boas] TSIMSHIAN MYTHS 361 



canoes, and many expensive garments, and also expensive tilings. 

 He had many large boxes full of war-knives -with handles inlaid with 

 abalone shell and handles carved with crests ; and he always went to the 

 Tlingit country to make war, and he took many captives and destroyed 

 a great amount of property of different tribes all around the Tsim- 

 shians. His fame was spread all over the country round about; and 

 his heart was proud, because he always vanquished all his enemies. 



Yet he clung to his purpose to take revenge on the enemy of his 

 dead relatives. 



One time, when the people were ready to move to Nass Eiver, 

 Nes-balas moved first, according to their old custom. He had two 

 large canoes loaded with all kinds of provisions, and many men 

 slaves. The great chief took a good-sized canoe. Four warriors 

 accompanied him, and six slaves paddled. They camped at a cer- 

 tain camping-ground, and built a special house for the chief's camp. 

 They put up his large beam which they carried in the large canoe, put 

 boards against it, and covered them with red-cedar bark. After the 

 house was finished, he invited the chiefs, and they came to his camp. 



Haimas and all the people camped a little behind Nes-balas's camp; 

 and the latter sent a message to him to invite him and all his people. 

 They came as soon as possible; and when they were all in, Haimas 

 looked around, and noticed how large the beam of Nes-balas's camp 

 was, and he was envious when he saw it. 



After this they went up to Nass River. Haimas's canoe was faster 

 than Nes-balas's canoe, and he camped first at K-numa's. His 

 men put up his camping-hut; and when Nes-balas arrived, Haimas 

 sent his men to invite him as well as all the other tribes. Nes-balas 

 looked around in Haimas's house, and he saw that the beam was 

 thicker than his own beam. After Haimas had danced his welcome 

 dance, the food was served; and Nes-balas's slaves built their mas- 

 ter's camping-hut, and Nes-balas's beam was longer than Haimas's. 



On the following morning Haimas moved, for he was ashamed 

 because his beam was shorter than Nes-balas's beam. Nes-balas 

 moved on the same day. His men took down the long beam and put 

 it on top of the load in the canoe. Haimas took down his beam and 

 put it on top of the load in his large canoe; and as soon as they 

 started out to sea, the heavy timber rolled down on one side of the 

 canoe, and the canoe capsized, and Chief Haimas's wives were almost 

 drowned. Then Haimas was much ashamed because Nes-balas had 

 seen how his canoe was capsized by Ins own beam. 



Nes-balas next camped at K- warns. There he had his men cut 

 down a thick tall young spruce tree to build his camping-house. 

 They put on the boards and the bark roof, and on the following 

 morning he moved. He left his new green spruce beam. Soon 

 Chief Haimas arrived at the same place. They took his boards up 



