BOAS] TSIMSHIAN MYTHS 197 



brought good tidings from the Skeena and Nass Rivers; and the chief 

 of the Humpback Salmon replied, "We will go up Skeena and Nass 

 Rivers after the Steelhead Salmon have passed." They went on 

 their way, and came to another village, the houses of which were 

 carved in the form of the rainbow. The prince asked who these 

 people were, and they told him that it was the town of the Dog 

 Salmon. The chief told them also that his scouts had brought good 

 tidings from Skeena and Nass Rivers; and the chief of the Dog 

 Salmon replied, "We will go after the Humpback Sahnon have 

 passed." They went on their way, and came to a large town, the 

 town of the Cohoes Salmon. The carvings on their houses were 

 curious hooked noses. The Spring Salmon told the Cohoes Salmon 

 that he had good tidings from the Nass and Skeena Rivers; and the 

 chief of the Cohoes said, "We will wait until late in the fall, just 

 before there is ice on the rivers." They went on their way; and 

 after they had traveled a short distance, they came to a very large 

 village, the village of the Trout. Their houses were carved with 

 stars. The chief of the Spring Salmon told them that he had good 

 tidings from the Nass and Skeena Rivers ; and therefore the chief of 

 the Trout said, "Chief, will you wait for us a couple of days, so that 

 we may get ready to move, with you?" The Spring Salmon con- 

 sented to wait for a couple of days. Soon they got ready, and the 

 chief of the Trout wanted to go ahead of the Spring Salmon. The 

 Spring Salmon agreed to this, and the Trout went ahead. The 

 Spring Salmon moved along slowly; and as soon as they reached just 

 outside of the Skeena and Nass Rivers, just inside of Douglas and 

 Stephens Islands, they rested for a while. 



Then the chief stood up in his canoe and said to his people, "Now 

 I will question you, and you shall answer me;" and so he asked the 

 people in the first canoe, "Which way will you go ?" and many canoes 

 replied, "We will go up Nass River." Then the chief said, "Oh, 

 many of you are just like bones found on a sandbar in Nass River." 



Then he questioned another company: "Which way will you go ?" 

 and they replied, "We will go up Ksdal River." — "Oh," said the 

 chief, "your flesh is harder than wood." 



Then he turned to a third company: "Which way will you go?" 

 They replied, "We will go up G'itslEmga'lon." Then the chief said, 

 "Go to those that will carry you there and that will throw you on 

 the ground ! " * 



Then he turned to the fourth company and said, "And which way 

 will you go?" The fourth company replied, "We will go to the 

 canyon of the G'itslala'sEr." Then the first three companies replied, 

 "Go there! Your ears shall be full of maggots." 



i Translation not certain: SEm-ga dzEt wil galgaldza'sEm; ada .lEin sa-oi ia'ms xdzilaga'sEm. 



