FEACHTENBERG] ALSEA. TEXTS AND MYTHS 95 



shells (that were on top of the log) flashed rather (prettily) . For that 

 reason the younger (brother) tried repeatedly to win (his point) 

 because he desired those abalone shells. Finally, he won his point. 

 So when it rose again (to the surface from) inside (the water) they 

 paddled (toward it) with (the canoe). And when they came under 

 it in the canoe the steersman suddenly began to shout, "Hey! that 

 paddle of mine is caught; do you stop a little while!" In reality (he 

 made them stop while) he was just pulling off those abalone shells. 

 Then after they had passed under (the log) they went on in the canoe. 

 Then the next time they came to a place that was just full of snipes. 

 Whenever they flew up, (they darkened the horizon so that) the sun 

 would simply disappear. Then in vain they kept on shooting at 

 them, but they did not hit (even) one. So the youngest (brother) 

 gathered many rocks and threw these at them; whereupon many 

 (snipes) fell down and some of them got crippled. So he gathered 

 them up, saying, "Your name will be nothing; it will be only Snipes. 

 The children of the Earth-people will enjoy you whenever they will 

 hunt you." Then they went on. And not long (afterward) they saw 

 something floating far away in front of them. Then the youngest 

 (brother) said, "For what reason are those (things) just looked at; why 

 are they not shot at?" So then they began to shoot at them. Then 

 not long (afterward) it became foggy, then a calm set in all over, 

 then (the ocean) became foamy, and they could not get through 

 (anywhere). So (the youngest brother) blew (at) the foam, saying: 

 "Thy name will be nothing; it will only be Foam. The wind will 

 always do this to thee." Then they went on. 



Then after they came at last to the other side; their sister met 

 them at the bank and went with them into the house. Then they 

 sat down, and it (was) not long when the younger (brother) said: "It 

 seems (to me) that (this) looks like my arrow which is sticking up 

 (there). Who knows, (it may have been) reaUy our brother-in-law 

 (for) whom we have been huntmg?" But he was told (by his other 

 brothers), "For heaven's sake, keep quiet!" — "I just said this (for 

 fun)." 



Then their brother-in-law went to look for food. And when he 

 came back he brought with him some crabs. Then not long (after- 

 ward) a little crab began to crawl upon him, and the younger (brother) 

 caught it, saying, "I am going to eat this even if it will be my future 

 niece." So he put it on top of the fire and began to roast it. 



