Tlingit myths and texts / recorded by John R. Swanton.

  • Swanton, John Reed, 1873-1958.
Date:
1909
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Tlingit myths and texts / recorded by John R. Swanton. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    tribe. Then the slave said, “I always bring wood down and make a fire in the evening, after which my master sends me for water. V\ hen you see me going after water, come to the door and wait there for me. As soon as I come in I am going to push over the fire. At the same time I am going to empty the water into it so as to make a quantity of steam. Then rush in and carry out your wife.” The man followed these directions and started away with his wife. Then his halibut hook shouted, “This way, my master, this So he ran toward the shark people’s town, and they pursued hiin. Now the killer whales attacked the shark people because they said that the sharks had instructed him what to do, and they killed many In return the sharks began to make themselves strong. They were going out again to fight the killer whales. They went to some rocks and began sharpening their teeth. Then they began the battle, and whenever the killer whales approached, the sharks would run against their bellies and rip them open, letting out their entrails. The whole bay was full of killer whales and sharks. AMiat happened to the woman is not told. Wlien the killer-whale tribe start north the seals say, “Here comes another battle. Here come the Varriors.” They say this because the killer whales are always after seals. Killer whales are of different kinds, and the one that always swims ahead is the red killer whale, calledkiller-whale-spear” (Klt-wusa'ni). It was so named by the man who made these animals because he shaped it long and slender. The Tsague'di, to which this man belonged, are a branch of the DAq- Llawe'di; therefore the DAquIawe'di are the only people who make the killer whale their emblem.® On their way to us the first killer whales came into a bay called KotslAn!, after Tslen!, the first man who came to that bay. They encamped at its head and the day after began digging into the cliff. The land there is not very high, so they were soon through, laid skills down, and carried their canoes across. Some people watched them. The killer whales always used to cross at the place where they laid down these skids, and now people cross there. It is called Killer- whale-crossing place (Kitgu'm), but is now overgrown with trees and underbrush. [This place is said to be on the north arm of Tenakee bay, where a canal has been projected to enable boats to reach Huna more easily.] “The Wu'ckitan must, however, he added.