V. - HERO TALES.
29. Xe'niax
(Lower Uta'mqt.)An old woman lived with her two grand-daughters, - the elder named We'latck, and the younger Stata'ga. She taught them how to make baskets, and how to perform all sorts of work required by women. The younger one was an apt pupil, and soon learned to do all sorts of work well; but the elder one was careless, and never learned to make anything properly. There was thus a great difference between the two girls' handwork. One day the grandmother said to the girls, "I have been rearing you carefully, and teaching you, so as to fit you to become useful wives. Before long I shall send you to a distant country to marry two brothers, who are great men, and hunters." We'latck was ;lad at this news, but Stata'ga said nothing.
Some time after this the grandmother told the girls that the time had arrived when they should go to their husbands. She said, "The brothers you are to marry are Owl and Eagle, who live in a house to the east (or up the river).1 She directed them how to find the place, and said, "When you enter the house, you will see the hairy legs of Owl below, and the legs of Eagle above their respective places, like rainbows. The younger one of you will sit down under Eagle's legs, and the elder under Owl's legs. You will also find your husbands' fierce dogs tied up outside the house; but if you throw the medicine on them that I give you, they will become tame and. let you pass."
Now, the girls started on their journey, each of them carrying a large basketful of dried roots and berries. When they reached the house, they found the four dogs tied outside. They were Rattlesnake2 Grisly Bear, Black Bear, and Wolf. They were very fierce, and wished to attack the women; but the latter threw medicine into their mouths, so that they could not bite and became tame. When they entered the underground house, they saw the legs or pictures3 of Owl low down on one side, and that of Eagle higher up on the other side; so We'latck sat down in Owl's place, and Stata'ga in Eagles's place.
1. Said to be probably in the Upper Thompson Indian country.
2. There are no rattlesnakes in the Uta'mqt country. They are almost altogether confined to the Nkam- and Okanagon territories.
3. It is said that these signs like rainbows, called the "legs of the owl and eagle," were probably some kind of stsuq (picture, painting, or decoration) above their respective sleeping-places.
