662 TSIMSHIAN MYTHOLOGY [eth. ann. 31 



The fire is owned by the Cuttlefish, is carried away by Deer, who hides it in the 

 joint of his hind leg, Nil Sproat 178. 



Chief Kute'na sends the Deer, who puts dry wood in hi? hair, dances around the 

 fire, and then carries it away. The animals pursue him. Here the Obstacle myth 

 is introduced Ne 5. 



No'aqaua sends the Deer to get the fire. Masmasala'nix makes his legs thin and 

 swift. In accordance with No'aqaua's thought, Masmasala'nix puts pitch wood on 

 the Deer's tail. He dances, the pitch wood catches fire, and he runs away. He 

 hides the fire in wood: therefore wood burns H 5, Ri 5. 



In a Carrier version the people put a ceremonial headdress of pitch wood on a year- 

 ling caribou, and give a marmot apron to the muskrat. The two perform a dance i a the 

 house of the owner of fire. Caribou ignites the shavings, but the fire is put out twice 

 by the chief. Meanwhile the muskrat burrows underground and takes away the fire. 1 



Raven is sent down by the Sun to the top of the mountain Sqtsl. He has lost the 

 fire-drill. He assumes the shape of a deer, runs up the mountain, and finds the fire- 

 drill there BC. 



In, the following versions a bird takes away the fire. 



Raven goes down to the bottom of the sea, and, upon his request, is given fire in a 

 stone tray with a cover over it. He puts the fire into a cedar: therefore the fire-drill 

 made of cedar gives sparks M. 



Raven puts pitch wood in his hair. He and other animals dance a long time, until 

 the fire-owner falls asleep. Then he puts his head into the fire, flies away, and starts 

 fire in various spots. The woods begin to burn, and all animals escape except the 

 Rabbit, who burns his feet; therefore Rabbit has black spots on the soles of his feet. Since 

 the trees burned, wood burns toilau, and fire can be obtained irith the fire-drill Cliil. 



Raven sees fire floating on the sea. A chicken hawk who has a long bill flies out 

 to get it. Coming back, the bill is burned off. Raven puts the fire into white stone 

 and red cedar Tld. — Raven puts pitch wood to Chicken Hawk's beak before he flies 

 away T16. — Fire is on an island. Raven flies out and carries it away in his beak, 

 which is burned; the fire falls on stones and wood, which for this reason give fire (after 

 Veniaminoff) Tl 4. — Raven flies out to the ocean, where fire is kept in a house, seizes 

 a brand, and lets a spark drop among wood and stones: therefore they burn. Part of his 

 beak is burned offTL&i 6. 



South of the Kwakiutl the type of stories accounting for the origin 

 of fire changes. On the Gulf of Georgia the origin of fire is accounted 

 for by one of the exploits of Mink, who obtains it from the Ghosts. 

 The type of this tale is quite analogous to the tale of the origin of 

 the tides as found among the Kwakiutl (see p. 657). 



Mink steals the child of the chief of the Ghosts. The Ghosts try to recover it, but 

 are unable to overcome Mink, who returns it in exchange for the fire K 5. 



Mink steals the child of the owner of fire. Before entering he causes the chief's 

 watchman to fall asleep. Whenever they pass a village, Mink's grandmother pinches 

 the child so that it cries. The chief follows them, and is directed by the villagers, 

 who have heard the child crying. Mink appears dancing in front of his house, wearing 

 first one hat, then another. The chief does not dare to attack him, but is given the 

 child in exchange for the fire-drill Nao 5. 



Another Nanaimo version states that the Ghosts owned the fire. When Mink reaches 

 his house carrying the child, and the Ghosts come to attack him, he dances, his head 



is related to those of the Salish tribes of the interior, telling how Eagle and 



