Traditions of the Thompson River Indians (cont.)
They presently saw a grouse, and the Coyote told the lad to shoot it. The lad did so, and the Coyote at once singed it over a fire and ate it. They then went faster, and in a little while saw a fawn. This in turn was shot, and the Coyote, after eating it, was able to run faster. Then a buck was seen, and the same was done, and the Coyote now went at a gallop. A grizzly bear and an elk each appeared, and the same was done with them. The Coyote was now going like the wind. At last they came in sight of the chiefs house, which the Coyote pointed out to him, giving direction to him how to enter and what to say. After passing some armed guards he was ushered in, and, although received very coldly at first, he worked himself into the chief's favor, and was hospitably entertained. He also found favor with the chief's daughter, and one night he ran away with her, after stealing the two best horses and saddles the chief possessed. In the morning they were chased, and, being overtaken, they turned their horses and saddles into stsuq,281 which they hid in their shirts for safety. They then hid in the bush, thus evading their pursuers. After travelling on foot for some distance, they met the lad's two brothers, who had accompanied him part of the way on his journey to the chief's house, but, being discouraged, had remained in that neighborhood hunting.
They then journeyed together towards home. On the way home, his brothers, who had taken a fancy to the girl, threw the younger man over a very high cliff into a chasm, and went home with her. The young man, although he was not killed, was unable to find a way out. He called on all the animals to help him. The Wolf came and hung his tail over the cliff, but could not reach him. Then the Magpie, who also had a long tail, hung it over, but with the same result. In fact, all the animals and birds tried it, but failed. He then thought of an old Coyote who had his home in a cliff very close to Spences Bridge. This Coyote came in answer to his summons, and let down his tail and drew him out. The young man then changed his stsuq back into a horse, and, going to a village close by, rode a race, which he won, and then sold the horse for much valuable goods, but afterwards turned the horse into stsuq, and the latter into a canoe, in which he went home. Reaching home, he found his wife (who had been protected from his brothers in his father's lodge), and she rejoiced at his return. After this he was considered a great man in magic. The Coyote was his friend.282
[Nkamtci'nemux]
A maiden who lived at Lytton refused all offers of marriage, much against the will of her parents. A young man, the Raven, who lived in a distant country towards the east, knew of her by his magic power, and said to himself, "I will go and get that girl for my wife." Then by his magic he went to Lytton in half a night, and shortly after midnight entered the underground lodge in which the girl lived. He crawled up to her couch and awoke her, whereupon she struck him, telling him to go away, as she did not wish any man from that neighborhood (meaning her native place) to touch her. But he replied to her, "I am not of your people. I come from far away. My name is Raven, and I have come to marry you." Then she consented to become his wife. He said, "Awake your parents, and tell them that I wish to start home with you before daybreak." She awakened them and told them, and also bade them not to tell the neighbors what had become of her. Before daybreak the Raven departed with her as his wife, but did not give her parents any marriage presents. Shortly they arrived in the husband's country, where he hid her, for he did not wish his father, who was a great chief, to know that he had married a strange woman. He said to his wife, "I will prepare a house for us to live in, then I will come and fetch you." The houses in that country were like white men's houses, and the people had plenty of horses, and metal [money]. He then went some distance from his father's house, and, pulling a feather out of his wing, threw it down, and immediately a house sprang up. On the second day he pulled another feather out of his wing, and this became food of many kinds and of great quantity. On the third day he did likewise, and at once there was a young male slave to cook for them. Meanwhile his father wondered at the new house which had so suddenly arisen, and sent his younger son to see who was there. He found his own brother in the house, who told him, "I am married, and I have made this house to live in;" at the same time he wanted him not to tell their father. The younger brother returned and said, "I do not know whose house it is. I could not gain admittance. Neither did I see anybody." At this the old man's curiosity was aroused, and the next day he went himself to have a look. He was surprised to find his son therein. The latter gave him to eat, and told him all the circumstances. The father said nothing, but went home and told his wife everything, adding, "I will kill my son, for he has displeased me." The Raven, however, already knew of his father's intentions and kept away. For four successive days the father went to kill the Raven, but each time found him absent.
