boas] APPEXDIX I NOOTKA TALES 935 



and one for his neck. Then he put them on and began to sing his 

 shaman's secret song; and these are the words of it: 



" I am a shaman now, to heal the sick people, instead of Lokwa'na', or Wolf Dancer; 

 and whenever I dance, I can go under the floor, where no one can go, and I will 

 show it to you all." 



He left his house, singing, as he went to the f easting-house; and of 

 course all the people became frightened, for they believed that he 

 was really a shaman and could kill any one whenever he liked. 



As soon as they heard him coming towards the feasting-house, each 

 took a baton to beat time, for now they were waiting for the salmon to 

 get cooked on the red-hot stones in the middle of the house, and it was 

 all covered with mats to keep the steam in. Just before it was un- 

 covered, Raven came into the house singing, and all the people began 

 to beat time. 



Just before he went round the heap of cooking salmon, he disap- 

 peared and went through the floor. He had not been down long, 

 when he appeared on one side of the heap of cooking salmon. In a 

 short time he went down a second time, and again came up and went 

 round the heap once more.' He then disappeared the third time; 

 and again he came up, but only showed himself. He went down the 

 fourth time. This time he staid down longer than usual; and when 

 he came up, he was singing. Then he went out of the house; and after 

 he went out, all the feasting people said, "Let us uncover the mats, 

 for the salmon is cooked now!" When they uncovered the mats, 

 they found that all the salmon had been eaten by Raven, and that 

 he had put many sticks to keep the mats up in the shape of the cook- 

 ing salmon; and all the people were very angry with Raven, for he 

 had gotten the best of them once more. All the people had to go out 

 of their feasting-house hungry. 



That ends the story. 



