866 TSIMSHIAN MYTHOLOGY . [eth. ann. 31 



to shoot until the chain is complete and they climb up. When they try to come back, 

 they break the chain of arrows, and some of them have to jump down, Okanagon 

 Hill-Tout 146. 



Another version of this story has been recorded by A. S. Gatschet. 



The Birds are unable to reach the sky. Finally the bird Tskan (Zonotrichia inter- 

 media) uses the rib of an elk as bow, the feathers of the eagle for winging his arrows, 

 and obtains stone arrow-points. He hits the sky. Then all the other animals shoot 

 and climb up; last, Grizzly Bear, who carries provisions on his back. By his weight 

 he breaks the chain, Okanagon Gatschet. 



The animals make war upon the sky. A small bird calls the sky to come down, 

 but does not succeed. Then they try to shoot at the sky, making a bow of the trunk 

 of a white cedar, and an arrow of the limb of a tree. None of the animals can bend 

 the bow. Wren succeeds and strings it. He is also the only one to shoot the arrow. 

 Snail sees it sticking in the sky. Snail directs the next arrow, and Wren pulls. In 

 this way the chain of arrows is made. The people ascend. When they return, the 

 arrow-chain breaks, and some are left up above Quin 108. 



An ogre steals a boy, who succeeds in killing the ogre. Then the trees fall upon 

 him. He climbs a white pine, takes his arrow and shoots at the sky. Then he ties 

 the bow to the lower end and climbs up Kath 11. In a Wishram variant the boy is 

 given five quiverfuls of arrows. He goes up a mountain, makes a chain of arrows, 

 and climbs up Wish 171. A boy shoots arrows up in the air, makes a chain, which he 

 climbs; then he follows a trail which leads him to the Sun's house Wasco 303. A man 

 has been killed by the Sky people. His two sons set out to take revenge. The elder 

 brother is unable to reach the sky with his arrows. The younger brother, who is 

 half dog, makes a chain of arrows. When it reaches half down, the elder brother 

 helps, and they climb up. The elder one is warned not to look back while they are 

 climbing Till 137. The Sky people kill a man. His younger brother wants to take 

 revenge, makes a chain of arrows, and climbs up. On his way up he meets various 

 people, who give him information, Coos 151. Two men create the world. They want 

 to go up to the sky. They make a chain of arrows, shake it, find that it is firm, and 

 go up,, Coos 12. 



Farther to the south the arrow-chain incident seems to disappear, 

 and in its place we find the tale of a rope shot up into the sky. Fol- 

 lowing is an instance of this type of tale: 



Loon Woman has married Wildcat. The latter leaves her and returns home. Loon 

 Woman threatens to attack the people. Then the Mice brothers make a rope of rye 

 grass, and shoot it with an arrow into the sky. Then they climb up the rope. The 

 rope breaks, and the people fall back into the burning house, Achomawi 166. 



We revert to the story of the Star. After the chain of arrows has 

 boon made, the friends of the person who has been carried away try 

 to rescue him. 



His father carries tobacco, red paint, and sling-stones. When he reaches the sky, 

 a person advises him to carve a figure in the shape of his son, to place it on the roof 

 of the house, and to carry away the boy. He tries spruce, hemlock, balsam fir, red 

 cedar, yellow cedar. He hangs these figures over the fire. They cry, but only the 

 figure of yellow cedar does not stop. Therefore he selects the last (see p. 822). The 

 father goes on and meets the Star's slave, who is splitting wood. He gives him 

 tobacco, red paint, and sling-stones, and in return receives advice N 88 (see p. 845). 



After the boy has made the chain of arrows, he sticks various kinds of bushes in 

 the knot of his hair. While he is ascending, the bushes bear berries, which he eats. 

 When he reaches the sky. he is tired and sleeps. During his sleep a girl speaks to him. 

 The first time she hides before he awakes. Afterwards he pretends to sleep and sees 



