Haida texts and myths, Skidegate dialect / recorded by John R. Swanton.

Swanton, John Reed, 1873-1958.

Date:: 1905

Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Haida texts and myths, Skidegate dialect / recorded by John R. Swanton. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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[buli„29 child 11-0111 coiitiluially openiiifr tlie door in that way.” “Why chief I never can stop him.” “ Just hear what she says.' What a common child is continually doinfj the supernatural beings ever fear to do.” On another day, while Great-breakers was lying down, he banged the door apin. He said to the mother: Pdood-tide-woman, a common child is doing the same thing again. Try to stop him.” “ Why, chief, I can never stop your slave nephew.” And where he was sitting with his mother by the lire, on the side toward the door, right there he defecated. And his uncle’s wife made a pooping sound at him. “ I shall indeed go with that husband’s nephew,” he heard his uncle’s wife say.*® On the next da}', ver}'^, ver}”^ early iu the morning, he started oH'. Aftei he had gone along for some time he came to some persons who burst into singing sweet songs and danced. They then asked him: “Tell us, what are you doing hereabout?” “ I am gathering woman’s medi- cine.” “ Well, whatdo 3-011 call woman’s medicine? Is woman’s medi- cine each other’s medicine?” “Yes; it is eai-h other’s medicine.” Those women chewed gum as they sang. Then one of these gave him a piece. “This is woman’s medicine.” And one of them gave him directions: “ Now, when you enter the house, pass round to the right. Chew the gum as 3'ou go in. And when 3mur uncle’s wife asks itof you, by no means give it to her. Ask of her the thing her husband owns. ^Vhen it is in 3'our hands give the gum to her.” And he went away from the singers. When he entered the gum stuck out red from his mouth. Then his uncle’s wife said to him: “ I ,say, NAiiki'lsLas-lina'-i, come, give me the gum.” He paid no attention to her. He then sat down beside his mother, and to his mother he said: “Tell her to give me the thing mv uncle owns. I will then give her the gum.” Then his mother went to her. She told it her. And to her she gave something white and round. He then handed her the gum. While his uncle’s wife chewed it and swallowed the juice he saw that her mind was changed. Some time after that his fathers®’ went by on the sea. And he said to a dog sitting near the door: “ NAnki'lsLas-lma'-i .sa^-s he desires the place where his fathers now are to dry up and leave them.” And immediate^ it went out and said so. The tide left them high and dry, and the}^ were in great numbers. The} made a scraping sound in their etforts to move. He then said to his mother: “ 1 say, go and poui- water upon my fathers.” She then went down to them, and she did not look upon her husband. She poured it only upon Fin-turned-back. And he went to his mother and told her to pour water upon his father. She acted as if she did not hear his voice. They were going to the super- natural beings of Da'osgen®* to buy a whale, they say. Then he came in and said to the dog again: “Go and say, ‘NAuki'- IsLiis-lina'-i says he desires the tide to come in to his parents.’” He then went out quickly and said it. X.u-u-n-u-O (noise of the waves coming in), and they at once were moving along far oH' on the water.