boas] TSIMSHIAN MYTHS 223 



canoe, and let us try all kinds of trees!" and when he was cutting 

 down the tree, two young men, who were also liis nephews, came to 

 him. Now there were four young men, two women, and the chief. 

 They made a good-sized canoe; and when it was finished, they 

 steamed it, and it was very good. Therefore they took it down, and 

 went in it against the rolling waves. They were paddling hard, and 

 the canoe was broken by the waves. They went home, broke it all 

 to pieces, and threw the pieces into the fire. 



Then they made another canoe of a spruce tree. It was better 

 than the one they had built before. When it was finished, the chief 

 went to test it on the sea. They went out; and while they were on the 

 sea, they went against the rolling waves made by a great storm. The 

 waves struck the canoe, and soon it broke. They went home and 

 broke it all to pieces. 



Then they made a new canoe of yellow cedar, better than the one 

 they had built before. When they had finished it, they took it 

 down, and went again against strong winds which raised moun- 

 tainous waves. They struck it and broke it. Then they went 

 home, broke it to pieces, and threw the pieces into the fire. 



The chief tried all kinds of trees. Last of all he tried the yew tree, 

 whose wood is very strong and hard. They built a better canoe than 

 any of those before; and when they had finished it, they tested it on 

 the stormy sea. Then they came back home safely. 



Then the young chief ordered his four nephews to gather all kinds 

 of food. On the following day he loaded his strong canoe with all 

 kinds of provisions, and they started. The young women were 

 with them. Then - yew canoe was faster than a flying bud. They 

 went along between the two islands, and soon they arrived at the 

 place where the floating child was. Then the young chief said, 

 "Just pass close by the floating child!" They did as the chief had 

 ordered them; and when they were passing near by, the chief took 

 the elnld's foot into the canoe, and said to bis companions, "Pull 

 hard!" and they paddled as hard as they could, and reached the first 

 island. Then they hauled up then - canoe right in the. woods, with 

 the child and everything hi it. 



As soon as they had carried up their canoe, the monster came out 

 of the water in front of them, and said, "Give me my child!" The 

 chief replied, "Where are all my people whom you destroyed? I 

 will not let your child go." The monster woman said, "Give my 

 child back to me, or I will overturn the island on which you camp." 

 The young chief replied, "Where are all my people whom you have 

 destroyed?" 



In the night the island rolled over and over slowly; but they all 

 went aboard their canoe, and the canoe floated above the island. 

 On the following morning, when the rolling of the island ceased, the 



