73. Grisly Bear's Grandchild; or, Spetlamu'lax.
(Nkamtci'nEmux.)
(cont.)He said, “Halloo, Spetlamu’lux!”1 the old man was angry, and said, “Why do you address me by that name?” The lad answered, “You need not be angry, I am Spetlamu´là, too. We are both the same. “ He related his adventures to the old man. and told him how he came to be there. The old man then said, '”I am your grandfather the former husband of Grisly Bear: but by her magic she' banished me to this country, and I cannot return.2 The people are all out hunting; but every four days one of them returns and provides me with wood, water, and food.'
The lad took up his abode with the old man and got wood and water for him. On the fourth day one of the people returned to care for the old man. The lad concealed himself. When the man saw that the old man had as much wood and water as before, he returned and told the people that some one must be visiting him. Four days afterwards the man returned again. and found the old man plentifully supplied with wood and water. Besides this, new deerskins were spread over the floor of the abode, and much deer-fat was hanging in the lodge-roof. Therefore he determined to hide until nightfall.
The lad had been out hunting. He had killed many deer and came back with a heavy load of meat. Then the man came out of his hiding place. The lad cooked meat for him, and he ate. On the following morning he returned to the people, carrying two bundles of deer's fat which the lad had given him. He told the people that a good-looking young man, the grandson of the old man, had arrived, and that he had been so successful hunting that the lodge was full of fat and skins. The people at once broke camp and returned home. They wished to marry their daughters to the young man, but he refused them all for a long time. At last he married one of their daughters, and she bore him four children. It is said the young man never returned to earth.3
74. Skelã'una.4
(Tcawaxamux.)A giant stole a woman, and took her to his abode many days' journey away. He lived in a large cave at the base of a cliff, and just outside there was. a stump of a large tree which almost concealed the entrance. Within, The passage narrowed to a rather small hole, which opened and closed at the approach of the giant. Inside of this narrow space the cave became very spacious and was of great height. The neighboring country consisted of a wooded plateau, with small hills and bluffs here and there. The giant, who hunted every day, wore clothes made entirely of grisly-bear skins.
1. This tame means 'weed." and in forth seems. more nearly related to the Shuswap than to the Thompson language The latter. however, have a habit of using Shuswap words in naming mythical objects.
2. Some Indians think that he also reached the sky by following an arrow.
3. Some say that this young man was the tceski'kik !a variety of chickadee), and that he afterwards returned to earth, where he continued to wander about searching for his sister, and crying, `Oh. my younn;er sister'.-' (.1a' ten-tce tca! and that he was transformed into a chickadee (Tceski'kik), and ordered to wander around forever, crying fur his younger sister.
4. Related to the Okanagon word for "grisly bear."
