28. Bluejay (Kwo'kskwa or Kauwe'yaats).
(Lower Uta'mqt)A man called Bluejay (Kwo'kskwa or Kauwe'yaats1) lived with his two nephews. Their forefathers and all their relatives had been killed by a numerous people, who were their enemies. Bluejay made his nephews train themselves as warriors; and when he thought they were proficient, he said to them, "Train yourselves for four days longer, and then we will take the warpath against our enemies, who have killed all our people. We will fight our forefathers' enemies, and will avenge the slaughter of our relatives. We will need all our skill and `mystery,' because our enemies are numerous, watchful, and warlike."
Then Bluejay tied his hair in a knot on the top of his head, and sat down, never moving for four days. At the end of that time, all three started for the enemies' country, which was distant, and situated on the farther side of a large river and a lake. The people who lived there were the Elks, Grizzlies\ Deer, Goats, Bighorn-Sheep,2 and other animals, and these were all their enemies. Grisly and Elk were scouts, and constantly roamed through the hills between Bluejay's country and their own, so as to guard against surprise, and to intercept any war-parties which might venture thither. Bluejay and his nephews, however, managed to avoid the scouts, and at last reached the river. Here he told his companions to wait while he tried the river. He walked into the water and disappeared, but before long emerged on the other side. He had walked across the bottom of the river. Then he returned the same way, and, giving his nephews a stick to hold on to, while he held the other end himself, they entered the river, and, walking along the bottom under water, at last safely reached the opposite bank. "'hen they came within sight of the lake, Bluejay told his nephews to sit down while he went to reconnoitre.
As he reached the lake, a large man with very long hair emerged from the water. Bluejay struck him with his spear, and the man at once sank into the lake, dragging after him the spear and Bluejay, who would not let go. Then the waters of the lake became agitated and muddy, for the man and Bluejay were fighting at the bottom.
1 This name is evidently derived from the word Kauwe'ya, which is the ordinary term for the bluejay. Kauwe'yaats is the name for the bluejay in the Uta'mqt dialect.
2 Some say that this land was inhabited by all the animals, and that it was called the "land of animals."
