BOAS] DESCRIPTION OF THE TSIMSHIAN 465 



Skeena River stands the tree of fragrance, the branches of which are 

 constantly moving. When a person goes near it, the tree embraces 

 him and presses him until he loses consciousness. In order to release 

 a person it is necessary to dig up the roots of the tree (304). There 

 is a supernatural tree the leaves of which, when used for washing the 

 body, produce strength and health (118). 



Supernatural Gifts. — The supernatural people present powerful 

 gifts to human beings. Asdi-wa'l receives his hunting-tools from his 

 supernatural father. These are snowshoes, bow, four arrows, lance, 

 hat, mountain staff, raincoat, and basket (1.81). The snowshoes 

 enable him to walk up precipitous cliffs (N 227) and to hunt sea lions 

 on a slippery rock (1.125). When his mountain staff is struck into 

 a rock, it makes a hole, and gives him a firm hold (245, N 226). His 

 lance may be used as a bridge for crossing deep gorges (1 .85). On the 

 Sea-Lion Rock he puts up his lance, fastens his bow and his arrows 

 to the point, and finally places one arrow crosswise, and saves him- 

 self on this seat (1.127). In 1.169 a magic club, a gift of Owner Of 

 The Lake, is mentioned. The club has the form of an otter; when 

 it is thrown into the sea, it comes to life and kills seals. The Sun 

 presents his grandson with a small club, which seems so light that 

 people believe it is impossible to kill a bird with it; it proves, how- 

 ever, a powerful weapon (1.217). The Sun also gives his grand- 

 children a box, which, when opened, causes the earth to turn over 

 (1.215). The live arrow which is obtained in the village of the Air 

 has a living head with blinking eyes; and when the owner lets it go, 

 it kills his enemies (308). 



Hunters are given the two magic dogs Red and Spots, which are 

 of diminutive size when carried about, but become enormous and cor- 

 respondingly fierce when put on the ground. When taken up and 

 patted, they become small again (150, N 226). When the dogs 

 bark, the mountain goats fall down from the mountains (N227). Of 

 similar nature are Raven's (Txa'msEin's) pups (102). Another 

 hunter, named Large Ears, puts on his mittens and claps his hands. 

 Then the goats fall down the mountain (N 227). 



A supernatural being owns a chamber-vessel and a maul that are 

 his watchmen and call him when danger threatens him (N 235). 



Magical canoes are often mentioned. One canoe moves when hit 

 with a club (1.157). A self-traveling canoe appears in N 235. The 

 canoe rests four times when crossing the sea (210). The self-traveling 

 canoe is generally represented as alive and having a head (210) or a 

 mouth (N 106) at each end. It creaks when hungry (210) and must 

 bo fed (210, N 107). It travels when the chief or the prince to 

 whom it belongs whistles (210). When the owner is attacked, the 

 canoe comes to life and kills his enemies (1.159). The canoe of the 

 Otter is a log of driftwood (167), and the self-traveling canoe of a 

 50633°— 31 eth— 16 30 



