left the lodge and joined the younger and the slave See-na-ulth, +and together they paddled up the stream to Ok-sock-tis opposite the +present village of O-pit-ches-aht. Across the river there were houses +in which more klootsmuk lived, but at this time they were employed in +gathering Kwanis in the land behind, and when the young men sought +them out they were afraid and all but one took flight escaping to the +woods. This one had no fear but coming near to Ha-houlth-thuk-amik +besought him with favour to look on her, but Han-ah-kut-ish again +reminded him that they had not as yet attained the object of their +quest. + +Still further up the stream they went, until they came to where +they found the Ty-ee salmon spawning on the gravel bars. Believing +they had found the object of their search they camped the night at +Sah-ah-hie. All through the darkness they listened to the rushing +of the fish, when the gaunt and savage males with flattened heads +and upper jaws curved like a hook about the lower, and armed with +dog-like teeth, fought for the females of their choice. With great +satisfaction they heard the wallowing of the fish, as, with their +heads and tails, they formed the elongated cavities in the gravel +in which to lay their eggs. Then Ha-houlth-thuk-amik declared that +this the Tsomass River was the source from which the dead fish came +which they had seen when paddling to Po-po-moh-ah. + +To Lup-se-kup-se they returned next day, and there they saw, +among the women in the lodge, the girl who spoke to them, when +they had landed on the river bank opposite Ok-sock-tis. Then +Ha-houlth-thuk-amik, desiring to convey her home with him, took her +aside and said, "If thou wilt come with me, say not a word, but +unbeknown make haste and leave the house, and run across the point +which forms the eastern bank where this the Tsomass river joins +the inland sea, then hide thyself until we take thee in, as we are +paddling home." + +The klootsmah did as she was told and as the young men passed she +jumped within the canoe, and was away with them. That night they +stayed at Chis-toh-nit not far from Coleman creek, so named because +in later days a white man of that name took up some land and dwelt +there some little while. + +Next morning the klootsmah said to Ha-houlth-thuk-amik, "I am +Kla-kla-as-suks and I am now thy rightful wife and therefore I +desire to make of thee a famous hunter of the whale, so come with +me and climb the mountain called Kuk-a-ma-com-ulth where high above +the timber line the green grass grows, and I will get for thee an +Ow-yie medicine." + +They climbed the mountain and she secured for him the medicine so +desired by all who hunt the whale, and early next morning, blown by +a strong U-ah-tee wind they started for Po-mo-moh-ah and when they +came to Klu-quilth-soh they found the gates wide open and passed +safely through between the frowning cliffs, arriving home before +the break of day. + +Then Ha-houlth-thuk-amik aroused his father who was still asleep, +and bade him light a fire, and when the fire was lit he told him how +they ventured up the unknown way, between high cliffs, where they had +lost all sight and sound of Rainy Bay. He told of the Tsomass land, +and the salmon stream which far eclipsed their own Po-po-moh-ah, and +then described the great and wondrous house, where the klootsmuk +dwelt, and how they sang to him "Yah-hin-in-ay." He told him also +of Kla-kla-as-suks, the klootsmah who had left her home to be his +rightful wife. + +[Illustration: NEXT DAY E'RE MIDDAY CAME THEY HAD SET SAIL] + +Then Wick-in-in-ish sent for all the tribe, and when they were +assembled in his lodge, he told to them the story of the Tsomass +land. Among the braves was much talking; and after speeches from +the lesser chiefs, it was decided that next day before the sun had +cast his shadow north and south, with Yuk-stees wind, they would +set sail for Tsomass land. + +That day in every house, in varied occupation, each family was +busied. The cedar boards, which form the sides and roof of all their +homes, were piled upon canoes. Atop of these were set their household +goods, the mats of cedar bark, the wooden tubs in which they boiled +their fish, the spears of flint, their hooks of bone, their fishing +lines of kelp, and mattresses of water reeds. Large quantities of +clams and mussels, also salmon cured by smoke they took with them, +for Wick-in-in-ish planned to give a great potlatch to the strange +tribe of Indian girls, from which his eldest son had chosen one to +be his wife. + +Next morning long before the sun had reached the zenith they had set +sail for Tsomass land. It truly must have been a sight to see that +fleet of dark canoes, piled high with all the wealth of that great +tribe, as with the sails of cedar bark filled with the Yuk-stees +wind, they glided by the green or rocky shores which led them inland +to the pleasant Tsomass land. Before the shadows of the night had +spread among the gloomy conifers, the dark canoes had rounded +Wak-a-nit, when, taking down their sails of cedar bark, they paddled +silently close to the shore. + +When near Tin-nim-ah, where the Indians say they find good stone for +sharpening arrow points, they rested on their paddles, and first +heard the women singing in their cedar lodge. Then Wick-in-in-ish +addressed his tribe. "My children we have sailed for many miles, +and our little ones are hungry and weary. Let us sojourn near this +old spruce." + +Thus they encamped near the conifer, and called the place +Toha-a-muk-is after the spruce they were afraid to touch. Water they +carried from near Kak-a-mak-kook, named from the alders growing round +the stream. All through the night they heard the salmon splash to +free themselves, so many