94. The Lad who ran away from his Parents.
(Nkamtci'nEmux.)
(cont.)Then they went to the lodge of the two women, who also gave them many presents. As they were not able to carry half their presents, the girl spat on the ground six times, and thus created six slaves, ~v ho carried all their property. Now she made the great distance to her husband's home into a one day's journey. They arrived at night, and she caused a fine large lodge to appear, in which they took up their abode.
On the following morning the people wondered when they saw the large skin lodge there, and some of them hastened to find out who the occupants were. They recognized the lad, who as they thought, had been lost, and they hurried back and told his father, saying, "Your son who disappeared lives in the lodge with a fine-looking woman who is his wife. They have six slaves and a man-servant, also valuable goods.' The father became ashamed, and made up with him, acknowledging that he was wrong in treating him so meanly.95. The Woman who was impaled on a Tree.1
A man married a woman who would not let him touch her.2 At last, getting vexed, he asked her to accompany him to the forest. Here he sharpened a tree-top to a fine point, and, sticking his wife on it between the thighs, he descended, peeling the bark off as he climbed down. When the husband had gone, the woman called for assistance, and her brother, who was hunting near by, heard her, and went to her aid. He tried in vain to climb the upper part of the tree, which was smooth, and devoid of bark. Finding his efforts fruitless, he called on all the animals. The Squirrel, Black Bear, and many others tried, but all failed. Then the ku'tuen3 I managed to reach the girl by climbing with his mouth. She was very sick when brought down, but soon recovered. Ku'tuen said, "Henceforth no woman shall be other than female, and every one will have a hole where this one has been pierced by the tree-top. Henceforth all women will desire to have connection
with men."1 Compare Uta'mqt story of Lkwo'patem (p. 285), by which name the story is sometimes called by the Upper NLaka'pamu; also known to the Lillooet.
2 Some xay, because she had no vagina.
3 A kind of fish, like a lamprey or eel, which is said to move up stream by sticking to the rocks with its mouth.
