boas] TSIMSHIAN MYTHS 243 



When all the tribes round about heard that there was plenty to eat 

 in the camp of the old chief, they loaded their canoes with elks, 

 spoons of elk antler, and slaves, to present them to their old chief. 

 They brought enough elk skin;: to fill two houses; and when all the 

 tribes round about heard that there was plenty to eat in the old 

 chief's camp, they went there to buy meat — the Tsimshian, G'itlama't, 

 Bellabella, the people from China Hat, and all the tribes speaking 

 different languages. They bought dried meat and fresh meat, whale 

 blubber, and fat of sea lions and seals, and so on. They bought them 

 with slaves, many large coppers, and four houses full of elk skins, 

 and they had many thousand raccoon skins, and spoons of elk antler, 

 and horn spoons; and when all the buyers had assembled, the old 

 chief gave a great feast to the people speaking different languages — 

 those who had bought the meat and fat in his camp; and he gave 

 away many slaves and canoes and elk skins, and raccoon skins; and 

 the mother of his grandson gave away many spoons of elk antler, 

 horn spoons, and many boxes of whale oil, and many boxes of sea- 

 lion oil and seal oil. 



Then the old chief gave his name to his grandson, and he gave to 

 his daughter a great woman's name; and when all the chiefs were 

 satisfied, they honored the young chief, and he became great among 

 the people, and the people of his own tribe honored the young chief. 



A little later his grandfather died, and he gave a great feast to all 

 the tribes. He became richer and richer because he was a great 

 hunter and his father was a supernatural being; and his name was 

 great among the people speaking different languages as far as the 

 Bellabella and Tsimshian extend, but he never married. His mother 

 also was great among the princesses. She also was afraid to marry, 

 lest her supernatural husband should be angry with her. 



(The supernatural being had told his wife that this would be the 

 last time he would visit her. He said, "Let my son help you to 

 everything you need." Then he disappeared.) 



35. The Story of Asdi-wa'l. 1 



(Printed in Boas 13, pp. 71-146.) 



36. Waux, the Son of Asdi-w-a'l 1 



In the story of Asdi-wa'l we did not tell about his only son. Xow 

 we will take it up again, at the time when Asdi-wa'l was living 

 among his brothers-in-law. 



His wife loved him very much because she thought he was a super- 

 natural being. Not many days after they had married, the young 

 woman bore him a son ; and his father, Asdi-wa'l, called his son Waux. 

 That means "very light. " This son would fly away like a spark. 



i Notes, pp. 747, 759, 792. 



