boas] APPENDIX I NOOTKA TALES 893 



to call the people into his house. Soon they all came. He asked 

 them whether they would help him take the water from the Crow. 

 He said, "It is hard to see everybody dying of thirst. Even when 

 she sees people dying, she will not try to save their lives by giving 

 them a little water. Therefore I want you to help me get the water 

 from her." Then one of the chiefs said, "O chief! who is there with 

 more power to get the water than you?" Raven replied, "Friends, 

 I will try and get some of the water; and if I can get it, I will spread 

 it all over the world." Then the people thanked him for what he 

 had said; and they said they would put him over all the chiefs if he 

 succeeded, and thus saved their lives. 



He asked one of the chiefs to have a small mat made, about one 

 span broad and two spans long. "As soon as it is finished," said he, 

 "I will get the water for you." The people left and had the little mat 

 made; for the quicker it was made, the sooner they would have the 

 water. After it was finished, they gave it to him, and he doubled it up 

 and put it away. Early the next morning he took the little mat and 

 went out of his house, back into the woods. There he eased himself, 

 letting his droppings fall on the little mat. Then he folded it up, 

 with its contents, and hid it under his arm. He went to Crow's 

 house; and when he went in, he saw her sleeping in her bed. He 

 woke her from her sleep, and said to her, "Sister, will you give me 

 some water to drink?" She replied, "No, not uidess you give me 

 something first; then I will give you some water." He said, "I will 

 pay for it afterward." But she retorted, "I never give any one a 

 drink unless he pays for it first." — "Oh," he said to her, "you are 

 truly a cruel woman; for I shall die of thirst if you do not give me 

 some water now." He would pretend to try to spit out something 

 he had in his mouth that looked like matter, to show her that he was 

 very dry. She said, "What do I care if you die, for you never help 

 me in any way!" 



Then he gave up trying to get the water in that way. He said, 

 "I am cold. Would you let me he down by your side, that I may 

 get warm?" She rephed, "No, I never allow any man to lie down 

 with me." Then he said, "I will stay here for a while, so that I may 

 at least get the smell of the water." 



Now he thought, "Come upon her, sleepiness!" Very soon she 

 went off to sleep and began to snore. Then he went to her, took the 

 little mat, and lifted her bed-clothes. He opened the little mat and 

 put his droppings just as near as he could to her buttocks, as though 

 she had soiled her bed. After he had finished, he sat down again, 

 and thought, "Wake up, G - esg-osamaga! " (this is the high name of 

 the Crow.) Soon she awoke from her sleep. As soon as she was 

 awake, he said, "You have been sleeping soundly. Now, I am very 

 cold. Will you let me lie down by your side?" He lifted up her 



