82 G. M. DAWSON ON THE KWAKIOOL 



From an intelligent " Nawitti " Indian, the following brief account of Kan-f-a-ke-luh 

 was obtained. Kan-ê-a-ke-lnh, a very powerful being, anciently inhabited Cape Scott. 

 At that time, though many animals existed, and some beings resembling men, there were 

 no properly formed men. Leaving Cape Scott, where he had a very large house, Kan-ê-a- 

 ke-luh set out on a pilgrimage eastward, along the shore. He first met with a man of 

 some kind who was engaged in sharpening a knife upon a stone, and having been 

 uncivilly received by him, he took away the knife, and giving the owner two cuts on the 

 head, antlers grew out. Then with some of the paste which was upon the stone, he 

 marked the rump of this being, who went away transformed into a deer. 



Further on he found a lot of women without any trace of eyes, cooking eel-grass 

 (Zostera) roots at a fire. He took the food away and left them groping about for it for 

 some time. When at length he spoke to them, they received him well, in consequence of 

 which he provided th<^m with eyes. 



Next he came across a man with innumerable mouths, all of which but one he closed. 

 In these days also there were beings with sexual organs on their foreheads. This he also 

 rectified, and after doing many other wonderful works returned to Cape Scott. At last 

 Kan-ê-a-ke-luh left Cape Scott finally, going very far away and .disappearing altogether 

 from mortal ken, so that the people supposed the sun to represent him. Kan-c-a-ke-luh 

 had a father named Ma-kwans whom he turned into a heron. His mother was named 

 Kla-klan-ilh, and she either was originally a woodpecker or was by her son changed 

 into that form. My informant was not very clear on this point. 



A high rock on the coast opposite the end of Nahwitti Bar is said to represent a man 

 who was changed into stone by Kau-ë-a-ke-luh, during his journey, for some misconduct. 

 The natives now throw an ottering toward this rock in passing and address some words 

 to it, asking for favourable weather. In the little bay immediately to the east of Cape 

 Scott is a flat greenstone boulder, on the beach, upon which is a natural depression closely 

 resembling in form and size the print of a left foot. This is said to have been made by 

 Kan-ê-a-ke-luh when still a mere boy, and the Indians say that the other end of the stride 

 — a right foot-mark — is to be seen on Cox Island. No one dares to put his foot on either of 

 these marks, as it is certain to result soon in misfortune or death. 



A much more detailed account of Kan-ê-a-ke-luh and his works was obtained from 

 Ow-ît, the chief of the Kwâ'-tsî-no, who appeared to be well versed in such lore and sure of 

 the faith which was in him. According to Ow-ît, the father of the hero was named Ma- 

 kwans, the mother Haia-tlela-kuh, and he had also a younger brother named Nê-uo-kwish. 

 The father and his sons "came down" or appeared at Cape Scott, and lived there, the 

 elder brother killing whales for the support of the younger. After a time,' Kan-ê-a-ke-luh 

 left his home at Cape Scott. He walked eastward along the shore and did not go in a 

 canoe. When he came to Kô-sê he saw a young girl, and asked her to go and fetch some 

 water for him to drink. She refused, saying that a terrible monster named TsT-a-tish 

 (Tsê-a-kîsh of the Ma'-me-li-li-a-ka, said to live beneath the sea and swallow canoes, 

 etc.) guarded the water and killed all who endeavoured to approach. At length, how- 

 ever, she was persuaded to go. She put on her belt, which represented the double-headed 

 serpent se-sentl {si-sl-ootl of the Kwfi-wa-ai-nuk Indians) and set out. Immediately the 

 monster, which had an immense movith, swallowed her ; but Kau-ê-a-ke-luh was close 

 behind. He began to sing a song which caused the creature to burst open and forthwith 



