Traditions of the Thompson River Indians (cont.)
The Raven, who was annoyed at these attempts of his father on his life, said to his younger brother when they met, "Let us travel," at which his brother consented. They traveled towards where Raven had taken his wife. Her hiding place was surrounded by a deep chasm, which was spanned by a single long thin log, so that any person who attempted to cross was at once precipitated into the chasm below; for Raven by his magic caused this log, when trodden upon in the centre, at once to turn over. The younger brother had left Raven a long distance behind on reaching this place, and was surprised to see on the other side of the chasm a beautiful young woman washing herself. He did not then know that it was his brother's wife, for Raven had not told him where his wife was hidden. Being equally gifted in magic with his brother, he bounded across the log, and was immediately on the other side. Then he went up to the woman and said, "I should like you to become my wife." She answered, "Certainly, you must become my husband, because you have seen my naked body." She then by her magic caused food to appear and they ate. He told her that he was travelling with his brother to a distant country, and asked her to accompany them. "No," she answered, "I cannot go with you, but I will help you," and forthwith gave him a long knife and a stsuq,283 saying, "When you get tired and wish to ride, throw the stsuq down and it will become a horse. When you desire, command, and it will become stsuq again." Then he went on his way, and shortly threw the stsuq down, and it became a fine large black horse, fleet of limb, on which he mounted, tying; the large knife on one side, saying to himself, "When he sees me, my brother will wonder." Presently his brother over took him, but did not say much, because he already knew what had happened; but in his heart he resolved that he would kill his younger brother. Thus they went on, and towards evening they neared a large village. The younger man suggested, "Let us enter the village before it gets to dark;" but the elder said, "No, we are too late. Let us camp here, and go in with daylight in the morning." The younger brother tied his horse to a tree, and presently they lay down to sleep. When the younger brother was sleeping, the Raven went to the horse, untied the large knife, and, returning, killed his brother with it by cutting off his head. Then he dug; a shallow grave in the ground and buried the body. In the morning he mounted the black horse and rode into the village, where for several days he rode races, beating everybody, and obtaining, great wealth. He also found favor with the chief of the village, who gave him his daughter to wife. The evening afterwards, while the Raven was eating with his new wife and his parents-in-law, his younger brother, who had in the mean time come to life again, appeared in the doorway and saluted him, saying, "I have been looking for you." Raven did not answer, for he was ashamed, but at length invited his brother to eat, which he did, and after finishing went outside. That night the horse which the Raven had taken disappeared, the younger brother being seen next morning; riding him out of the village, and afterwards nothing was known of him.
Then the Raven took his new wife and returned home. He put her in the house he had formerly built, and made a new one in another place for his wife from Lytton. He lived with both his wives, time about, and neither of them knew of the other. Afterwards his first wife said that she wished to see her people and her country again, and the Raven accompanied her to Lytton, where he stayed with her for a time. They had at that time several children. He built a new house for her there, and on departing; left plenty of food, and many toys for the children. He said he would return for her very soon, but did not come back.
XXXVI. THE MOON.284
The Moon was formerly an Indian, but was transformed to what he is at present. At one time his face was as bright as that of the Sun, if not more brilliant. It would be just as bright now, but his younger sister sits on it and darkens it. He and his younger sister now live together. Whenever it threatens to snow or to rain, he builds a house (the halo) and enters it. He is an inveterate smoker. The clouds are the smoke of his pipe. If the weather is quite clear and he begins to smoke, clouds arise. He always holds his pipe in his hand. Therefore we always see the moon holding his pipe, and we also see the basket which he uses as a hat.285
THE MOON AND HIS YOUNGER SISTER.286
The Moon was formerly a handsome, white-faced Indian. The stars were his friends. The Hare287 was his younger sister. Once upon a time he called the Pleiades and all the other stars to his house, but only the star cluster came. They are named the Pleiades. Yet the house was crowded, so that some of them had no place to sit. After the guests had all arrived, the Moon sent his younger sister to fetch some water. She took her water-buckets and left. Before long she returned carrying a bucket in each hand. When she had entered she said to her brother, "There is no place for me to sit." Her elder brother replied, "Sit here on my face, for there is no room elsewhere." His sister jumped on to his face. If the moon had not joked in this manner, he would now be much brighter, for his sister is darkening his brightness. The woman may still be seen sitting on the moon's face, holding her water-buckets and because the Pleiades gathered in his house, they form a cluster up to this day, and travel the way they follow now. They are the Moon's closest friends.
