454 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth.ann. 18 



mountain sheep, which he held in his hand, and when they became dry 

 he called Man to show him what he had done. Man thought they were 

 very pretty, and Eaven told him to close his eyes. As soon as Man's 

 eyes were closed Eaven drew down his mask and waved his wings 

 four times over the images, when they became endowed with life and 

 bounded away as full-grown mountain sheep. Eaven then raised his 

 mask and told Man to look. When Man saw the sheep moving away, 

 full of life, he cried out with pleasure. Seeing how pleased Man was, 

 Eaven said, "If these animals are numerous, perhaps people will wish 

 very much to get them." And Man said he thought they would. 

 "Well," said Eaven, "it will be better for them to have their home 

 among the high cliffs, so that every one can not kill them, and there 

 only shall they be found." 



Then Eaven made two animals of clay which he endowed with life as 

 before, but as they were dry only in spots when they were given life, 

 they remained brown and white, and so originated the tame reindeer 

 with mottled coat. Man thought these were very handsome, and 

 Eaven told him that they would be very scarce. In the same way a 

 pair of wild reindeer were made and permitted to get dry and white 

 only on their bellies, then they were given life; in consequence, to 

 this day the belly of the wild reindeer is the only white part about it. 

 Eaven told Man that these animals would be very common, and people 

 would kill many of them. 



"You will be very lonely by yourself," said Eaven. "I will make 

 you a companion," He then went to a spot some distance from where 

 he had made the animals, and, looking now and then at Man, made an 

 image very much like him. Then he fastened a lot of fine water grass 

 on the back of the head for hair, and after the image had dried in his 

 hands, he waived his wings over it as before and a beautiful young 

 woman arose and stood beside Man. "There," cried Eaven, "is a com- 

 panion for you," and he led them back to a small krioll near by. 



In those days there were no mountains far or near, and the sun never 

 ceased shining brightly; no rain ever fell and no winds blew. When 

 they came to the knoll, Eaven showed the pair how to make a bed in 

 the dry moss, and they slept there very warmly ; Eaven drew down his 

 mask and slept near by in the form of a bird. Waking before the 

 others, Eaven went back to the creek and made a pair each of stickle- 

 backs, graylings, and blackfish. When these were swimming about in 

 the water, he called Man to see them. When the latter looked at them 

 and saw the sticklebacks swim up the stream with a wriggling motion 

 he was so surprised that he raised his hand suddenly and the fish 

 darted away. Eaven then showed him the graylings and told him that 

 they would be found in clear mountain streams, while the sticklebacks 

 would live along the seacoast and that both would be good for food. 

 IS'ext the shrew-mouse was made, Eaven saying that it would not be 

 good for food but would enliven the ground and prevent it from seeming 

 barren and cheerless. 



