Traditions of the Thompson River Indians (cont.)
The cannibal chased him, but he threw down the staff, and crossed the river as before. He received a great deal of money from all the white people of the town for this feat. He was then asked to steal the Cannibal's wagon and horses. He accomplished this also, receiving a great deal of money. He was then asked to bring the Cannibal himself. He took an iron coffin and some whiskey, which he put in the wagon. Then he proceeded to the Cannibal's house. The latter was at home, and he entered. Immediately the Cannibal was going to kill him; but he said, "I came here to give you a present of mysterious water, which will make you strong. After you drunk my present, you may kill me if you like." The Cannibal drank the whiskey and became helplessly drunk. The lad then dragged him to the wagon, put him into the coffin, and closed the lid. He then drove to town, where, he received a great deal of money for his feat. The Cannibal, after having got over his drunkenness, struck like thunder on the inside of the coffin to get out, and the white people said, "Let him out, that we may see him." Then the lad let him out, and immediately the Cannibal began to kill the people, which he eventually accomplished, and ate them all. The lad was the only one of the whole town who escaped. He reached home with the magic staff and great wealth.
TWO TRADITIONS OF THE LILLOOET.
1. THE STORY OF TSU誰TIA.289
Long ago, during the time when the earth was being brought into its present shape, and formed as we see it today, and people made as they are now, a maiden who lived in the Lillooet country290 wandered around mostly by herself. Taking a fancy to a root called Kokwe値a, which is utilized by the Indians as food, she had connection with it,291 and became pregnant; and in course of time the people wondered at this, as the girl was unmarried, nor was she known to have been with any man. This son, whose father was the root Kokwe値a afterwards became a man of renown, gifted magic; moreover, it is said that most of the Upper292 Lillooet tribe are his descendants.293 When he was yet a young man, he went to a spot a short distance from Lillooet town,294 which was his native place. Here he met several lads who were playing, and he wanted to join in the game; but one of them called him "bastard," saying that the Kokwe値a root was his father, and ordered him away to his own place. He thereupon changed this lad into a fish, which is called tsan誕tz,295 then he took a stone and struck him on the head, thereby flattening it, and cursed him saying, "You will be a fish, and people will take you and eat you, and you shall not be able to help yourself." Hence the reason of the peculiar shaped head of the tsan誕tz at the present day. Tsu地tia, for that was his name, then went home and asked his mother who his father was. She was ashamed to tell him the truth, and replied that the reason that he never saw his father was that, before his (Tsu地tia痴) birth, his father was drowned in the river. Tsu地tia then took his bow and arrows, and went to kill the Water, because it had taken his father痴 life. But the Water told him, "Those whom I kill I know again. If I had killed your father, I should know him; but as it is, I do not." He then went back to his mother, and asked her why she had lied, demanding again to know who his father was. She told him other stories, which he proved to be untruths. Finally he grew angry, and threw her into a little lake below Lillooet, called by the Indians Hulakona地tko. He then began to travel all over the world, turning people into animals, fishes, and rocks by his magic, and transforming the features of many parts of the country through which he journeyed, performing many wonderful feats.
