10 CAVE EELICS OF THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS. 



bora ' and watched the boy lest he should go too far from the shore. The boy- 

 saw on the sea a diving bird, (diver.) followed it, and shot at it with his arrow. 

 The diver retreated further and further fi-oni the shore. The father saw him 

 (the boy) getting farther away, and shouted to him, but the child could not hear 

 him ; and as it Avas getting dark the father presently could not distinguish the 

 boy any longer, and returned home. The boy went further and further until 

 finally he perceived that he could not distinguish the island fi'om which he came, 

 and tiiat he was far from home. He turned toward the shore, paddling slowly, 

 admiring his boat as he went, until he was not far from the beach, when he 

 heard some one coming after him. He increased his speed, but did not gain on 

 the pursuer who began to throw arrows at him. The boy did not know who the 

 person was. On another island lived an Aleiit, whose Avife w-as the boy's sister ; 

 but as the Aleutian custom was, this Aleiit did not take her to his OAvn island, 

 but often visited her. This eveaiing, as usual, he was going to his wife, he saw a 

 little bidarka Avith a child in it, and pursued it to find out Avho it Avas, and dis- 

 covered that it Avas his wife's little brother. He admired the swiftness of the 

 boat and the skill of the boy, but continued to throAv arroAvs at him Avith the 

 intention of frightening him, and thrcAV one so carelessly that it struck the boy's 

 paddle, and he, losing his balance, was OA^erturned. The brother-in-laAv soon 

 came up Avith the boy, and endeavored to right the canoe, but Avithout success, 

 and so the little brother Avas droAvned. The Aleiit Avept over him,- and thought 

 at first of abandoning the boy's body where it Avas, but finally toAved the boat to 

 the shore near the boy's OAvn island, and left it in a mass of kelp so that it might 

 not drift to sea ; but fearing the anger of the father, he Avent aAvay Avithout hav- 

 ing seen. his beloved wife. This Avas in October or NoA-ember. Morning came, 

 and the boat Avas di.scovered in the kelp ; and they told the father, Kat-haya- 

 koochak, Avho sent out to see Avhat it Avas, and they Avent and brought it back. 

 The father recognized his son's canoe, Avhich he had built in the previous winter 

 and summer. 



" What could be done ? He Avept and lamented over the boy, remembering 

 the love and care he had bestoAved upon him, and directed the body to be brought 

 into the casime, (largest house of the village,) called Ulagamak, and dressed in 

 his handsomest jiarka and placed in the place of honor. He ordered that no one 

 should make any festivity, no tambourines were to be beaten or singing done. 

 He sent out to all his friends to say that he, his son, had been droAvned, and that 

 they should come to the funeral, bn hearing this, the people of the Four Craters 

 immediately repaired to the island of Kagamil. When they had arrived, Kat- 

 hay-a-koochak commenced to prepare for the funeral of his son. When all Avas 

 ready, and the day began, he ordered him to be taken to the old burying place, 

 according to the Aleiit custom, Avith songs, lamentations, and beating of (the 

 Aleiit) tambourines, in company Avith all the assembled natives, Avhich Avas done. 

 Among the people Avas also the sister of the dead boy, Avho Avas about to have a 

 child. A stone lay across the path, Avhich all had to pass in going to the burying 

 place. There Avas a good deal of snoAV on the ground, partly melted by the 

 warm weather. The sister, who Avas Avalking Avith the father behind the corpse 

 Avith her face covered and constantly Aveeping, and Avas barefooted, in carelessly 

 stepping on the stone, slipped, and fell on her back, bringing on a premature 

 delivery and fatally injuring herself; dying very soon afterAvard. What could 

 Kat-hay-a-koochak do? He Avent out" to "bury one, and, instead, had three to 

 bury — his son, daughter, and grandson. He stopped the procession and had his 

 son brought back to the house (barrabora) and gave orders for the funeral of his 