Indians say, from sea lice clinging to their +silver sides, and their hearts were happy with that refrain, which +spoke to them of great supplies of food. + +Early next day, before the forest trees were gilded by the glorious +rising sun, the people heard the call of many birds, and looking +northward where the Tsomass flows, forth from the mist, which in the +early morning hangs like a veil of gauze among the trees, they saw a +flock of Sand Hill cranes appear. They flew far above their heads and +gradually ascending to the sky, vanished from their sight. These were +the maidens, so the Indians say, who left behind them all this lovely +land for regions unexplored, taking with them both clams and mussels. +This is the reason Indians give for the lack of these shell-fish now, +upon the shores of the great inland sea. The maidens also took the +Kwa-nis bulbs, but as they flew they dropt a few upon the ground, +hence the Kwa-nis bulb is still found in Tsomass land. + +Wick-in-in-ish, with his sons, now made haste to paddle to the +river mouth, but lo, the house was gone, no sign of it was left, +and with it all the klootsmah tribe had fled. Then he turned to +Ha-houlth-thuk-amik and said, "This is thy land, and this thy future +home shall be; thou and thy chosen one Kla-kla-as-suks shall dwell +therein, and may thy children be many." + + + +THE LEGEND OF EUT-LE-TEN + + +EXPLANATION OF "THE LEGEND OF EUT-LE-TEN" + +As stated in the introduction, the details for this story were +given by the late Indian missionary, Mr. M. Swartout, who received +them direct from the Indians of Dodger's Cove, Barkley sound, in +the year 1897. + +The reader will recognize in this legend the Indian equivalent for +Hansel and Gretel, Jack the Giant Killer, Jack and the Bean stalk, +and other stories of childhood days. + +It is not likely that the exploits of Eut-le-ten were considered +by the older Indians to be the product of imagination, and most +probably they believed that some time in the distant past, a +supernatural being called Eut-le-ten was born and lived and +performed extraordinary feats and taught them wonderful things. + +This is an Ohyaht Indian story. The chief village of the Ohyahts +was at a bay called Keeh-him between Bamfield and Cape Beale, +Barkley Sound. + + +THE LEGEND OF EUT-LE-TEN + + +THE WITCH E-ISH-SO-OOLTH + +Long, long ago, in the gloom of deep and silent woods there lived a +witch or evil chehah. The Indians called her E-ish-so-oolth. So tall +was she that, stalking through the forest, her head would brush the +lower branches of the giant fir. + +She dwelt in a huge lodge, the walls of which were built of cedar +logs as thick as men are high. This evil chehah was the dread of +young and old alike, for all believed that boys and girls and even +men and women, who left their homes, not to return again, were +taken to her lodge, there to be devoured at leisure. Therefore +mothers often said, when children misbehaved, "Be good or I will +call E-ish-so-oolth." + +One day some Keeh-hin village children paddled from their home and +landed on a nearby shore. Then something happened causing one to +cry, and all the others scolding, threatened to call E-ish-so-oolth. +The threat had no effect and the child cried on, till one in teasing +spirit called loudly, "E-ish-so-oolth! E-ish-so-oolth! Oh come +E-ish-so-oolth!" + +Then forth from the woods a figure stalked, a tall gaunt form of +terrible aspect. She leaned upon a gnarled and knotty stick and +scanning the beach with cruel eyes she cried, "Who called me by +my name E-ish-so-oolth?" + +The children screamed and tried to run away; the chehah laughed one +awful fiendish laugh, then caught them one by one with her lean +hands. With the sticky gum of Douglas fir, she sealed their little +jet black eyes so that they could not see which way led left or +right, and threw them in the basket on her back, starting for home +along the lonely forest trail. + +As I have said, E-ish-so-oolth was tall, and many times bent her head +to pass beneath low and spreading branches, and so it happened when +stooping under a tree which brushed the basket top, four little hands +gripped tightly hold of a kindly branch and held on fast. + +When E-ish-so-oolth had gone on further not missing the two children, +they clambered down, and partly freed their eyes from the vile pitch, +running for home as fast as they could go. To their mothers they +told the story, and how their playmates of that very morning, were +now perchance within the witch's lodge, and no help to save them +from a bloody fate. Then all the mothers of the kidnapped girls +chanted the weird and doleful death lament. Four days and nights the +dismal song was heard, beyond the blue wood smoke of Indian fires. +Weeks of mourning passed, and all but one were comforted, but she +sat all alone, and every morning she squatted on the sea grass at +the shore, chanting that drear and mournful song. + + +THE BIRTH OF EUT-LE-TEN + +Early one morning as she sat and cried, her tears flowed down and +formed a little pool, a very little pool among the grass, the lank +sea grass stems on which she crouched. Surprised, she saw a movement +in the sand, the pool of tears was being changed into a child, a very +little child, so small that when the mother picked up a mussel shell, +she could cradle the small form within its pearly curve. Gently she +carried it to her dark lodge, and set it in a safe and quiet place. +Next day within the shell, there lay a wonder-child, in face and form +most beautiful. + +The little creature grew so fast that every day his mother went out +to find new shells and larger shells in which to cradle him. She +called him by the name of Eut-le-ten, and in all the village there +was none so fair; in wisdom and