684 TSIMSHIAN MYTHOLOGY [BTH. ANN. 31 



itself becomes a spruce log. This is analogous to similar incidents 

 that occur in the Tlingit version, in which, for instance, the Deer's 

 house disappears when the Deer is killed. 



The version Ne 9 differs strongly from the rest. Here it is said 

 that Pitch is sent up a tree to get fuel ; and while he is up above, a 

 fire is made underneath. The story is connected with the killing of 

 Bear and Cormorant. It has no parallel on other parts of the coast, 

 and is probably an individual variant. 



The killing of Pitch is treated as a separate story among the Comox. 

 There Pitch is called Momhana'tc. He is a blind man who is killed 

 by the rays of the sun. The story then continues, telling how his 

 two sons make war against the Sun, and themselves become sun and 

 moon Co 5. 



(24) FISHERMEN BREAK OFF TXA'MSEM's JAW (p. 74) 



(10 versions: Ts 74; N6 50; Tin 8; T15 84; Tl 5.314; Kai 8.238; Md 338; Ska 125; 

 Ne 5.172; Loucheux' 15) 



This story is practically identical in all the different versions 

 recorded. Raven comes to the town of people fishing for halibut, 

 and wants to steal the bait of the fishermen. He dives, and eats it 

 off from the hooks. Eventually his beak is caught and he is pulled 

 up. He resists vigorously, first holding on to the bottom, and then 

 putting his feet against the bottom of the canoe. Finally the fisher- 

 men tear off his beak. They take it home, and pass it about, wonder- 

 ing what it may be. Meanwhile Raven goes into the woods and 

 makes an artificial jaw of wood or bark, or he simply goes to the vil- 

 lage, covering his face. He asks to be allowed to look at the beak, 

 too. The end of the tale has two different forms. In one case he 

 puts on the beak and flies away; in the other one he tells the people 

 first that the adventure portends evil, and advises them to leave the 

 village, then he eats all their provisions. 



Raven comes to a large town; and when he steals the bait, the people do not know 

 how it disappears. When caught, he holds on to the rocks at the bottom and asks 

 them to help him. Finally he tells his jaw to break off. It has a long beard. The 

 people look at it first in the chief's house, and later on the gamblers examine it on the 

 beach. Raven says, "I am always doing something to myself," then goes back to 

 the village holding a blanket over his mouth. He looks at the jaw, causes the people 

 to forget it, puts it on, and flies away Ts. 



The Nass version is identical with the Tsimshian version. Mr. 

 Tate has evidently taken the former as a model N7>. 



Raven sees people using fat or their bait. lie dives for it. When he is caught, 

 the line turns fast. He kicks against the bottom of the canoe, and his nose comes off. 

 The people examine it, and say it must be the nose of Gonaqade't. They put eagle 

 down on it and hang it on the wall. Meanwhile Raven makes a nose of spruce gum, 



1 Frank Russell, Athabascan Myths (Journal of A mcrkan Folk-Lorc, vol. xm). 



