47. Skaiya'm.
(Lower Uta'mqt)
(cont.)They sent their son, who was a young man, in pursuit of the women. The old woman drew up the loose skin of her breasts into a bunch, and at once the distance between pursued and pursuer became short, for by her magic the surface of the earth became contracted like the skin of her breasts. The young man had almost overtaken the fugitives when the old woman, getting tired, let go the skin of her breasts, and, the earth expanding again, he found himself a long distance behind. The old woman did this, all together, three times, but each time with like result: so the young man returned without having overtaken the thieves.
Then the old woman, who was determined to have a grandson, made the rotten wood into a baby boy. This boy grew up to be a man, and went hunting. His elder brother, who had been stolen by the women, also grew to be a man, and lived with them as their husband.
One day the two brothers met while hunting in the mountains, and after much questioning identified each other. The elder accompanied the younger on a visit to the old man and woman, and afterwards returned to his wives the roe-women, taking his younger brother with him. He gave one of them to him, and thus the women thenceforth had each a husband.
48. .Made-her-sit-down-on-a-Seat (Lkwô'patem)1
(Lower Uta'mqt.)A man lived with his wife in an underground house which formed one of a group of such houses. His relatives lived with him in the same house, while most of his wife's relatives lived in one of the adjoining houses. His wife went gathering slo'ats (the inside bark of cedar) every day, and always came back loaded with the very best kind. She went oftener than was necessary, and generally staid away all day. She dressed herself in her best clothes, and took much care with her toilet before departing. These actions aroused the suspicions of her husband, who made up his mind to watch her.
He followed her into the forest next day until she stopped in front of a tall, shapely cedar-tree.2 Then he hid himself and watched. The cedar changed itself into a man, tall and good-looking, and approached the woman, who received him affectionately and embraced him. They had sexual intercourse with each other, and lay together all day. Towards evening the man gave her a large bundle of the finest cedar-bark, which she put on her back to carry home; and when she departed, he changed himself back into the tall cedar-tree.
1 Lkow'p tin signifies 'made her sit down on a seat," or, more literally, "set her [or him or them] on something" (lkwo'pem, "to sit down on a seat;" Lkwoptin "seat or chair," "thing to sit down on"). See Boas, Sagen, pp. 89, 96, 123.
2 Some say a tree about two feet and a half in diameter, straight, and with very few limbs.