in beauty none excelled. The child +was observing beyond his years, and felt deepest sorrow at his +mother's constant weeping. One day he inquired in tender tones, +full of love and sympathy. "My Mother, tell me why you cry so much; +why unconsoled you chant the death lament?" + +Then the mother drawing him to her side told him of the tragedy which +had befallen his sister. "The chehah came and carried off my girl, +carried away your little sister to the woods, the dark and gloomy +woods, and since that day her shadow has not crossed my mournful +path," she said. + +Then up spake Eut-le-ten and bravely said, "My Mother, I will seek +your daughter, my little sister. I will save her from that awful fate +you fear. Direct me now upon the lonesome road the dread witch took +and I will seek her out." + +And the mother knowing him to be a spirit-child, rejoiced and blessed +his errand. They next sought out the little ones who saved themselves +by clinging to the low branched tree, and from them they learned the +trail the old witch took. Then sallied forth brave Eut-le-ten alone, +off to give battle to E-ish-so-oolth. + + +THE QUEST + +[Illustration: BRUSHING THE HEMLOCK BOUGHS, HE WALKED STEALTHILY] + +Eut-le-ten started with no arms but his courage, to face the dread +witch who had spirited away the children. The trail lay long, unknown +and untrodden, save by the timber wolf, panther and black bear. It +was feared by the Indians for dangers most dreadful--the greatest +of all the chehah E-ish-so-oolth. He broke through dense shalal, +fringing the green woods, making the shore line all but impenetrable. +Into the thick woods, under the silvery spruce, brushing the hemlock +boughs he walked stealthily. Salmon berry thickets impeded his +progress, scratched his round limbs with the thorns on their canes. +He passed white helebore, so tall and so handsome. He saw how the +black bear had fed on swamp lily, tramping the glossy leaves into the +black mud. He spurned the devil's club with berries so red and with +poisonous thorns on stem and on leaf. Such was the trail as it led +him far inland, inland away from his home by the sea. At last by a +cool stream, the path lay before him. Hard by the stream a lodge was +erected, a house of such size the boy stood dumbfounded, and he knew +that this must be the dwelling of the children's dread captor. + +Night time had come, the shadows had fallen and Eut-le-ten was tired +with the long weary trail. Should he proceed or wait until morning? +He climbed a tree which grew by the water, and hid in the branches +to keep vigil, there to crave strength from the Saghalie spirit, the +Hyas Tyee who dwells in the heavens, to grant him the strength, the +wisdom, the courage to kill the dread witch. The night was long and +the vigil lone, soundless except for the night hawk on wing, or the +howl of the wolf in the quest of the red deer, or the splash of the +salmon in the stream underneath. + +Early next morning, before he descended, he plainly saw the form of +the witch, coming to wash in the stream just below him. The water was +clear reflecting her visage, fearsome in its hideous detail. Up in +the tree brave Eut-le-ten saw her, he thought himself safe from her +fierce prying eyes; he forgot that he too was mirrored below in the +still water which lay at her feet. When she had finished her morning +ablutions, she filled her vessel with water and turned to depart, +when she saw just below her, the features of Eut-le-ten in the still +water. Upturning her eyes to the branches above her, she saw there +the boy half concealed in the foliage, and she smiled with a smile +triumphant and cruel, thinking once more her fortune had found her, +and brought to her lodge the boy she was wanting. + +She greeted him, "Come, why tarriest up there? Come to my lodge, +perchance thou art hungry; the fire has been kindled, the water is +boiling, a welcome awaits thee, why tarriest longer? Descend from +the tree and let me behold thee". + +Down climbed Eut-le-ten nothing affrighted, but filled with the +knowledge no harm could befall him. + +"Why hast thou come, and whence dost thou go? Why didst thou leave +thy home by the sea?" Such were the questions E-ish-so-oolth asked +him. Then struck by his fairness and beauty of limb, she questioned +him thus, "Why is thy skin so fair, and why are thy limbs so +beautiful?" + +Then Eut-le-ten answered her, "When I was a boy my Mother laid me +upon the bare ground with my head on a stone, my Father placed a +large rock on my forehead. Thus I was given the gift of the fair." + +E-ish-so-oolth was envious of Eut-le-ten and much desired to look +as young as he, so that with face so comely and so fair, she could +entice the children to her lodge, wherefore she asked with evil +ill concealed, "Can I by any means obtain this gift?" + +Then Eut-le-ten divining her base thought and much desiring to make +an end of her, declared that if she would lie down, and on the stone +which lay beside the creek recline her head, he would place upon her +forehead the stone which would both mould her features like to his, +and make her skin as fair. The witch determined to try the charm at +once, stretching her great length upon the ground, placed her head +upon the stone. + +Then Eut-le-ten lifted a great rock and hurled it down upon the +witches head. "Die dread E-ish-so-oolth," he cried. "No more with +evil charms wilt thou entice the children to thy lonely forest home." + +So died the witch, and nevermore do mothers say when children +misbehave. "Be good or I will call E-ish-so-oolth." + + +THE OGRE + +E-ish-so-oolth's husband was a mighty man, greater than any Indian +on the coast. His limbs were rugged as the wind-swept fir which +grows upon the stormy outer shores. His thick