![]()
Traditions of the Thompson River Indians (cont.)
82. This place is called Niqcu'emin by the Indians, and Thompson or Thompson Siding by the whites. The creek there is generally called Thompson or Nicomin Creek. Some, in telling the story, place the last of the Antelope's sons at Tsotcowa'ux Creek instead of at Thompson Creek.
83. The present boundary between the Nkamtci'nemux and Nlak·apamux'o'e.
84. Some say a ram of the mountain sheep.
85. Some Indians say they think there is some more of this story ; but l have not been able so far to collect any more, and have never heard it told by any of them at greater length than above.
86. Some say the boy did not speak, but that the Cannibal placed him in the bottom of the kettle, perhaps by chance, or because he was small.
87. Some say, "So that the fire went out." It will be remarked that this whole passage in its present form is recent. The Indians had no kettles that they hung over their fires.
88. Some Indians say he simply urinated on the tree, or on the topmost point of the tree.
89. Cathlamet.
90. This story is sometimes told in separate parts, part of it being called the Story of the Lynx, and part the Story of the Coyote's Sons.
91. Full version: tsûkemä'istîn, semen which has dried under the prepuce.
92. Full version: "Sunt rubra pudenda!" (Sntiêki'l).
93. Some say she also changed him into the ordinary hare.
94. This commences the part generally called the Story of the lynx.
95. This ends the part called the Lynx Story.
96. This commences what is called the Story of the Coyote's Sons.
97. I do not know the exact meaning of this name.
98. Probable interpretation of this name is " mighty foot."
99. See other contradictory versions of the origin of fire, pp. 56, 57.
100. This is his personal name. The Indians do not give any meaning for it, saying that it is simply his name.
101. I cannot obtain any meaning for this word.
102. See p. 74.
103. The Indians often call any kind of large fish "salmon."
104. This is one of the kinds of Haxaa'tko in whose existence the Indians believe. They are the inhabitants of certain Lakes or streams. In appearance they answer very closely to the descriptions given of mermen and mermaids, some of them having the upper part of the body and head exactly like men or women, and the lower part like fishes. Others, again, have all the body like a fish, and only the head like human beings.
105. Some Indians say that Kua'lum took the lad out a fourth time, but with a like result. I have not yet been able to learn from any of them what experience the lad passed through on his fourth and Last test.
106. Compare the following tales of other tribes: Shuswap, p. 9. Kootenay (Verh. Berl. Ges. für. Anthrop. 1891, p. 163). Page 39, § I. Cathlamet, Chinook, p. 58; Ponca, p. 106. Page 39, § 2. Chinook, p. 34; Fraser Delta, p. 39; Comox, p. 70; Nootka, p. 118 ; Kwakiutl, p. 136; Nawitti, p. 198; Krause, Die Tlinkit Indianer, p. 256.