608 TSIMSHIAN MYTHOLOGY [bth.ann.31 



NtW ia a version from Lytton. The Transformers meet a one-legged can- 

 nibal, who spears men's shadows with a copper-headed spear. lie assumes 

 the form of a trout and carries away the point. After assuming human form, 

 the Transformer throws the magic spear-point into the water. While the 

 cannibal is looking for his harpoon, the Transformers cause a rock-slide. 

 Then they enter the cannibal's house and transform him into a bluejay, 

 taking him by the head and shaking him. This is the reason why the blue- 

 jay has a feather tuft. The cannibal's wife is transformed into a mountain 

 grouse Ntlrf Hill-Tout 1.210. 



In the Chilcotin version the fisherman is the Sea Gull, who allows people 

 to cross a river on Ms leg. They drop off and are drowned. The Trans- 

 former takes away the harpoon, as told before, and promises to restore it if 

 the Gull is willing to build a sweat-lodge for him Chil 10. 



The Haida (Sk), Bellacoola, and Shuswap (Sh 660) tales are not related 

 to the Transformer cycle. 



In the Haida tale a boy who has married Geese maidens meets the half- 

 bodied Master Hopper, who is spearing silver salmon. The boy takes away 

 and later on returns the spear-head in the manner here described Sk 267. 

 In the Tlingit version four brothers go up to the sky and steal the harpoon of 

 the half-bodied man Tl 22. 



Kolaia'ns has a hook which is attached to a line made of hair. Maq Iwa'ns 

 transforms himself into a salmon, breaks the hook, and takes it away. Then 

 he visits the fisherman, shows him the hook, puts the parts together, and 

 returns it BC 5.247. 



The Woodpecker and other birds decide to steal the harpoon of the fisher- 

 man. Several birds assume the form of salmon, but the fisherman pays no 

 attention to them. Finally Woodpecker is harpooned, breaks off the point, 

 and carries it away. The fisherman visits the Woodpecker, and the harpoon 

 is returned to him and exchanged for a blanket set with red feathers Sh 5.13. 



An analogous incident is also referred to in a Loucheux tale. The wan- 

 derer meets a fisherman, assumes the form of a fish, but when harpooned 

 changes into a mass of mud 7.33. 



The Transformer tale of the Shuswap retains the incident of the rock-slide 

 and of the magic food, without any reference to the theft of the harpoon. 

 The Transformers kick a rock-slide down the hill in order to overwhelm 

 Tkumenaa'lst 5.3. [The Transformer Le'esa and TukimineTst cause a rock- 

 slide to fall down on KwilieTt, the son of the Hog Fennel, Sh Dawson 31.] 

 [They kick the rock-slide down on Kwelaa'llst, their aunt's grandson, who 

 had been sent to warn them Sh 647.] In Sh 5.3 the incident of the food 

 contained in the little basket is also retained. In Chil 14 the root man 

 K'olEpi is sent to warn the Transformers, but is unable to speak. These inci- 

 dents are all more closely related to the story of the end of the Transformers 

 (seep. 615, No. 17V 



63. The Transformers quarrel Sts 5.23; Ntla 5.16; Ntl& Teit 2.43; 

 Ntlc Nicola Teit 3.316; Ntki Hill-Tout 1.204; U 221. 



In the evening they camp. The youngest one lies down and puts on his 

 beaver cap. The waters begin to rise. The others have to flee, while the 

 youngest one remains near the fire Sts. At Ca'nExanEnEmax they quarrel. 

 The eldest brother throws the head-band of the youngest into the fire, but 

 is unable to burn it. Then the youngest one makes a flood Ntlo, 6; U. After 

 a dispute between the brothers, the youngest makes a flood. The elder ones 

 make the mountain Ca'nExanEnEmax in order to escape Ntlc. One morning 



