Once a large monster inhabited the country around the mouth of the Palouse River. He had killed many people. Coyote, or some other man gifted with magic, made up his mind to rid the country of this evil being. He went to his house and attacked him. The combat lasted a long time, and ended with the monster's death. Then the victor took off the ornaments and clothing of his victim, and threw them about. Then he cut up the body, and threw a piece to each tribe. He threw the head down the river to the Wishram: therefore they now have big heads. He threw the scalp to the Crows, for they have long hair. He cut out the ribs and chest and threw them to the Nez Percé: therefore they are large bodied. He threw the legs to the Blackfeet: therefore they are a tall people. He threw the heart to the Coeur d'Alène: therefore they became noted as brave fighters, and of cruel disposition. Thus he threw pieces to all the tribes, -- to the Salish, to the Columbias, and so on.2 He thought every one had received a piece. Then he remembered that two tribes had been forgotten. He looked around, but could find no scraps to give them. He took his knife, and, after wiping it with a bunch of grass, threw it to one tribe, probably the Thompson. He threw the grass to the SEntatuu'li.3 Therefore the latter have never been a numerous people.4
The people had trouble with the sun. They could not manage to make it go right. They tried different people to carry it; but they did not do it properly, and the people deposed them. Most of them did not carry it at the right distance from the earth. Some went in a zigzag course, sometimes too far away, then too near. Those who carried it too near killed many people by the heat. Then the people chose Robin to carry the sun, for they could not do without heat and light. He had to travel only in the daytime, for at night the moon was carried instead. Robin carried the sun, but soon came so near to the earth that the people had to flee to the water and keep themselves immersed all day. Soon even the water got hot. Therefore they deposed Robin, and elected a one-eyed man called .s.tsakozaltsasa'xkEn in his stead. This man was able to keep a straight and even course in the sky, and carries the sun yet.
At the same time the people had trouble with the moon. They had tried several people to carry it, but none of them had done it properly. Coyote had offered to carry it, but the people did not trust him. At last they thought they would try him. In his nightly travels he called out people's names, and told what they were doing. When he saw married people together, he called out their names loudly, so that every one could hear, and told what they were doing. This so much annoyed the people, that they deposed him, and asked Spoxani'tcElt6 to take his place. The latter did his work perfectly, and carries the moon yet.
After Spoxani'tcElt had taken up the duty of being moon, he invited the people to a feast. So many people went to the feast, that his house was soon crowded. Toad came along, and found the house full. She asked where she was to sit; and he answered, "There is no place to sit." She became angry, and returned to her own house. Then she made a heavy rain, which penetrated everything and put out lights and fires. As more people arrived, they crowded inside, saying, "Chief, where are we to sit? It is wet outside." At last, as the rain came pouring through the roof of the house, all the people cried aloud, "Chief, where are we to sit? Where can we go to be out of the rain?" They went from tent to tent, but it rained through them all. They went under canoes, but it rained through them also. Finally they saw a light, and went to it. It was in Toad's house, and inside it was quite dry. They crowded in. Then Toad jumped on Spoxani'tcElt's face, and sat there. At once the rain stopped. The people tried to pull Toad off his face, but did not succeed. The marks of Toad may still be seen on the moon.
1 BBAE 59: 289 (note 1); this volume, p. 149.
2 My informant had forgotten most of the details.
3 Hangman's Creek, Spokane.
4 My informant said that probably the Lillooet may have received their name in this way. Possibly an axe or tomahawk used in the fight may have been thrown to them, for the Okanagon call them Axe people. The Blackfeet may also have obtained there name thus. Perhaps the cannibal's legs, which were thrown to them, were black or painted black.
5 BBAE 59 : 285 (note 1).
6 This name is the same as Old-One (see p. 120). As sun and moon are generally called by the same name in Okanagon and Salish dialects, it is not very hard to confound them. A tale of the sun in one tribe may be one of the moon in another.
7 JE 8 : 229, 330.