and matted hair fell +in tangles over his great shoulders, and his sullen eyes looked from +out his forehead with angry stare. Cruel as the gaunt and hungry +timber wolf, such was the mate of dread E-ish-so-oolth. Beside him, +Eut-le-ten had no length of arm or strength of limb with which to +fend himself, still less attack this giant of the gloomy forest +track, but he possessed weapons more potent than the brutal strength +of this vile chehah man. A spirit child he was, a heaven sent boy, +whom no evil ever could destroy. + + +THE DESTRUCTION OF THE OGRE + +The Ogre was at work cleaving a fallen tree, using wedges formed from +the hardest, toughest wood the Indians know. It was the Kla-to-mupt, +the western yew. With mighty blows of his stone hammer, he sunk a +wedge deep in the log, rending it open, split to the centre of its +giant heart. + +The thunderous blows were heard by Eut-le-ten, who with fine courage +followed up the sound, until he came in view of where the huge man +worked with all his might. + +Blow upon blow fell upon the wedge, deeper it sank into the log. +The split grew wider. The sides of the great rent pressed hard upon +the wedge, so hard that if the wedge were hit a glancing blow, it +would fly out. + +Thus it was, when the Ogre saw the wonder boy approach, and his great +frame was filled with rage, because the boy betrayed no fear of him, +that his dark face lit up as with a flame. + +[Illustration: THIS IS NOT THE OGRE, BUT A PORTRAIT OF KA-KOOP-ET +(MR. BILL) Drawn by J Semeyn from photograph by Joseph Clegg of +Port Alberni] + +Taking his sledge of stone he struck a blow, as if upon the wedge, +but let it drop; deep in the crack it fell far out of reach. + +"Come here my boy," he called, "I crave your help, I have lost my +hammer within this mighty tree, I cannot reach it, so, jump in and +get it, for I want it back." + +Eut-le-ten climbed upon the log, and dropt within the split as he was +bid; the Ogre gave the wedge a sudden jog and out it sprang, and the +sides came together like the jaws of some great trap. + +"Ha! Ha!" the Ogre cried, "Oh! what a joke! with but a single stroke +I have ground him small. E-ish-so-oolth that gentle little fey, will +dine on mince-meat." + +The ugly Ogre made his clumsy jest, little knowing of the fate his +spouse had met, when suddenly he saw upon the ground before him, an +awesome thing, a little pool of water from which there came a quite +unearthly sound. Then from the pool, with fear and awe, the Ogre saw +brave Eut-le-ten uprise. Nothing could lay low this boy of wondrous +parts, who could resolve himself to mother earth, and from the primal +pool of tears arise to save the helpless and destroy their foes. + +"Most wondrous boy, I feared that when the wedge slipt out you died; +instead, my heart is filled with joy to see you live when I had +thought you killed. Tell me from whence you draw your mystic power, +and I will seek the place this very day. When I have found it out, +I will repay you in ways more certain than I can now command." + +Thus spake the ogre, and Eut-le-ten replied, "'Tis easy done. This +gift is yours as well as mine. Test it but once, and you will see +that you have powers as great as I." + +The giant's bulky frame was filled with pride. "You're right," he +swore, "the thing that you can do, by all the Tyee salmon, so can I." + +Once more the wedge was driven to the heart, until again the sides +were spread a-gape. In climbed the giant,--he did not think the fit +would be so tight. + +"Are you all ready?" Eut-le-ten called out. + +"Yes!" roared the giant, with a thunderous shout. + +"Die then!" cried Eut-le-ten, as he took the hammer up, and struck +upon the side the great yew wedge. Out sprung the wedge, the sides +snapped together, crushing within the ogre's ponderous frame. + +Ignoring his wild shouts they crunched to powder all his giant bones. + +The ogre and his mate were thus destroyed, and never more have +children been led astray by E-ish-so-oolth's dread and magic craft, +to suffer death in ways too sad to tell. + +[Illustration: STONE HAMMER USED BY THE INDIANS OF BARKLEY SOUND] + + +THE RELEASE OF THE CHILDREN + +Then to the lodge sped brave Eut-le-ten to that great lodge of giant +cedar logs, the home of the dead witch E-ish-so-oolth. The house was +dark, for only through the door and the great smoke hole in the roof, +did the pale light find its dim way. It was gloomy, and for the full +time it takes a man to wake from a deep sleep, Eut-le-ten saw nothing +but just the darkness of a moonless night, then slowly as if the day +was dawning, objects were seen within the hall. In the centre was a +smouldering fire, and in the hot ashes, some heated stones with which +to boil the water in the wooden box in which the food was cooked. +There beside the wooden box he saw two little forms, prepared by that +old witch to satisfy her cruel appetite, and that of her bad chehah +man. Then Eut-le-ten was very sad indeed, to think that he had come +too late to save the little girls from such an awful fate, and as he +looked and moaned within himself believing that his sister lay there +dead, he heard a sound which seemed to come from the further end of +the dark lodge, and turning round he saw some children imprisoned +in a wicker cage. Then he spoke and told them to be brave, that he +had come to save them from the witch; but they were frightened at +the very sound of his strange voice, and cried aloud with fear. +Eut-le-ten whispered softly, and with grease from the great whale +he rubbed their eyes free from the pitch with which E-ish-so-oolth +had closed them. Afterward he told them that his name was Eut-le-ten, +who had killed E-ish-so-oolth, and how he had crushed the ogre within +the log. + +The frightened