A long time ago the people were living in another country,2 near a large lake, where they were attacked by enemies. Since they could not cross the water,3 they were hemmed in by their enemies, and were in danger of being destroyed. Their two chiefs called the men together for a council and dance. One after another the shamans and the other men danced and sang, calling up their manitous and soliciting aid. Each man showed his powers, and some were able to accomplish wonderful deeds. Some could swim in the water like beavers and otters, and might have crossed the lake; but they could not convey the whole tribe across the lake. On the following day they expected the attack of their enemies. Some people went into the sweat-houses to purify themselves, and prayed; and others joined in a war-dance, preparing themselves for battle. Only the two chiefs had not yet shown their powers. They contended with each other. One had power over heat, and the other over cold. When one chief4 called up his powers, it became so hot that the people took to the water to cool themselves. Still they saw no way of escape. Then the other chief5 danced and sang, and a cold wind began to blow. The people fled to their lodges, and lighted fires to warm themselves. That night ice covered the lake, and at daybreak the tribe crossed to the other side.6 The people wondered, for they had never seen the lake covered by ice before. Then the chief, whose guardian-spirit was heat, caused a hot wind to blow, and the ice disappeared, so that their enemies could not follow them.
Yet the people thought, "Even here our enemies may follow us." Therefore they travelled still farther away. They camped for a time, but the location was unsuitable. Four times they moved, for they were dissatisfied with their camps. One place had an insufficiency of wood, another of fish, another of game.7 At last they came to a country where wood, bark, fish, and game were plentiful, and there they remained. This place, it is said, was the Thompson country at Lytton. They became the ancestors of the Thompson Indians. On their journey they crossed a great lake, a great plain, a great forest, and a great mountain. Some informants claim that they left at each camp some people who did not care to move on. Therefore people speaking the Thompson language may be found at these places now.8
(b) MIGRATION LEGEND.
The country of the Thompson Indians was rich before the whites came. There was an abundance of all kinds of food. Salmon were very plentiful in the rivers, and great numbers were caught at many places. Deer were everywhere; and bear, elk, and mountain sheep abounded. Dressed skin was cheap and plentiful, and nearly every one wore skin clothes. The people were numerous, healthy, strong, and happy. Now the people are few, sick, poor, and dejected. Game and salmon are now also scarce.
We are as in prison, and our lands and nearly everything we had have been spoiled or stolen from us. The great chief led us to this country, and placed us in it to occupy it, multiply in it, and be happy. He gave us a rich country, with plenty in it for us to eat. He did not give this country to the whites, or any one else. The chief gave us this part of our mother's body to live on and rest on. We know about our origin and our- ancestors, and we leave inhabited this country for a long time. The earth is full of the bones of our ancestors. Our traditions tell us that even in mythological times our ancestors lived here. Four of them lived at, Lytton, from whom we believe we are descended,- NtcEtmi'ken9 (or.ntce'mka), a man of very large stature, and a great hunter and warrior; Kwona'e'ka,10 who made canoes; Skwia'xenemux,11 who could move around like a bird, and was a Hunter and warrior and Peskwa’us12 and queen, and mother of the people.
1 See Gros Ventre PaAM 1 : 112; Sarcee BAAS 1888 : 243; Blackfoot AA 1892 : 162, PaAM 2 : 22; Cheyenne AA 1892 : 163.
2 Some say this country was to the south or east and a long way off. Some add that all people originally came out from underneath the sun (to the east or southeast), and the Thompson came from there also. This belief may have some connection with the supposed union or intercourse of Sun and Earth, and consequent reproduction of people, the Sun being male or father, and the Earth female or mother.
3 Some say there were no canoes in those days, or that the people did not know how to make them.
4 His name has been forgotten, but some informants think he was the Fox.
5 Some say Coyote; others, Wolf.
6 Some informants claim that all crossed; while others say that a few remained, who were afraid to walk on the ice. What became of these is not known. They were probably killed or nade slaves.
7 Some say in one camp there was no bark.
8 It is not known exactly where these places were. This story is not well remembered, and the narrator said he did not know all the details.
9 Means "burned or dark-colored bark." - Thompson MAFLS 6 : 80; JE 8 : 254; Lillooet JAFL 25 : 333; Shuswap
JE 2 : 713.
10 Seems to mean "ferryman," or to have some connection with crossing or transporting over water; probably an archaic word, mentioned in tales (see, for instance, MAFLS 6 : 71; JE 8 : 220).
11 Means "arrow arm man," mentioned in tales. - See Lillooet JAFL 25 : 350.
12 A woman's name; meaning not quite clear; seems to have some connection with the word for "scorched." -inEk means "bow," mentioned in tales (see story of Kweslapi'nEk, p 21).
