60. Bald-headed Eagle.1
Bald-headed Eagle and Ra’tarat lived in neighboring underground houses, and their respective people were in the habit of visiting one another, and playing lehal. A girl from a distant place was sent by her parents to marry Ra'tarat. On her way to the latter’s house, she came to a stream spanned by a log, in the middle of which stood Bald-headed Eagle. She said to him, “Friend, let me pass;” but he never answered. Then she said, “Cousin, let me across;” but he paid no attention. Then she said, “Brother, let me pass over;” but he never heeded. Then she said, “Husband, let me pass;” and he answered quickly, “Why did you not say that at once?” He let her cross over, and then, claiming her as his wife, took her to his house. She did not like her husband nor his relatives, who were all Frogs. Bald-head's Frog-sister always fed her. She would dip her rabbit-skin robe in the creek, put a quantity of lice on it, and spread it before her sister- in- law.
One day Ra'tarat's fire went out, and he sent Chickadee to Bald- head's house to obtain fresh fire. When he returned with the live coals, he reported having seen a woman in Bald-head's house. Ra'tarat then sent the Ha'xhalaxel-bird to get more fire, under the pretence that his fire had gone out. When he returned, he, also reported having seen the woman. Then Ra'tarat sent the I'kiik-hawk, and Bald-head hid the woman in the rear of the house, and sat in front of her; but Hawk's sharp eyes detected her. Ra'tarat now believed that a woman was there, and laid plans to get possession of her. The Birds were to repair in the evening to Bald-head's house, and some of them were to engage Bald-head and his people in a game of lehal, while others were to pile wood on the fire, under the pretence of making the place light, until the house became so hot that the woman would have to go outside to cool herself. This was done; and the woman, complaining of the heat, went outside, accompanied by her sister-in-law, the Frog. As soon as she stepped off the ladder, Ra'tarat pulled her aside. He kicked her escort, the Frog, in the face, and knocked her down the ladder. Then the Birds ran up the ladder; others deluged the fire with water, in order to create confusion, and to prevent Bald-head's people to push them into it. By this time, Ra'tarat had conducted the woman to his house.
Here follows the “Battle of the Birds,” related exactly the same as in the “Traditions of the Thompson River Indians,” xx., commencing at the 17th line, and continuing to the end.
Just as the several birds painted themselves for battle, thus their colors remain at the present day.
1. Compare Traditions of the Thompson River Indians, xx.; also Uta'mqt, p. 243 of this volume; Shuswap, p. 684.