children were much comforted and followed Eut-le-ten +from out of the lodge away from the dark house of E-ish-so-oolth +into the sunlit woods, along the trail which led for many miles to +the small bay. Then there was much rejoicing in the homes of all +the children saved by Eut-le-ten, and joy unspeakable in his own +lodge, when he gently led to his sorrowing mother the little sister, +safe from the clutches of E-ish-so-oolth. + +Then all the tribe did honor to Eut-le-ten. He was found in the +councils of the chiefs, and tribes with homes on distant shores heard +the great news--the news of how this wonder boy had killed the ogre +and his dreaded wife, E-ish-so-oolth. + + + +FURTHER ADVENTURES OF EUT-LE-TEN + + +THE ARROW CHAIN TO HEAVEN + +Some time passed by, and Eut-le-ten conceived a plan to reach the +land above the sky, which he believed, like all the Indian race, to +be the roof of this our world, and hiding from our view the Illahie +where the great chief--the Sagh-al-lie Tyee, Nas-nas-shup, the chief +of all the chiefs abode. Nas-nas-shup had a daughter, far famed for +her exceeding beauty, and the tales of her attractions were often +related among the younger braves, and Eut-le-ten became enamoured of +the thought of winning her, although the stories also told of dangers +and death most terrible to him who strove to undergo the tests the +old chief set for all who would desire his daughter's love. + +Now Eut-le-ten was skillful with the bow, for many times he had +brought down the deer as they were bounding through the forest +glade, and with his arrow he had often pierced the silver salmon +when they jumped from out the rushing waters of his native stream, +and he had shot down from off the tallest tree, golden eagles or the +great fish hawk. + +Eut-le-ten called the men together, for he was highly favoured in +his tribe, and counted as a chief because he killed the evil chehah, +dread E-ish-so-oolth, and he directed them to make a multitude of +arrows, straight and strong, and have them ready by a day he named to +them. Forthwith they followed his instructions, and fashioned many +arrows, long and straight and strong, and each one tipped with bone +or flint, so sharp that it would pierce the thickest hide of the +great elk which roamed in bands among the hills and in the open +lands. + +[Illustration: "HE SHOT THE ARROW STRAIGHT ABOVE HIS HEAD"] + +The arrows were completed in four suns, when Eut-le-ten went out upon +the beach taking with him his strongest bow of yew, and shot an arrow +straight above his head, high into the vault of heaven, far out of +sight. Again he shot, and again, until at last an arrow line was +formed from the earth beneath to heaven above, for his first shaft +had fixed itself into the roof of this old world of ours, and the +second arrow aimed with such great skill, had caught the end of it. +The third, the fourth, and each succeeding one had attached itself, +until a rope of shafts was made, for Eut-le-ten to climb into the +world above--the Illahie, where Nas-nas-shup, the Sagh-al-lie Tyee, +the chief of chiefs, and his fair daughter dwelt. + +Then Eut-le-ten took leave of all the tribe and climbed the rope +of arrows to the sky, beyond the peoples' sight, until at last he +reached the portals of the land above. + + +THE TWO BLIND SQUAWS + +First, Eut-le-ten saw two blind and ancient squaws preparing simple +food for their repast, and when it was all ready they began to help +each other to the food, not hearing Eut-le-ten who quietly watched +until impelled by thoughts of mischief or of jest, took the food +away from them. + +Soon each old squaw accused the other of taking all the food and +giving none, and angrily they talked and quarrelled much, each +upbraiding the other for a misdeed of which neither was guilty, +while Eut-le-ten stood by enjoying their discomfiture. Presently +he spoke however, and at the sound of his young voice they stopped +their noise, and ceased to wrangle more about the food. Instead they +asked him to tell from whence he came, and who he was, and what had +brought him there. + +"I am a being from the lower world, and I have come to ask from +Nas-nas-shup, the love of one, of whose great charms long tales +are told among the young men of the world below." Thus Eut-le-ten +answered the questions put by the old squaws, and when they heard +his words, they were alarmed, and warned him to desist from his bold +quest which was full of peril, as many men had found before, for none +had yet returned who dared essay to win the daughter of Nas-nas-shup. +Eut-le-ten would not be turned away from his resolve by any craven +fear of perils or of dire calamity. Had he not killed the witch +E-ish-so-oolth, and also her much dreaded chehah man? But before he +left to go upon his quest, he asked the aged squaws what he could +do to make amends for playing tricks at their expense. + +"Oh stranger, give us sight, that we may see," they said, "for we +have long been blind." + +Eut-le-ten then bored a little hole into each eye of both the ancient +squaws, and when they saw the pure white light of day after their +long darkness, they were overjoyed, and thanking Eut-le-ten, they +told to him the secrets of the house of Nas-nas-shup. They gave him +charms to overcome the fire, in which he would be made to stand +alone, and last, a stone of wondrous power to break the spikes which +were set round the resting place of her he sought to win. + + +THE FOUR TERRORS GUARDING THE HOUSE OF NAS-NAS-SHUP + +Before the house of Nas-nas-shup there was a lake in which there +lived great demon frogs, which croaked loud warnings when any dared +approach. Inside the outer door a codfish lay, of size enormous, +ready to devour the bold intruder who might gain entrance