Traditions of the Thompson River Indians (cont.)
Notes.
66. Some say that the Coyote took the salmon up past Lillooet, then, turning back, he conducted them up Thompson River, introducing them there.
67. Some say three, and that they were maidens.
68. Some say that he told them to open wide their legs. They also say that the Coyote was carrying a small pack of salmon on his back, and when he sat down to rest he took his pack off, intending to eat some. He then noticed the women bathing on the opposite bank of the river.
69. This passage in full is as follows: Canis, cum arreptum penem trans flumen traiceret effecit, ut in pudendis minimae natu haereret. She fell sick and was hardly able to get out of the water; so the other women helped her home, but were ashamed to tell the people what had happened. The girl's relations called several shamans to treat her, but they were unable to cure her.
70. This paragraph told by Cawa'xamux.
71. I have not been able to determine the exact part of the mountain sheep's body that the girls asked for.
72. Others say that he was dressed in alkali grass (Elymus triticoides, Nutt.).
73. The full version of this passage is as follows: Quam canis secutus cum aditum lodice operuisset, cantare coepit, nec multo post cum puella coire conatus est, ut penis in suum locum redierit. Hic clamabat ea hominem se vitiare conari quibus auditis vicini qui quidem jam suspicabantur, ad sudatorium undique condurrebant. Neque tamen canem poterant deprehendere qui ridens in pedes se coniecit. Tum demum canem esse intellexerunt. Puella autem causa morbi remota statim convaluit.
74. So far I have been unable to locate the place, which is on the American side, probably in eastern Washington.
75. Compare the following tales of other tribes: Page 21, § 2. Comox, P. 64; Nahwitti, p. 179. Krause, Die Tlinkit Indianer, p. 265. Page 21, § 4. Shuswap, p. 17; Ponca, P. 607; Hare, P. 127; Chippewayan, p. 355. Page 22, § 2. Chinook, p. 181 ; Tsimshian, Tlingit, p. 316. Page 23, § 2. Shuswap, p. 18; Fraser Delta, p. 38; Coast Salish, p. 55 ; Comox, p. 65 ; Nootka, p. 118; Kwakiutl, p. 136; Nahwitti p. 202; Bilxula, p. 263 (Ponca, p. 204). P'age 24, § 2. Tillamook (Journal American folk-Lore, 1898, No. 41). Page 25, § I. Shuswap, p. 18; Fraser, p.40; Chippewayan, p. 358. Page 25, § 2, Cathlamet. Page 25, § 2. Navaho, p. 97 ; Kootenay (Verh. Berl. Ges. für Anthrop. 1891, p. 170). Page 26, § 1. Coast Salish, p. 45; Kwakiutl, p. 133; Nahwitti, p. 18o; Bilxula, 1). 264; Tsimshian, p. 303. Page 26, § 2. Chilcotin, Kootenay (Verh. Berl. Ges. für Anthrop. 1891, p. 163). Page 27, § 3. Fraser Delta, p. 26; Comox, p. 73; Nootka, p. 108; Nahwitti, p. 172. Page 28, § 3. Tillamook (Journal American Folk-Lore, 1898).
77. Shuswap, p. 9; Navaho, p. 227.
78. The Indians describe it as being of the color of gold, and say that it shone or sparkled like the sun. They think the crust of it must have been made of gold or some other bright metal.
79. Near a place called Nsi'sket. It is said that one or both of these houses were afterwards turned into stone by the Qo?'qlqal. See story of the Latter.
80. The Antelope is mentioned several times in the mythological stories of the Nlaka'pamux. Some say he was a great friend of the Coyote's. The Antelope, as far as known, never inhabited the present country of the Nlaka'pamux. So far as I can learn, this animal has never penetrated west of the Rocky Mountains, and is only to be found east of that range, This is certainly the case in British Columbia. Although the Nkamtci'nemux and Cawa’xamux are tolerably well informed respecting this animal, on the other hand many of the Nlak?apamux’o'e and others say they do not know what it is, but have heard it described by the old people, who claimed that it was noted for its swiftness, some of them saying that it may be an old name for either the wolf or the hummingbird In the same way the Uta'mqt have very indistinct notions Of the buffalo and the caribou, which are well known and correctly described by the upper part of the tribe, although neither of these animals ever (so far as known) inhabited any part of the Nlaka'pamux country.
