106 TSIMSHIAN MYTHOLOGY [hth. ANN. 31 



2. The Meeting of the Wild Animals 1 



A long time ago, when the Tsimshian lived on the upper Skeena 

 River, in Prairie Town, there were many people. They were the 

 most clever and the strongest among all the people, and they were 

 good hunters, and caught many animals, going hunting the whole 

 year round. Therefore all the animals were hi great distress on 

 account of the hunters. 



Therefore the animals held a meeting. The Grizzly Bear invited 

 all the large animals to his house, and said to them, "We are dis- 

 tressed, and a calamity has befallen us on account of the hunting of 

 these people, who pursue us into our dens. Therefore it is in my 

 mind to askHim Who Made Us to give us more cold in winter, so that 

 no hunter may come and kill us in our dens. Let Him Who Made Us 

 give to our earth severe cold!" Thus spoke the Grizzly Bear to his 

 guests. Then all the large animals agreed to what the chief had 

 said, and the Wolf spoke: "I have something to say. Let us invite 

 all the small animals, — even such as Porcupine, Beaver, Raccoon, 

 Marten, Mink, down to the small animals such as the Mouse, and the 

 Insects that move on the earth, — for they might come forth and 

 protest against us, and our advice might come to nought!" Thus 

 spoke the large Wolf to the large animals in then council. 



Therefore on the following day the large animals assembled on an 

 extensive prairie, and they called all the small animals, down to the 

 insects; and all the small animals and the insects assembled and sat 

 down on one side of the plain, and the large animals were sitting on 

 the other side of the plain. Panther came, Grizzly Bear, Black 

 Bear, Wolf, Elk, Reindeer, Wolverene— all kinds of large animals. 



Then the chief speaker, Grizzly Bear, arose, and said, "Friends, 

 I will tell you about my experiences." Thus bespoke to the small 

 animals and to the insects. "You know very well how we are 

 afflicted by the people who hunt us on mountains and hills, even 

 pursuing us into our dens. Therefore, my brothers, we have 

 assembled (he meant the large animals). On the previous day I 

 called them all, and I told them what I had in my mind. I said, 

 'Let us ask Him Who Made Us to give to our earth cold winters, 

 colder than ever, so that the people who hunt us can not come to 

 our dens and kill us and you!' and my brothers agreed. Therefore 

 we have called you, and we tell you about our council." Thus 

 spoke the Grizzly Bear. Moreover, he said, "Now I will ask you, 

 large animals, is this so?" 



Then the Panther spoke, and said, "I fully agree to this w r ise 

 counsel," and all the large animals agreed. Then the Grizzly Bear 



* This story resembles, in the form of the speeches, the story of TxiimsEm's war on the South Wind, 

 p. 79, and has been influenced in form 1 >y the Kwakiutl tales. The term " He Who Made Us " is presum- 

 ably due to Christian influence.— Notes, pp. 723, 73S.— F. B. 



