FEACHTENBEEG] ALSEA TEXTS AND MYTHS 79 



caused (the bird) to go (up thus). Now the tree kept on growing 

 taller. And not long (afterward) the man looked down again, 

 (when) he saw (that) he was already high up. So he could not do 

 anything for himself. And (it was) not long before the tree reached 

 high up and went through the sky. Now the bird reached the sky 

 fii'st and the man came next. Then the tree began to contract 

 downward, while S^u'ku was crying aU the while, "The tree moved 

 up to the sky with mj^ son." 



Then in vam (S^ti'ku's son) began to look around everywhere for 

 people; nevertheless he did not find a person an5rwhere. Then not 

 long (afterward) he came at last upon five people (by whom) he 

 was asked, "Where art thou gomg?" — "Oh! I am not going any- 

 where; I am only looking for people." — ^" Whence didst thou come 

 (here) ?" — "Oh! that tree grew with me from below to the sky, and 

 (now) I do not (know) how to get back down." So then he was. 

 told: "Wouldst thou like to go down again? If thou wan test it, we 

 will take thee down agam quickly." — "Certainly, I would like to go 

 down again (to the place) from where that (tree) grew up with me." 

 Then they went back with him (to the place) where that tree had 

 pierced (the sky) . Then he was wrapped up in the skin of a whale, 

 (which) was tied m the middle, whereupon he was let down again. 

 Then he was told, "When thou wilt arrive below again, thou shalt 

 shake thy rope several times." Then, verily, as quickly as he 

 reached the ground by means (of the rope) he shook his rope several 

 times; then he untied it and went back into the house. 



And after he arrived home he asked (his) two (children), "Now 

 where is your (dual) grandfather?" — "Oh! heisstaymgin the sweat- 

 house." — "What is he doing?" — "He is just crying all the time." — 

 "Then what does he usually do whenever it gets dark?" — "He 

 usually goes iato the house and smgs all the time and dances the 

 whole night, and, moreover, he is trying to sleep with our (dual) 

 mothers." — "WeU, go you two to him (and) keep on telling him 

 that I have come back." So the two children went, iadeed. And 

 when they two came near to the sweat-house they two began to listen 

 to the song of their (dual) grandfather, which sounded (thus), "The 

 tree grew up with my son to the sky." Then after they two came to 

 him they kept on telling him that their (dual) father had returned. 

 But he simply told them two, "There was no way (for him) to come 

 back; the tree grew up with him to the sky." — "Oh, yes! he came 

 back. Thou art looking at the whale which we two are eating. It 

 is his (present which he) brought back." — "Here! Please give me 

 some of it!" Then, indeed, they two gave him some. Then he 



