112. Account of Cumaxa'ltsa.
(Nkamtci'nEmux.)
(cont.)They all camped on the same ground, as was the custom.l One day many of the men from the camp went out hunting, including some of Cumaxa' ltsa's male relatives who were there. He himself did not go, for he felt lazy or unwell. The men who had agreed to kill him thought this would be a good chance, and, after a short conference, decided on a plan, which they carried into execution successfully. There were seven of them; and as six of them believed Cumaxa'ltsa to be invulnerable to arrow or ball, they armed themselves with knives only. The seventh man was the shaman Sqemmi'n,2 belonging to a place near Spences Bridge, who was armed with a gun. Of the other six, four belonged to the Lytton band, and two to Cumaxa'ltsa's own band, one of these being a cousin or second-cousin. This man was on good terms with Cumaxa'ltsa, and, on entering the lodge with companions, talked very sociably to him, and presently invited him towards the centre of the lodge to have a game of gambling-sticks with them. This was done to draw him away from his gun and other weapons, which, were near his bed. Cumaxa'ltsa was fond of gambling, and presently came and sat down with them to play, having no weapon on him except a large knife. There were no other people in the lodge excepting some women and a few children. After a time two of the Lytton Indians came in and sat down, watching the game. Cumaxa'ltsa was not suspicious, as he saw no weapons on them. However, when the other two Lytton Indians came in, he became suspicious, and proposed that they should continue the game near his bed. This was that he might easily reach his weapons. Thereupon his cousin took hold of him around the body with both arms, keeping Cumaxa'ltsa's arms locked to his side ; and as this was the signal, the other five men jumped on him and began to stab him. The women and children tried to run out, but Sqemmi'n stopped them at the door. Cumaxa'ltsa broke loose, and stabbed several of his antagonists. Although severely cut up, he would have made his escape out of the door had not Sqemmi'n met him there and shot him dead at the threshold. The men who had taken part in this affair at once disappeared, and no one touched Cumaxa'ltsa's body until his relatives came back from hunting in the evening. On the following morning all his people struck camp, and carried his body down to the river, and buried it opposite ,Mudd Slide. ' Afterwards it was removed to the graveyard -near PEq'a'ist. Everybody was glad of Cumaxa'ltsa's death except a few of his immediate relatives.. Perhaps nothing would have come of this murder had not one of the Lytton Indians, on his way up to Cornwalls, when passing the camp of Cumaxa'Itsa's relatives, called across the river to them, and taunted them for not avenging his death.
1 At Bota'ni the several tribal divisions had their own recognized camping-sites. All the Indians of Spences Bridge and above there camped together.
2 A noted shaman and orator, also known as PE'ska, and to the whites as Paska, Pasco, and Pasqua. was a native of Nokaxwa'ulten, about four miles above Spences Bridge, on the north side of the river, but winter days generally lived around Oregon jack's Cr.ek. He died recently, aged ahout ninety.