there, and +if the stranger safely passed the cod, his body would be entered by +two snakes which waiting, sought to kill the fearless one. All these +were safely passed by Eut-le-ten, who changed himself, when danger +pressed too close, to that small primal pool of tears from which +he sprang. + +Within the house he saw chief Nas-nas-shup clothed in his robe of +prime sea otter skins. He also saw the spikes which surrounded +the sacred place where lay the daughter of the chief. + +The spikes were hidden in the ground, just where a stranger would be +asked to rest awhile, but Eut-le-ten remembered what the old squaws +said to him, and taking the stone charm he broke them down. The chief +was astonished to see the power of Eut-le-ten, and forthwith asked of +him from whence he came and what his errand was. + +Then Eut-le-ten declared himself and said, "I come from that great +world beneath the sky where many people live who do not know the land +where dwells the Tyee Nas-nas-shup. I come to see the wonders of his +lodge, and learn the many secrets hid from man, so that returning to +my home below, I may be able so to teach the tribes, that many things +of which they do not dream, may be revealed, and made as plain as +day. But there is one of whom great tales are told among the young +men of the world below, it is of her that I would speak to thee. Thy +daughter, chief, I come to ask of thee, to be the mother of my little +ones." + + +THE TRIAL BY FIRE + +[Illustration: THEN EUT-LE-TEN STOOD WITHIN THE FIRE] + +Then Nas-nas-shup gathered many sticks of wood and built a fire so +blazing hot that none could bear the heat, and turned to Eut-le-ten, +"Stand in the fire that I may see if you are brave and strong enough +to be worthy of her, my daughter." + +So Eut-le-ten stood within the fire, and with the charms provided him +by the old squaws, reduced the heat, and came thereout alive and none +the worse. + +Now Nas-nas-shup proposed that they should seek some firewood upon +the steep hill-side close by. Eut-le-ten consented, and next morning +they went to gather firewood. While thus engaged Nas-nas-shup rolled +a giant log down the steep hill toward Eut-le-ten, who never moved or +sought to escape. The log rolled over him, but once again he turned +into the pool of tears and sprang to life when danger passed away. +Thereat the chief became convinced that he was more than mortal man, +and gave his leave. + +Thus Eut-le-ten was wed, and lived sometime within the higher realms, +until one day he thought to visit those he left below. Then down the +rope of arrow shafts he climbed, until he found himself upon the +earth among his people, and to them he told wonderful things of the +world above. + + +ASTRONOMY ACCORDING TO EUT-LE-TEN + +The sun and moon emerge from out the house of Nas-nas-shup. The giant +codfish guarding the entrance to the house, attempts to catch them +passing. He often fails, but there are times when he succeeds, then +there is darkness--an eclipse of the sun or moon the white men say, +but that is false, it is the cod. The many stars which sparkle in the +skies are Indians, who dwell above the earth. Such things and many +more were told by him, and Eut-le-ten was counted as a chief more +learned than any that had ever been. + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Indian Legends of Vancouver Island +by Alfred Carmichael + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK INDIAN LEGENDS OF VANCOUVER ISLAND *** + +This file should be named ndlvn10.txt or ndlvn10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, ndlvn11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, ndlvn10a.txt + +Produced by Andrew Sly and the online Distributed Proofing team. + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we usually do not +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +We are now trying to release all our eBooks one year in advance +of the official release dates, leaving time for better editing. +Please be encouraged to tell us about any error or corrections, +even years after the official publication date. + +Please note neither this listing nor its contents are final til +midnight of the last day of the month of any such announcement. +The official release date of all Project Gutenberg eBooks is at +Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month. A +preliminary version may often be posted for suggestion, comment +and editing by those who wish to do so. + +Most people start at our Web sites at: +http://gutenberg.net or +http://promo.net/pg + +These Web sites include award-winning information about Project +Gutenberg, including how to donate, how to help produce our new +eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter (free!). + + +Those of you who want to download any eBook before announcement +can get to them as follows, and just download by date. This is +also a good way to get them instantly upon announcement, as the +indexes our cataloguers produce obviously take a while after an +announcement goes out in the Project Gutenberg Newsletter. + +http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/etext03 or +ftp://ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/etext03 + +Or /etext02, 01, 00, 99, 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90 + +Just search by the first five letters of the filename you want, +as it appears in our Newsletters. + + +Information about Project Gutenberg (one page) + +We produce about two million dollars for each hour we work. The +time it takes us, a rather conservative estimate, is fifty hours +to get any eBook selected, entered, proofread, edited, copyright +searched and analyzed, the copyright letters written, etc. Our +projected audience is one hundred million readers. If the value +per text