b'J TSIMSHIAN MYTHOLOGY [etii. ANN. 31 



up the river in the dark. A little farther up he heard the noise of 

 the people, who were catching olachen in bag nets in their canoes. 

 There was much noise out on the river, because they were working 

 hard. Giant, who was sitting on the shore, said, "Throw ashore 

 one of the things that you are catching, my dear people!" After 

 a while, Giant said again, "Throw ashore one of the things you are 

 catching!" Then those on the water scolded him. "Where did you 

 come from, great liar, whom they call Txa'nisEm?" The (animal) 

 people knew that it was Giant. Therefore they made fun of him. 

 Then Giant said again, " Throw ashore one of the things that you are 

 catching, or I shall break the ma!" and all those who were on the 

 water answered, "Where did you get what you are talking about, 

 you liar?" Giant said once more, "Throw ashore one of the things 

 that you are catching, my dear people, or I shall break the ma for 

 you!" One person replied, scolding him. Giant had repeated his 

 request four times, but those on the water refused what he had asked 

 for. Therefore Giant broke the ma. It broke, and it was daylight. 

 The north wind began to blow hard; and all the fishermen, the 

 Frogs, were driven away by the north wind. All the Frogs who had 

 made fun of Giant were driven away down river until they arrived 

 at one of the large mountainous islands. Here the Frogs tried to 

 climb up the rock; but they stuck to the rock, being frozen by the 

 north wind, and became stone. They are still on the rock. The 

 fishing Frogs named him Txa'msEm, and all the world had the day- 

 light. 



(3) STONE AND ELDERBERRY BUSH 1 



TxamsEm went along up Nass River, and came to the place where 

 Stone and Elderberry Bush were quarreling, discussing who should 

 give birth first. Stone wished to give birth first, and Elderberry 

 Bush also wished to give birth first. TxamsEm listened to what they 

 were saying. Stone said, "If I give birth first, then people will 

 five a long time; if you give birth first, people will live a short time." 

 Giant went to the place where they were and looked, and, behold! 

 Stone had almost given birth to her child. Then he went to Elder- 

 berry Bush and touched her. He said, "Give birth first, Elder- 

 berry Bush." Then Elderberry Bush gave birth to her child. For 

 that reason people do not five many years. Because Elderberry 

 Bush gave birth to her child first, man dies quickly. If Stone had 

 given birth first to her child, it would not be so. That is what our 

 people say. That is the story of Elderberry Bush's children; and 

 therefore the Indians are much troubled because Stone did not give 

 birth to her children first. For this reason the people die soon, and 

 elderberry bushes grow on their graves. 



