Traditions of the Thompson River Indians (cont.)
He then resumed his journey, and after travelling a while saw an underground lodge. He entered, and found therein two people, -- the Spider and his wife. They welcomed him, and asked all about his affairs. By this time he was blue with cold, and almost famished. They gave him clothing and food, and made him comfortable. They said to him, "We are your grandparents," and forthwith treated him kindly, giving him deer’s fat and other dainties. These two people spent most of their time snaking twine out of bark; but he noticed that what they had been using was short and of poor quality.49 They told him that bark was scarce in their neighborhood, and that they had snared very few deer lately. NLi'ksEntEm50 made a sweathouse near a creek close by, and purified himself for several days; then he went out hunting and killed many deer. He filled the Spider's house with skins and fat. One day, when sweat-bathing, he pulled four hairs out of his pubes, and threw them on the ground. Immediately there grew up a dense thicket of spa'tsan. He said to his grandparents, "Your bark is scarce and of poor quality. Go towards my sweat-house and you will find plenty of good bark. It is a wonder you did not see it before." They went there, and came back loaded with bark of the finest quality, and thanked NLi'ksEntEm joyfully.
The Coyote, after his son had disappeared from sight, took his clothes and ornaments, put them on, and went home. He said to NLi'ksEntEm's wives, "Your father-in-law will not be back for a while. Save some food for him from our meal. Meanwhile I will go and fetch some fir-wood for your fire, as it is low." As soon as he had left, the dark-complexioned woman said, "That is the Coyote, and not our husband;" but the other did not believe her. On returning from his errand, the Coyote took advantage of an opportunity to examine the women, in order to determine which would please him best.51 He was not favorably impressed with the dark-skinned one, but took a fancy to her fairer sister, who, suspecting nothing, stayed in the lodge as his wife. But the other woman left them, and stayed alone, chiefly supported by the charity of the people, and before long gave birth to a child; for she was with child when NLi'ksEntEm went to the upper world. She had cut her hair, and still mourned for her husband. The early summer came; and all the people were journeying towards BEta'ni,52 to hunt deer and to dig roots.
In the mean time NLi’ksEntEm had grown tired of the upper world. He said to the Spider, "I am homesick, and wish to see again my country and my wives. Can you help me?" The Spider said, "I will let you down in a basket.53 You will meet with four obstacles on your way down. When you alight on these, turn yourself over, and the basket will continue its course.
