115. Mythological Version of the Capsizing of Simon
Fraser's Canoe in Fraser River.1
(Nkamtci'nEmux.)Many years ago, but at a time long after Coyote had finished arranging things on earth, he appeared on Fraser River in company with Sun, Moon, Morning-Star, Kokwe'la, 'nmu'ipem ("diver"), and Skwia'xEnEmux ("arrow-armed person," "person with arrow arms or shoulders'). These seven came in a bark canoe, and came down from the Shuswap country above. They landed at Lytton, where many people saw them. Continuing their journey, and when in the middle of the river, a short distance below Lytton, the Moon, who was steersman of the canoe, disappeared with it under water. The others came out of the water and sat down on a rock close above the river. Then Skwia'xEnEmux fired many lightning arrows, and 'nmu'ipEm dived many times into the river. The Sun sat ' still and smoked ; while Coyote, Kokwe la, and Morning-Star danced. Coyote said, "Moon will never come up again with the canoe;" but Sun said, "Yes, in the evening he will appear.' Just after sunset, Moon appeared holding the canoe, and came ashore. All of them embarked, and, going down the river, were never seen again. This is the only time Coyote has appeared since the end of the mythological age. About ten years ago he was reported to have been seen travelling in the Shuswap country, but some Kamloops Indians who took much interest in the matter ascertained it to be a false report.
According to another version the canoe was of birch-bark and disappeared under water with all hands. The first to appear very early in the morning was Morning-Star, who rose to the surface and came ashore. At noon Sun rose and came ashore ; and in the evening Moon rose, holding the canoe, and came ashore. During the night, the canoe and all disappeared. Yet another version mentions two bark canoes. One was like the Athapascan canoes, and the other was pointed on the water-tine like the Thompson canoes. The former contained seven heavenly bodies, - sun, moon, morning-star, and others, said by some to be stars. This canoe went under water just below Lytton ; and Moon, with the canoe, did not come up until evening. The other canoe contained seven transformers or mythological personages, - Coyote, NLi kisEntem, Kokwe'la, Old-One, Ntce'mka, Skwia'xEnEmux, and 'nmuipEm. They went ashore and sat on a rock looking on until evening.
1 Compare Simon Fraser's Journal, pp. 184 187. This story may possibly be confused with a mythological tale of the moon. When the new moon appears with the whole disk dimly visible, the Indians say it is the moon holding the canoe.'
TEIT, MYTHOLOGY OF THE THOMPSON INDIANS