is nominally estimated at one dollar then we produce $2 +million dollars per hour in 2002 as we release over 100 new text +files per month: 1240 more eBooks in 2001 for a total of 4000+ +We are already on our way to trying for 2000 more eBooks in 2002 +If they reach just 1-2% of the world's population then the total +will reach over half a trillion eBooks given away by year's end. + +The Goal of Project Gutenberg is to Give Away 1 Trillion eBooks! +This is ten thousand titles each to one hundred million readers, +which is only about 4% of the present number of computer users. + +Here is the briefest record of our progress (* means estimated): + +eBooks Year Month + + 1 1971 July + 10 1991 January + 100 1994 January + 1000 1997 August + 1500 1998 October + 2000 1999 December + 2500 2000 December + 3000 2001 November + 4000 2001 October/November + 6000 2002 December* + 9000 2003 November* +10000 2004 January* + + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been created +to secure a future for Project Gutenberg into the next millennium. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +As of February, 2002, contributions are being solicited from people +and organizations in: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, +Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, +Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, +Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New +Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, +Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South +Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West +Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. + +We have filed in all 50 states now, but these are the only ones +that have responded. + +As the requirements for other states are met, additions to this list +will be made and fund raising will begin in the additional states. +Please feel free to ask to check the status of your state. + +In answer to various questions we have received on this: + +We are constantly working on finishing the paperwork to legally +request donations in all 50 states. If your state is not listed and +you would like to know if we have added it since the list you have, +just ask. + +While we cannot solicit donations from people in states where we are +not yet registered, we know of no prohibition against accepting +donations from donors in these states who approach us with an offer to +donate. + +International donations are accepted, but we don't know ANYTHING about +how to make them tax-deductible, or even if they CAN be made +deductible, and don't have the staff to handle it even if there are +ways. + +Donations by check or money order may be sent to: + +Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +PMB 113 +1739 University Ave. +Oxford, MS 38655-4109 + +Contact us if you want to arrange for a wire transfer or payment +method other than by check or money order. + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been approved by +the US Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) organization with EIN +[Employee Identification Number] 64-622154. Donations are +tax-deductible to the maximum extent permitted by law. As fund-raising +requirements for other states are met, additions to this list will be +made and fund-raising will begin in the additional states. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +You can get up to date donation information online at: + +http://www.gutenberg.net/donation.html + + +*** + +If you can't reach Project Gutenberg, +you can always email directly to: + +Michael S. Hart <hart@pobox.com> + +Prof. Hart will answer or forward your message. + +We would prefer to send you information by email. + + +**The Legal Small Print** + + +(Three Pages) + +***START**THE SMALL PRINT!**FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS**START*** +Why is this "Small Print!" statement here? You know: lawyers. +They tell us you might sue us if there is something wrong with +your copy of this eBook, even if you got it for free from +someone other than us, and even if what's wrong is not our +fault. So, among other things, this "Small Print!" statement +disclaims most of our liability to you. It also tells you how +you may distribute copies of this eBook if you want to. + +*BEFORE!* YOU USE OR READ THIS EBOOK +By using or reading any part of this PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +eBook, you indicate that you understand, agree to and accept +this "Small Print!" statement. If you do not, you can receive +a refund of the money (if any) you paid for this eBook by +sending a request within 30 days of receiving it to the person +you got it from. If you received this eBook on a physical +medium (such as a disk), you must return it with your request. + +ABOUT PROJECT GUTENBERG-TM EBOOKS +This PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook, like most PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBooks, +is a "public domain" work distributed by Professor Michael S. Hart +through the Project Gutenberg Association (the "Project"). +Among other things, this means that no one owns a United States copyright +on or for this work, so the Project (and you!) can copy and +distribute it in the United States without permission and +without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth +below, apply if you wish to copy and distribute this eBook +under the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark. + +Please do not use the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark to market +any commercial products without permission. + +To create these eBooks, the Project expends considerable +efforts to identify, transcribe and proofread public domain +works. Despite these efforts, the Project's eBooks and any +medium