35. Old-One and the Beavers1
Old-One ordained that the beavers should be the most valuable of animals, because they were always nearest to him. His two servants and companions are beavers. One sleeps at the door of his house, and the other at the head of his bed. This is the reason why at the present day beaver-fur is so much valued by both whites and Indians.
36. Old-One teaches the People the Use of Ornaments.
(Nkamtci'nEmux.)Ntce'mka2 was travelling through the Shuswap country in search of his wife, who had been stolen from Lytton by a cannibal. Old-One was also travelling in the Shuswap country at this time, and one night wandered into Ntce'mka's camp, which was in a hidden place. Ntce'mka did not know him but, seeing that the old man had a very dignified and wise appearance, he treated him very kindly. He gave him food and made up a soft bed for him. Ntce'mka was surprised when the stranger recognized him, and told him all about himself and where he would find his wife. When about to depart in the morning, Old-One pulled out four small bundles and gave them to Ntce'mka. They consisted of porcupine-quills, scalps of the red-headed woodpecker, eagle tail-feathers, and dentalium shells. He said, “Hitherto the value of these things has not been known, and people have not used them. Henceforth they will be much used and highly prized by all peoples for decorative purposes.” In this way people first learned the use of these things, and afterwards became accustomed to decorate their persons and clothes with them. In later days eagle tail-feathers and woodpecker scalps became valuable and costly. Dentalia and quills were also much prized, and very much used by all the people.
1. Compare with tale No. 28, p. 320.
2. This is the same person who appears in the story of “Ntce'mka and the Cannibal,” Traditions of the Thompson River Indians, p. 80; see also No. 30, Uta'mqt, p. 251 of this volume.
