boas] COMPARATIVE STUDY OF TSIMSHIAN MYTHOLOGY 653 



frightens away Eagle, who leaves his water. Raven then carries the basket away 

 pursued by Eagle, and in flying along spills it out Ska. 



The reference to the sap of the roots which occurs here and in 

 the.Tsimshian version Ts65, 09, suggests that we have here a story 

 which is closely related to another group of tales relating to the origin 

 of water, all of which are remarkably obscure. It appears that in 

 some way the water was lost, and could be obtained only from the 

 roots of alder trees. In some cases it is not clearly stated from what 

 source the water was then obtained. 



The Tide Woman causes the water to disappear, and Raven can find water only at 

 the roots of trees Ts 65. Lagobola' causes the water to disappear, and Raven can 

 obtain only sap of the roots of alder trees N6 17. The water running at the roots 

 of trees is mentioned also in Ri 5.209, Ne Dawson 23, K 9.167, Nu 5.108. 



(5) GIANT OBTAINS THE OLACHEN 1 



(a) Origin of the Olachen (p. 65) 



(10 versions: Ts 65; Ta 6.29; Na 27; N6 32; Tin 13; Tl 4.263; Ska 117; Hai Dawson 

 1.151 B; H ap 888; Ne 9.235. See also Kai 236; Ma 326; and Till 144) 



The essential point of the story is that Kaven is unable to catch- 

 the olachen or herring, while Gull can do so. Then he obtains a fish 

 from Gull by means of a ruse. 



This single fish is then used for inducing the owner of the olachen 

 or herrings to give them up. Raven smears his canoe and clothing 

 with the scales of the fish which is obtained from Gull, and makes 

 the owner of the olachen believe that he has succeeded in obtaining 

 fish. This makes him disgusted, and he breaks down the barriers that 

 hold the fish in his house. 



The details of this story are somewhat differently developed in the 

 various parts of the country. Among the Tlingit the ruse used by 

 Raven to obtain the fish from the Gull is to make Gull and another 

 bird quarrel. 



Raven makes a stone house N [he makes a house Ts]. He sees gulls flying about Ts. 



He flies to Gull, who lives at Yakutat. Gull says he catches herring because it is 

 February Tl 4. [He meets Gull, and asks what month it is. Gull says Yadaqlo'l 

 (eighth month). Raven does not believe Gull, and asks him to get a herring. Since 

 they did not agree in regard to the month, people up to this time differ about names of 

 ■mouths Tla] Gull brings a herring and swallows it Tla, Tl 4. He goes to Crane on 

 Nass River, and says that Gull calls him "Long-legged, long-necked fellow;" suggests 

 that he knock down Gull and strike his stomach with his bill. He tells Gull that 

 Crane speaks ill of him Tl 4. He goes to Heron, and says, "Gull calls you Big Long 

 Legs Always Walking Upon The Beach." He goes back to Gull, and says Heron tells 

 about him that he has a big stomach and gets red eyes sitting on the beach looking out 

 upon the ocean for something to eat. He tells Heron that he always hits men of his 

 Bize in the stomach Tla. He makes Gull and Cormorant quarrel Ska. 



The Skidegate version confuses here the tale with the quarrel 

 between Raven and Cormorant (see p. 678) . He tells Cormorant that 



i Including the stories Giant gambles with Gull (p. 05), Giant learns how to cook Olachen, and Giant 

 and the Gulls (p. 66). 



