Traditions of the Thompson River Indians (cont.)
Notes.
107. Some say the Coyote happened to visit the Black Bear.
108. Lêms; an elongated, rather shallow dish made of birch back, formerly used by the Indians (Upper Nlaka'pamux) for catching fat drippings in front of the fire.
109. The Indians state that this incident was the cause of the Coyote's paws becoming round and shriveled up as they are at the present day.
110. The name of a bird, of which I am unable to state with certainty the English name, but which I think is the Kingfisher.
111. The Magpie was known as a great hunter and trapper. He used to catch deer principally by means of snares, and was very successful.
112. A spînpi'n snare, which was a net with large meshes set between patches of bushes, and in other suitable places, into which the deer were driven. They became entangled, and fell an easy prey to the hunter. They were formerly in use amongst the Nkamtci'nemux and Cawa'xamux, and were also still more largely used by the Okanagon. Some Indians, in telling this story, say that it was a spring pole-snare that was used by the Magpie, and not a net snare.
113. Some say he flew through between the meshes.
114. Some say he tried to jump through between the meshes, as the Magpie had done.
115. Compare the following tales of other tribes : Chinook, p. 178; Comox, p. 76; Nootka, p. 106; Nahwitti, p. 177 ; Bilxula, p. 2.15 ; Tsimshian ; S. T. Rand, Legends of the Micmac, pp. 300, 302; Ponca, p. 557; Navaho, p. 87; Tillamook ; Hare, p. 217.
116. So far I have been unable to obtain any meaning for this name. Some Indians say that this was the name of the youngest brother only ; others, that it was the name of the three as a whole. Some say that each of the brothers had a separate name, but are unable to state what their names were, although they had heard them from old people formerly. The name is pronounced, with slight variations Qoa'qlqal, Qoe'qlqol, Xoe'qlqol, Xoe'qlxol.
117. A few Indians claim that they were two brothers, others that they were four; whilst others say that they were not brothers at all, but simply companions.
118. S'atcinko is the Nlaka'pamux name for the Qauitin Indians of lower Fraser River, who occupy the valley of that river from the point where it emerges from the canyon at Yale to its mouth about a hundred miles below. They occupy the country between the Nlaka'pamux and the sea.
119. In the mythology of the Lillooet they are said to have come from the sea.
120. See story of Kokwe'la, p. 45,
121. The name of a place about four miles below Spences Bridge, on the south side of Thompson River, where there is a sliding mountain called Mud-slide by the whites. Zîxazî'x means "slides."
122. Some say his wife was the Short-tailed Mouse.
123. Nqau'x, a mess eaten by the Indians, generally consisting of roots of a starchy nature, dried service berries, and deer's fat, boiled together. Bitter-root is principally used in the preparation of this dish.
124. Spa'nek, a small variety of basket in common use, and often used for boiling food.
125. Some Indians say that he avoided the falling earth by jumping up on the cliff across the Thompson, directly opposite this place.
126. Some Indians say that Tcu'i'sqa'lemux and his wife were also turned into stone.
