830 TSIMSHIAN MYTHOLOGY [kth. ann. 31 



day a bluejay is seen holding a cluster of ripe elderberries. A woman and her hus- 

 band, the sole survivors, put on their snowshoes and travel down river, and find that 

 at some distance from the village it is summer, while black clouds continue to hang 

 over their own village Ts 250. 



A number of stories telling of a protracted local winter occur among 

 the neighboring tribes. 



Some boys pull drifting seaweed out of the water on one side of the canoe and put it 

 in on the other. On account of this a heavy snowfall sets in, although it is summer. 

 A bluejay holding an elderberry in its mouth appears, and cries, "Kiln.\'xe!" the 

 name of a neighboring town . The people move, and find that it is summer there Tl 43 . 



Among the Skidegate the tale is inserted in the story of the feather that pulled up 

 the people, the story being placed on Nass River (see p. 738). The people who have 

 obtained the heavenly feather go around with it. It begins to snow. When they 

 rub the feather on the fronts of the houses, the snow disappears. It continues to 

 snow, and the village is almost covered. After some time a bluejay drops a ripe 

 elderberry through the smoke hole. They go out, and see Bill Of Heaven Sk 331. 



At Yagun Inlet two women make improper remarks about food, which results in a 

 heavy snowfall, although it is summer. The people die of cold and starvation. One 

 man hears a voice saying, "I am warm." He discovers that an old mat is speaking. 

 He goes under the snow to a salmon stream, puts an indicator into a salmon hole, and 

 when a salmon appears he spears it. He hears a thrush, uncovers his face, and sees a 

 bird through the smoke hole holding a salmonberry. He goes down inlet and finds 

 that it is summer there M 630. 



After Raven has lost the salmon (see p. 671), a snowstorm sets in, which covers the 

 whole village. One day a bird appears holding berries in its mouth. Raven digs 

 his way out, and finds the country all around green Chil 19. 



After Coyote has finished catching salmon, a snowfall sets in and covers the whole 

 country. When the supplies are nearly exhausted, he goes out of his house and sees 

 a snowbird carrying a ripe berry. After four birds have appeared, he puts on his 

 snowshoes, goes out, and finds that the farther he gets away the warmer it is Sh 744. 



A boy makes fun of excrements, and in consequence a heavy snowfall sets in. The 

 people are starving. The chief sees a bird carrying a strawberry, and the people 

 discover that all around it is summer. The boy is bought from his parents and put 

 on a piece of drifting ice. When the boy is killed, rain sets in and the snow melts 

 Kath 216. 



A girl strikes a bird, and in consequence of this it snows for seven months. 

 A bird appears carrying a strawberry, and the people learn that it is summer at 

 other places. The girl is bought and set adrift on a piece of ice. The snow melts. 

 After five years the girl drifts back, but is first unable to endure the smell of people. 

 Gradually she becomes human again; but she continues to feel cold in summer, warm 

 in winter, Wish 244. 



The Tsimshian story continues, telling the fates of the couple, who 

 made their escape. 



The husband is almost starving. The woman catches trout, and gradually he 

 recovers. They go to Ksdal, where the man goes hunting. They find a lake at 

 the head of the river, and in the winter a man goes there on his snowshoes. He dis- 

 covers smoke. In summer they go to visit these people. They are taken across the 

 water in a small canoe, and are met by four young men, who were the offspring of the 

 wooden duck sent by the daughter of South Wind to advise her father of her troubles 

 (see p. 732). The daughter of the travelers marries the eldest man, and she gives birth 

 to four children every spring, as ducks lay four eggs. They become a powerful tribe. 



