Traditions of the Thompson River Indians (cont.)
He was in Beta’ni, and afterwards went down the creek to Lytton, whence he followed up Fraser River to its headwaters doing wonders as he went. He came back, following Thompson River from its source to its mouth, crossed Fraser River, and a little below Lytton met the Nspatc'e'it,296 or the four young Black Bears, otherwise (and generally) called Qoa'qoal by the Nlaka'pamux, who were also doing great marvels. These were on their way up from the mouth of Fraser River. Upon meeting, they tried to metamorphose each other into many different objects by their powers of magic; but all schemes failed, for it seemed they were all equally gifted. Having agreed to eat together, Tsu'ntia forthwith brought out a small cup or kettle, and commenced to prepare some nka’ux. The brothers laughed at the idea of such a small vessel holding enough food for all of them; but Tsu'ntia assured them that it would. Then he set it before the brothers to eat. They took a spoonful each, which filled them to satisfaction, and made no impression on the nka'ux, which remained, to all appearances, just the same. Tsu'ntia then said, "See what you thought would not be enough to satisfy your appetites!" Afterwards they ate of the brothers' food. They intended to serve Tsu'ntia as he had done them; but he took it all, and left the kettle empty. Tsu’ntia then said, "Where shall we sleep?" telling them to make a sleeping-place by their magic; but they said they thought he could do it better than they, and told him to do so. He then caused a large, flat, smooth stone to appear, and upon it the five slept that night. Tsu'ntia slept with his head to the north, and the brothers with theirs towards the south. The impressions made by their bodies can still be seen. One mark in particular shows the imprint of the back of the head, the elbows, and the heels of one of them. Next morning they separated, Tsu’ntia going down the river, and the others in the opposite direction. It is not known what became of Tsu'ntia, for he disappeared, and it is said that he went up to heaven. He left descendants on Fraser River at Lillooet.
After Tsu'ntia had thrown his mother into the lake,298 she begat people by her intercourse with the lake, who grew very numerous in course of time. The inhabitants of SetL, (Lillooet town) became aware that there were people now dwelling by the lake, whereas formerly there were none; also that they were good looking, especially the young women; and that they always dwelt separate, holding no intercourse whatever with other people. They lived on frogs, some of which were in those days of enormous size. Frog-skins were their blankets.II. STORY OF TSU'NTlA’S MOTHER; OR, THE FROG PEOPLE.297 Now many of the young men of SetL village took a fancy to the young women of the lake, and at different times repaired there with the intention of marrying; but all of them, upon entering the houses of the "frog-people," were overcome by the smell of frog, and fell into a sleep, in which they invariably died, in which case their bodies were thrown outside. At last one young man said he would overcome the difficulty. He went into the mountains and prepared his "medicine" for five years. At last he dreamed of the Frog, and thereby grained the desired knowledge of escaping death while having intercourse with the frog-eaters. He then went to the dwellings of the "frog-people," and tried to enter. They were living in underground lodges, as it was winter time. An elderly person said to him, as he was about to go in, "You are a young man, in your prime. I should not like to see you die; therefore do not enter, for your fate will be the same as that of your fellows who have come here before. It is a wonder that you people have not learned wisdom by your experience." But the youth was not to be frightened away, since he was confident of his powers. He rernained within for quite a time, while the inmates cooked frog and frog's fat, and partook of their supper; but he did not share in it. They then began to talk, and inwardly wondered why he did not fall into the death-sleep, as the others before him had done. So he remained, and took to wife the two prettiest maidens. Shortly after this the new son-in-law was taken out to hunt frogs, and told if he saw any not to kill them himself, but to let the people know. Feeling thirsty, and chancing to pass a swamp (at the back of Lillooet), he waded into the bog and drank, although almost mired in the attempt. While drinking;, he saw an enormous frog looking at him (about as large as a bear). Upon returning; he told the frog-eaters, who went there, killed the animal, and carried it home. After this, the young man became thoroughly disgusted with their frog-eating propensities, and decided to change the food of a people who looked on everything as non-edible, except frog. Deer especially was thought by them to be bad "medicine," and altogether unfit for food. So he took his snowshoes, and went back in the mountains and shot a big deer, which he took home, much to the horror and disgust of the people. Nevertheless, he lowered it down into the house, and after a good deal of persuasion induced the people to eat it. Three of them, however, would not partake of this strange food, and ran away. These he turned into dogs, who still haunt that lake. The Indians often hear them yelping at sunrise; in fact, I myself have heard them. The other people became then as ordinary human beings after partaking of the venison; and, being persuaded by their son-in-law, they all moved up near SetL, and there made their homes. They intermarried with the other people, and some of the Lillooet tribes are their descendants, I being one of them.
