boas] TSIMSHIAIST MYTHS 231 



will ask him to take pity on us, lest we die of starvation." There- 

 fore the great slave ran out and cried, "Return to the old town, 

 great tribe! Move by tomorrow, for our great prince has plenty to 

 eat in our old village." 



Early the following morning the chief and all his brothers-in-law 

 and all his people moved, and returned from Nass River to the old 

 village at Sandbar Town. 



Then the eldest uncle dressed up his two daughters. He placed 

 them on a box in his canoe, for he thought his nephew would marry 

 them. All the people paddled as hard as they could; and when 

 t hey arrived in front of Port Simpson, behold ! they saw that grease 

 covered the water; and one of the young women stretched out her 

 hand and dipped her fingers into the grease and ate it. The youngest 

 uncle was behind the other canoes. 



One day about noon the prince saw a great many canoes approach- 

 ing. Then he went out and asked them, "Where do you come 

 from?" They replied, "Your father and all your uncles are here, 

 and your father's people." Again he asked them, "Who told you 

 to come?" and they all remained silent. Again he said, "Don't 

 come ashore, or I shall shoot you with my arrows! Get away from 

 here and leave me alone to starve!" Then all the people pleaded 

 with him, and he took pity on them. He asked them again, "Where 

 is my beloved youngest uncle?" They replied that he was far 

 behind. 



The prince did not allow them to land until his youngest uncle 

 came. All the canoes anchored hi front of the old village. It was 

 late in the evening when the youngest uncle came. He landed, but 

 the prince refused to let the others come ashore until the following 

 morning. He pointed out one of the great whales, and gave it to his 

 youngest uncle, who gave his beautiful daughter to his nephew to be 

 his wife. 



On the following morning the prince went out and called the 

 people ashore. When the canoe of his eldest uncle was near the 

 shore, the two girls dipped their hands into the water to eat the grease 

 that was floating on it. Therefore the prince was very much ashamed. 

 He did not want to see them. He cut one of the whales, and gave 

 one-half to his father, and one-half to his eldest uncle. He cut 

 another one, and gave one-half to his second uncle, and one-half to 

 his third uncle. Then he opened his storehouse of blubber, and 

 gave one piece of blubber to each man and each woman, and he 

 gave small pieces to the children. He invited them to come to his 

 house to his marriage. He loved his wife very much. 



On the following day all the tribes came to buy provisions. They 

 bought them with elk skins ; and some chiefs of various tribes bought 

 them with slaves, canoes, and costly abalone shells, and with many 



