1892-33.] NOTKS ON THE WESTERN DENES. 171 



but larger and worn resting over the shoulders and breast, was a badge 

 of the possession of shamanistic powers on the part of the wearer. 



The tsinejthan was of so primitive material that its adoption as a 

 means of personal adornment must have been rather early. Though the 

 material of the tsinezdilya was an imported article, this necklace could, 

 according to the following Carrier narrative, boast of an at least as great 

 antiquity, unless we assign a recent origin to the actual plumage of the 

 loon.* 



" Once upon a time, there was an old man who was blind. He had a 

 wife who used to help him in this way to keep alive : whenever she 

 sighted game, she would hand him his arrow to moisten the stone point 

 thereof with his saliva — for this old man was possessed of magic powers. 

 Then pointing the arrow in the direction of the game, she would let him 

 release it himself, which he usually did with good effect. One day, both 

 came upon a very fat cariboo — "Moisten the arrow-head with your saliva," 

 said the woman to her husband, which after he had done, he shot dead 

 the animal. But his wife, who coveted the fat of the cariboo and was 

 tired of living with a blind old man, pushed him aside, thereby throwing 

 him to the ground, saying : "That old fellow,f what a bad shot he is!" 

 — ' But I think I have killed it,' insisted the old man. Yet as he was 

 blind, he could not get the game, and while searching for it, he strayed a 

 long distance from his wife who now abandoned him. 



" As soon as the old man was out of sight, she set to cut up the 

 animal, helping herself at the same time to large fried slices of its meat. 

 What siie did not eat on the spot she cut into thin pieces and hung out 

 to dry. 



" Meanwhile the old man was bewailing his fate. In the course of his 

 aimless wanderings he had reached the shore of a lake, when a loon 

 hearing his cries swam towards him as his kins are wont to do even now 

 whenever they hear anybody talking in the forest. — "What ails you"? 

 he said to the man. — ' Poor wretch that I am, my wife has left me, and 

 I am blind,' answered the latter. — ' I will cure you,' said the loon; 'come 

 over to me and hide your eyes in the- down of the back of my neck. The 

 old man did as he was bid, and both the loon and himself plunged in 

 the water. When they reappeared on the surface, they found themselves 

 at the opposite end of the lake. — :' Now can you see'? quivered the loon. 

 ' Look at yonder mountain,' he added. The old man complied with the 

 request and answered : ' I see a little, as if through a mist. Repeat the 



* Tliis tale is also cm rent among the Tsi[Koh'tin. 



+ Tdnethi- ipl . The desinence of this word is expressive of spite and scorn. 



