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



THE ONE-WHO-FINDS-NOTHING (PI-CHU'-I-L1N-UK) 



(From St Michael) 



Once there was a small, ugly-face young man who could never find 

 anything that he looked for. Whenever he went out with his sled for 

 wood, he returned without any, because he could never succeed in 

 finding any, not the least piece. Then he entered the kashim and sat 

 down in his place over the entrance way. When he sat down there 

 he would remain quiet for a long time. The one sitting beside him 

 sometimes gave him water, which he would drink and then become 

 quite still again. 



If forced to go out, he would put on his boots and go, bnt would 

 return again very soon and sit as before. Once when thirsty he went 

 out to the water hole for a drink, but when he came to the place he 

 could not find the water hole, as it seemed not to be there. Then he 

 returned to the kashim again without drinking and sat down in his 

 place, the one beside him giving him water. 



At night in bed, not being able to sleep and being thirsty, he went 

 out to find his elder brother's house. After much searching he could 

 not find the place, so went back to the kashim and lay down. Awaking 

 in the morning, he took some fishing tackle and went fishing. When 

 he came to the water he could not find it, and after looking for it unsuc- 

 cessfully he returned without fishing. Thus he came back once more 

 without anything and was hungry also when he sat in his place as 

 usual. 



Then he thought, "If I go to pick berries I suppose 1 will not be able 

 to find any." Taking a wooden bucket he went for berries. After look- 

 ing, but failing to find any, he returned to his place in the kashim. The 

 next morning, becoming hungry, he took his arrows and went hunting 

 for wild geese. Kot finding any, and seeing nothing else, he returned 

 again. Other men brought back hair seals they had killed. The One- 

 who-finds-nothing took his kaiak and putting it into the water went 

 out seal hunting. He hunted long for the seals, but there seemed to be 

 none; and seeing nothing, he came back to his place in the kashim. 



Winter came, and he thought, "I do not know what to do with 

 myself." The next day he took his miserable bed and rolled it up with 

 his poor tool bag, put the bundle on his back, and went out to the land- 

 ward side of the village, beyond the houses, and sat down. Being 

 seated, he took his bundle from his back and, opening it, untied his tool 

 bag. This being done, he scattered the tools about him and threw 

 away the bag. Then he spread down his bed and, sitting upon it, lay 

 back, saying, " Here will I die." 



There he lay all night without moving. When the sun came up he 

 heard a Raven croaking, and then its mate. He remained quiet and 

 the Raven came, alighting near him with its mate just beyond. The 



