Traditions of the Thompson River Indians (cont.)
The husband went home, and before long his wife also arrived, groaning, and leaning on her staff. The next morning he sharpened his large knife, and at daybreak repaired to the lake, where he dressed in his wife's clothes, and disguised himself in such manner as to resemble her. Then he went to the edge of the lake, and called as his wife had done on the previous day. After all the animals and fishes had answered his call, the man or haxaa'tko (water mystery or spirit) appeared, and, seeing, as he supposed, the woman, at once swam ashore, went up and embraced her. Immediately afterwards, while attempting to pursue his usual pastime, the husband stabbed him to death with his knife, and afterwards cut off his genitalia, which he took home, while he disposed of the body in the lake, where it immediately sank. After he had reached home his wife departed for the lake, as was her wont. As soon as she had gone, the husband boiled the genitalia in a basket-kettle, which he afterwards put aside, with a cover over it, for his wife to eat. On her arrival home he said to her, "I went out this morning and procured some medicine, which I have boiled, and which I am sure will make you well." He then set before her the kettle, and she partook of the contents, but afterwards she grew suspicious, and asked what it was. He answered, "This is the genitalia of the husband you love better than me," whereupon she got violently sick, went outside, and vomited. She became very much ashamed, went away, and did not return home for many days.
XXXII. THE YOUNG MEN WHO LOST THEIR MOTHER.
[Nkamtci'nemux and Cawa’xamux]
At one time, long ago, two young men lived in a lodge with their mother. They were great hunters, and used to live altogether on game. Their mother made most of their clothes for them, and generally stayed at home in the lodge, making herself useful by tanning skirts, curing meat, and gathering firewood. They all lived very happily, because they loved each other. They were never known to quarrel. One night when the young men came home, each carrying a deer on his back, they found no fire in the lodge, and wondered what had become of their mother. They looked for her all around in the neighborhood of the lodge, but at the end of four days they gave up the search, concluding that she must have gone away some long distance they did not know where. They made up their minds that they would find her or die in the attempt. They would look for her as long as they lived. Therefore they took dressed skins and made moccasins for four days. Then they took their bows and arrows, and set out on their journey. They traveled south, through a country of heat and of great rivers, until they reached the edge of the earth. At the end of one year they returned without having found their mother. Then they made more moccasins, and traveled north through a country of cold and of small streams, until they reached the edge of the world, but with no better success than in the first journey. Now they traveled east, through a country of great plains and many mysteries, but never heard anything of their mother. Then they traveled west, through a land of high mountains and of evil spirits, but failed in their quest just as before. The brothers felt very sorrowful, saying to one another, "Thus we have traveled for four years. We have passed through all countries, even to the edges of the earth, but have not found our mother. We have asked often, but nobody has seen her. She must be dead." That night one of the brothers dreamed that his protecting spirit told him that their mother was in the land of the dead. After imploring the aid of the spirits, they took their canoe273 and started on their voyage to the spirit land, over a great lake.274 After paddling several days in a dim atmosphere, it grew lighter, and they saw the shore of another country. They heard the noise of people singing and dancing. Where they landed there was a kind of entrance or door. Here, on their approach, a man barred the way, asking them why they, being mortals, had come to the land of the souls. They said they were in search of their mother, whom they had lost, and had failed to find after travelling; through all the lands of the living. He told them, "Your mother is here, but you cannot enter alive to see her, neither can you take her away." One of them said, "I must see her!" Then the man took his body or mortal part away from him, and he entered. The other brother came back.275
XXXIII. THE SKUNK AND THE BADGER.
[Nkamtci'nemux.]
The Skunk and the Badger were brothers, -- the former the elder, and the latter the younger. They lived near Nsi'sket,276 in the Nicola country. They were noted as being strong in mystery, and great medicine-men, also for their beauty, and for their success in gambling. They owned a roan horse, which they always used when travelling; and one day they said, "Let us go to the Okanagan and play with them." They started, and on arriving amongst the Okanagan commenced a game of lehal. They played all night, and beat their opponents, thus obtaining much property. The next day they ran their horse against the best horses of the Okanagan, and won each time, so that they gained almost all their valuables.
