74. Skelã'una.
(Tcawaxamux.)
(cont.)After some time the captive woman gave birth to a boy, who grew up to be a man of very large stature and of great strength, and who had the power of changing- himself into the appearance of a grisly bear at will. He afterwards traveled over the country, performed many wonderful feats, and had mane strange adventures. He 'was particularly fond of assuming the form of a grisly bear and frightening people. When the boy, who was afterwards known among the Okanagan as Skela'una, was able to talk, he asked his mother where she came from, for she talked a language different from that of his father. When she had told him, he asked her how the outside world looked; and she described how tine and beautiful it was The boy knew nothing outside of the cave, and so far had never worn any clothes.
He said to his mother, 'Let us go outside and see the beautiful world!" and she answered, - We cannot: the way cut is under control of your father, and only at his approach does it open.' On hearing this, he wept, placed his head on his knees, and did not talk for a Ion' time. At night, when his father came home, the boy asked him for a robe of grisly-bear skin like the one the old bear wore. His father gave him a grisly robe of mixed colors; but Skela'una was not satisfied, and sat on it. The following night he asked again, and his father Gave him one of gray color, which did not suit him either, and he sat on it. Again he asked for a robe, and his father gave him one of white or silver-tip skins, and he sat on this also. The fourth night, when he asked for a robe, his father gave him one of brownish color, like the one he wore himself. This pleased Skela'una who at once put it on. The robe endowed him with magic.
On the following day, after the Giant had gone hunting, he struck the door, and it moved. He struck it again, and it opened a little ; and when he had struck it four times, it opened entirely, and let him and his mother pass out. They left the entrance open, then he kicked the huge stump four times, and it turned completely over. His mother acted as guide. He carried her on his back, traveled rapidly- to her country, where he took up his abode among her people, and never saw his father again.1
Skela'una was travelling about in company with three young men as companions, and at last came to a place where an old man was living. He put on his grisly robe, assumed the form of a bear, and frightened the old man, saying he would '.ill and eat him. The old man said if he would spare his life, he would tell him how he could obtain four beautiful young women as wives for himself and his companions.
1. Here my informant said he did not remember the other details of the story, excepting a few of them in a very general way. These are given above.
