68. Tcine'i's War for the Salmon; or, The Introduction of Salmon.
(cont.)They were the Sockeye salmon (swaz), King salmon (Kwoi’a), and other salmon journeying up stream, and as yet quite unaware of the advancing war-party. Now the chief said, “I will try them, and, drawing in his breath, the water followed, leaving the salmon in their canoes dry. Then he blew out his breath, the water rushed back in a great wave and overwhelmed the salmon.
Those who were not drowned fled in great consternation to their powerful chief, Sturgeon, who dwelt on the lake-shore near the mouth of the river. Now the fishes of the interior halted, for they knew Sturgeon, who was a great warrior, would certainly attack them. They painted themselves, and prepared for battle. Rainbow Trout put on white paint with a reddish stripe down each side.1 Le'kasul painted himself blackish with red stripes. “Dolly Varden Trout” (pi'sul) put red and back spots all over his body; and thus each warrior painted himself in his own particular style. The war-paint put on that day became afterwards their natural color when they were transformed into fishes; and this is the reason of the different coloring of fishes at the present day. The people of the interior now paddled down stream again, and soon saw Sturgeon and the coast people advancing from the mouth of the river to attack them. Now a great battle ensued, the people of the interior were getting the better of those of the coast, until Sturgeon attacked them himself, swallowed many canoes, and killed many people of the interior. When Rainbow Trout saw that his men were getting the worst of the battle, he rushed ahead to help them. He and Sturgeon seized each other by the snouts and fought like dogs for a long time. Trout now drew in his breath, and Sturgeon's head followed. Continuing to draw in his breath, he gradually swallowed his enemy entirely. When the coast people saw their champion was beaten, they fled. The men of the interior pursued them; Sematsa'z swallowed up the water and made the river run dry, until the enemies stuck fast, or floundered in the mud. Kwa'ak caught many with his great mouth, and “Dolly Varden Trout” crushed and ate many of them. Thus very many were slaughtered, and very, few canoes escaped. Now, Rainbow Trout, after breaking all of Sturgeon's bones, vomited him up; therefore the sturgeon now has but few bones, and they are all disconnected. The people of the interior after their victory, proceeded out of the mouth of the river and along, the shores of the great lake, where they came to a large village with many inhabitants. The people were afraid, and made friends with them by giving them many presents and numerous slaves. The men from the interior lived there for a while, being supplied with women and plenty of food. A few of them liked the place, and remained altogether. The majority, however, had no liking for the country, nor did they care to marry the coast women. They soon returned home, taking with them only four women slaves, - Lka'kenak, Somao'm, Tcoktci'tcen, and Ni'nektcen.2
1. Speckled or brook trout.
2. I do not know the English names of any of these fish.
