boas] COMPARATIVE STUDY OF TSIMSHIAN MYTHOLOGY 679 



A misunderstood version of this tale, in which Loon is substituted 

 for Cormorant, is told by Sproat (Nil Sproat 181). 



The Bellacoola version seems to be a somewhat confused account 

 of the Bear and Cormorant incident. 



Raven goes fishing for halibut with Cormorant, each in his own canoe. Cormorant 

 catches many, Raven only one small fish. He says to Cormorant that he caught 

 many, and tells him that he has been using his tongue for bait. Thereupon Cormo- 

 rant cuts off his own tongue, and Raven steals his fish BC 5.244. 



The self-mutilation evidently does not belong in this story, but has 

 been transferred from the Bear story. 



While it is characteristic of these versions that Raven, on account 

 of the use he makes of the salmon tail, is successful, in the other group 

 of tales Cormorant is always successful, Raven unsuccessful. 



Raven's sister, Loon, has married Cormorant, who is a good fisherman. Raven goes 

 out fishing with him, and catches nothing. He says, "There is a big louse on your 

 head," catches it, and then he says, "It bit you, now bite it also! " He makes Cor- 

 morant put out his tongue, which he tears out. When he makes him speak, Cormo- 

 rant can say only ' ' Wu le." Raven says, ' ' That is the way your uncles used to speak. ' ' 

 Then he causes Beat to fall on his knife; and after he gets back, he induces his sister 

 to cut the backs of her hands, and kills her also Tl 5. 



Cormorant marries Siwa's. When they go fishing, he catches much halibut; Raven, 

 only one small one. He says to Cormorant, who is in the bow of the canoe, "Let me 

 see what is on your tongue!" Cormorant opens his mouth, and Raven pulls out the 

 tongue: therefore Cormorant has no voire. Then he turns the heads of all the halibut 

 toward himself, and only one small one toward Cormorant. When they get home, Cor- 

 morant motions to his wife to take the halibut, and Raven explains that he wants the 

 head of a big one. He says, "His voice left him while we were fishing " Sk/. 



In this tale the incident, of the louse is omitted. In all probability this is inten- 

 tional on the part of the narrator. 



Raven visits Cormorant and his wife, who possess much halibut. Before daybreak 

 they start, each in his own canoe, with a mat on his knee. Cormorant catches many 

 halibut, Raven nothing. Cormorant offers to give Raven some of his halibut; but 

 Raven declines to take them and asks him to go ashore. There he catches a louse, 

 pulls out Cormorant's tongue, who then can not speak. He goes back! Cormorant lies 

 in the bow of his canoe, covered with a mat. Raven says, "He caught nothing, there- 

 fore he put the hook in his mouth and pulled out his own tongue." Cormorant explains 

 by signs what has happened . Then the people strike and scratch Raven, peck out his 

 eyes, and he flies off. Therefore the cormorant is black and can not speak Ts 93. 



The Nass River version is quite similar to the last one. Raven sees much halibut 

 in Cormorant's house, and goes fishing with him. When he catches the louse, Cor- 

 morant asks him to put it overboard. Raven pretends that this will bring bad luck, 

 pullsoutCormorant'stongue, so that he can say only "Gogogo!" After coming home, 

 Raven says that Chief Cormorant fainted and lost his speech. Cormorant tries to tell 

 the people that he caught halibut N6. 



The Masset version is almost identical with the preceding ones. Raven visits 

 Cormorant and his wife. They go fishing, and Cormorant catches many halibut. 

 Then Raven takes his louse, puts it on Cormorant's tongue, which he pulls out. Then 

 Raven takes the halibut for himself. When they go ashore, Cormorant points at 

 them, trying to tell them they are his, but he can not do so M6. 



The Kwakiutl version has a somewhat different introduction. Great Inventor 

 gambles with Cormorant, who wins. Since Great Inventor has continued bad luck, 

 Cormorant wishes to stop. Great Inventor, however, insists that they continue. 



