804 TSIMSHIAN MYTHOLOGY , [eth. ann. 31 



The parents-in-law order the boy to go up a mountain hunting. While he is away, 

 they cause a snowfall, but he escapes on his snowshoes. He kills much game, which 

 he reduces in size. When he has carried it home, he throws it into the house, and it 

 becomes as large as before Lil 346. 



(6) Drowning 



(9 versions: N 134; Tl 4.257; BC 81; Co 5.67', Squ Hill-Tout 3.527; Ktl Teit 2.40; 

 TJ210; Lil346; Kath 114) 



There are various forms in which the attempt to drown the youth 

 is described — in a whirlpool, or in the rapid current of a river, or in 

 other ways. 



The uncle instructs the Raven to catch a devilfish. When he stands in the bow 

 of the canoe, ready to harpoon it, the uncle causes him to fall overboard, but Raven 

 saves himself Tl 4.257. 



Ts'ak' is sent to spear a seal. The chief's nephew and two slaves accompany him. 

 When Ts'ak- is standing in the bow of the canoe, ready to harpoon the seal, he is to 

 be pushed into the whirlpool in which the seals are swimming. Instead of this, 

 Ts'ak- pushes the slave into the whirlpool N 134. 



The Sun asks his son-in-law to help him raise the trap of the salmon weir. The 

 youth is in the bow of the canoe. The Sun causes it to rock, and he makes the youth 

 walk to the trap over the top beam of the weir. Then he upsets the beam, and the 

 youth falls into the whirlpool below the weir. The youth takes the form of a salmon, 

 lands, and returns safely BC 81. 



La'iq transforms his dog into a bird and orders his sons-in-law to kill it. They go 

 out in their canoe. La'iq causes a gale to arise; but the boys, by singing and beating 

 time on the gunwale, produce good weather and return safely Co 5.67. The father- 

 in-law transforms his dog into a loon, which the youth is to shoot. He is unable to 

 kill it, asks his wife for her father's kettle, and pursues the loon in it. The old man 

 shakes his bear-skin garment, turns it several times, and puts it on again, and thus 

 produces a gale. The young man kills the loon, which, on dying, barks like a dog. 

 The youth sings, and the tempest subsides. On his way home he kills many ducks 

 Squ 527. 



The father-in-law orders the youth to spear a salmon. His companion tells him to 

 wait until a fish comes along with a man's head and hair. He does so; and when 

 he spears it, he is taken down into the water. The youth, however, overcomes the 

 monster and carries it home Ntl Teit 2.40, U 210. The same incident occurs in a 

 Lillooet tale. The youth returns, carrying two water monsters Lil 346. 



Here belongs probably also an incident in a Kathlamet Test tale. 



Mink is put into a basket containing wedges and hammer. The old man who takes 

 him along makes the canoe shake so that the bag falls into the water. Mink, however, 

 escapes and carries home wedges and hammer Kath 114. 



(7) The Devilfish 



(4 versions: Tl 178, 199; Tl 4.257; Sk 241) 



The youth is sent by his mother-in-law to capture the giant devilfish. By 

 magic means he makes it small and takes it home, where it swells up Tl 178. 

 The youth takes the devilfish stick of his uncle. By turning his bracelet around 

 twelve times he causes the devilfish to become small. He kills it and drags it home 

 on his stick. He enters and throws it down in front of his uncle, where it reassumes 

 its natural size Tl 199. The uncle sends Raven to get the devilfish. When Raven 

 is ready to harpoon it, he throws him overboard. The youth kills the devilfish, goes 



