31. Old-One and the Creation of the Nicola Country.
(cont.)The man did as directed, and brought back some of the wood. Now, Old-One told him to close his eyes, formed a bow and arrow, and them asked the man to look. He said, “Take these things in your hand, and I will show you how to use them.” Just then a deer trotted along the trail, and Old-One told the man to make, the motion of shooting it. When he did so the deer fell down dead. Old-One said, “Henceforth men will kill deer with bows and arrows.”
Now he came to the man Who was at the lake watching the beaver building a dam and asked him what he was looking at. He answered in terms similar to those of the others, and Old-One made a beaver-spear for him, and showed him how to use it. He said, Henceforth men will kill beavers in this manner.”
Now Old-One came to the man who was sitting looking at a tree, and asked him what he was gazing at. The man answered in the same way as the other men had done: so Old-One made tools, and showed him how to chop down trees. He also made a fire-drill and taught him how to use it, and make fire of wood. He said, “Henceforth men will fell trees, and make fire. They will make tools and weapons, and will be workers, trappers, hunters, and fishermen.” He also taught the men how to make nets, and set snares.
At last Old-One came to the woman, who was sitting looking at the ground, and asked her what she was gazing at. She, also, answered in the same manner as the men had done. He told her to shut her eyes, and, when she opened them again, a large plant had grown up before her. He asked her to go to the birch-tree, and, after saying to it, “O friend! I require you,” to strip off its bark. This she did, brought the bark to him, and rolled the plant in it. Now he told her to travel along that hillside, and throw away pieces of the plant. She did as directed, and, each time she put her hand in the roll, she pulled out a different kind of bulb or seed. Thus she sowed all the different kinds of plants used by the Indians for food or medicine; and from these sprang up many, and they spread over the whole country. They grew as soon as they touched the ground. Old-One told her their names, and said. “These only are edible.” Thus the Indians learned the edible varieties of roots and the proper kinds of herbs to use. When the plants had all been distributed, Old-One made the roll of birch into a basket. He also made a root-digger, and showed the woman how to dig roots.
Now Old-One asked the men to bring their fish, deer, and beaver, and the fourth man to bring wood and make fire. Then he showed them how to cook fish, meat, and roots. He made a mat, and spread the food on it. He himself partook from the right side of everything, and showed the people how to eat. They followed his example, but ate from the left side of everything. Now he told them, “You will not live by drinking water only, but will eat fish, meat, roots, and berries. You will also use the skins of animals for clothes, and no longer go naked.”