they may be on may contain "Defects". Among other +things, Defects may take the form of incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged +disk or other eBook medium, a computer virus, or computer +codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. + +LIMITED WARRANTY; DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES +But for the "Right of Replacement or Refund" described below, +[1] Michael Hart and the Foundation (and any other party you may +receive this eBook from as a PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook) disclaims +all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including +legal fees, and [2] YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE OR +UNDER STRICT LIABILITY, OR FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY OR CONTRACT, +INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE +OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE +POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. + +If you discover a Defect in this eBook within 90 days of +receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) +you paid for it by sending an explanatory note within that +time to the person you received it from. If you received it +on a physical medium, you must return it with your note, and +such person may choose to alternatively give you a replacement +copy. If you received it electronically, such person may +choose to alternatively give you a second opportunity to +receive it electronically. + +THIS EBOOK IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED TO YOU "AS-IS". NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE MADE TO YOU AS +TO THE EBOOK OR ANY MEDIUM IT MAY BE ON, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A +PARTICULAR PURPOSE. + +Some states do not allow disclaimers of implied warranties or +the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the +above disclaimers and exclusions may not apply to you, and you +may have other legal rights. + +INDEMNITY +You will indemnify and hold Michael Hart, the Foundation, +and its trustees and agents, and any volunteers associated +with the production and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm +texts harmless, from all liability, cost and expense, including +legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the +following that you do or cause: [1] distribution of this eBook, +[2] alteration, modification, or addition to the eBook, +or [3] any Defect. + +DISTRIBUTION UNDER "PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm" +You may distribute copies of this eBook electronically, or by +disk, book or any other medium if you either delete this +"Small Print!" and all other references to Project Gutenberg, +or: + +[1] Only give exact copies of it. Among other things, this + requires that you do not remove, alter or modify the + eBook or this "small print!" statement. You may however, + if you wish, distribute this eBook in machine readable + binary, compressed, mark-up, or proprietary form, + including any form resulting from conversion by word + processing or hypertext software, but only so long as + *EITHER*: + + [*] The eBook, when displayed, is clearly readable, and + does *not* contain characters other than those + intended by the author of the work, although tilde + (~), asterisk (*) and underline (_) characters may + be used to convey punctuation intended by the + author, and additional characters may be used to + indicate hypertext links; OR + + [*] The eBook may be readily converted by the reader at + no expense into plain ASCII, EBCDIC or equivalent + form by the program that displays the eBook (as is + the case, for instance, with most word processors); + OR + + [*] You provide, or agree to also provide on request at + no additional cost, fee or expense, a copy of the + eBook in its original plain ASCII form (or in EBCDIC + or other equivalent proprietary form). + +[2] Honor the eBook refund and replacement provisions of this + "Small Print!" statement. + +[3] Pay a trademark license fee to the Foundation of 20% of the + gross profits you derive calculated using the method you + already use to calculate your applicable taxes. If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation" + the 60 days following each date you prepare (or were + legally required to prepare) your annual (or equivalent + periodic) tax return. Please contact us beforehand to + let us know your plans and to work out the details. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +Project Gutenberg is dedicated to increasing the number of +public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed +in machine readable form. + +The Project gratefully accepts contributions of money, time, +public domain materials, or royalty free copyright licenses. +Money should be paid to the: +"Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +If you are interested in contributing scanning equipment or +software or other items, please contact Michael Hart at: +hart@pobox.com + +[Portions of this eBook's header and trailer may be reprinted only +when distributed free of all fees. Copyright (C) 2001, 2002 by +Michael S. Hart. Project Gutenberg is a TradeMark and may not be +used in any sales of Project Gutenberg eBooks or other materials be +they hardware or software or any other related product without +express permission.] + +*END THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS*Ver.02/11/02*END* + diff --git a/old/ndlvn10.zip b/old/ndlvn10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0a32ac7 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/ndlvn10.zip diff --git a/old/ndlvn10h.zip b/old/ndlvn10h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8524558 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/ndlvn10h.zip |
