24. Tapped-his-Legs (Tski e'laxtem).
(Lower Uta mqt.)
(cont.)Their use was a long building made of logs and brush, and was partitioned across the middle with poles. In one end the people lived; while in the other end they kept the deer, which they had by their magic gathered up and confined in their house. In the night-time the two men arose and turned loose all the deer. Then they changed these people into the animals they are at the present day, at the same time saying, "The Deer shall nevermore be gathered into one place and corralled by any man's magic, but shall Henceforth be distributed here and there over the country; and you people shall never more have the power to gather deer together at your pleasure, nor even to hunt them with success, but shall henceforth live by stealing meat and game killed or left by hunters.”
25a. Battle of the Birds1
(Lower Uta'mqt.)A girl left the people for the purpose, of marrying the Golden-Eagle (hala'u).2 On the way to her intended husband's house she met Bald-headed Eagle on a log crossing a stream. He would not let her pass. She said, "Uncle, let me pass!” but he answered, "I have no niece.” Then she said, "Elder brother, let me pass!" but he answered,. “I have no younger sister.”
He addressed him by all the terms of relationship one after another, but he always answered her in a similar manner. At last she said, "Husband, let me pass!" Then he answered, "Wife, why did you not address me thus before?” She could not get away from him, therefore she accompanied him to his house, and became his wife. He lived in an underground lodge alone, but in another underground lodge near by lived all the birds with their elder brother Golden-Eagle. The latter did not know that Bald-Headed Eagle had stolen his sweetheart.
One night the birds were unable to make a fire in their lodge, so GoldenEagle sent one of the small birds to procure a light from Bald-Headed Eagle. The bird procured the light, but on the way back put it out, and, entering the house, went and lay down. He was sorrowful and would not talk, because he had seen his elder brother's intended wife in Bald-Head's house. Then Golden-Eagle sent another bird for a light, but he did likewise, for he was ashamed when he saw the woman in possession of Bald-Head. Then GoldenEagle sent another bird, with the same result. The people wondered what was the matter, that every messenger acted thus. Then Bluejay went, looked in and saw the woman. He returned and said to Golden-Eagle, "Your younger brothers saw your intended wife in Bald-Headed Eagle's house there fore they act thus."1 Compare this story with Tale 20, Traditions of the Thompson River Indians, p. 67.
2 Hala'u, a species of eagle, - the war eagle or the golden eagle. The tail-feathers of the male bird were valued very highly by the Indians.
