FBACHTENBEEG] ALSEA TEXTS AND MYTHS . 109 



where are you keeping for me those your remnants, oh my nephews ? " 

 Thereupon the younger (brother) shouted: "Let us paddle! Let us 

 paddle! Let us paddle!" Then he looked around, shouting repeat- 

 edly, "Where shall we go?" And now he saw the tule reeds and 

 once more: "Let us go into the tule reeds. Let us go into the tule 

 reeds. Let us go into the tule reeds. Cover thyself with darkness. 

 Cover thyself with darkness. Cover thyself with darkness, oh tule 

 grass!" (he said). And then when they were not able to escape any- 

 where (else) they went up to the sky from that place. This is why 

 the Thunderers shout back from above, because they had escaped to 

 that place. 



7. The Obigin of the Yakonan and Siuslawan Tribes 



(This happened) m the beginning. Long ago after the world had 

 been made, the people were assembled; a large number of the people. 

 And then some people there were (who) would try (to find out for) 

 themselves, "Verily, for what reason have we been assembled here?" 

 (And then one man would say): "Well, I do not know for what 

 cause. It was announced that the people were going to be assembled 

 from everywhere." And so they kept on coming together in (large) 

 bodies. (And then agam) one person would suddenly speak up, " (I) 

 wonder, indeed, for what reason have we, who live (so widely apart), 

 been gathered here in such large numbers ?" 



And then they all kept on coming in (large) numbers. All the peo- 

 ple had canoes, (and) all sorts of things were being done (by them). 

 They did much talking, (and) it was repeatedly said, "After we shall 

 have come together, the people are going to be sent into all direc- 

 tions." Thus it was said repeatedly. Many were the people who 

 kept on assembling. Then finally one night a general discussion was 

 started (and the Creator told them thus): "You shall hear me (tell 

 now) for what reason I have been assembling the people here. It 

 wiU not be long (before) I will send the people across (the several 

 rivers). It will not be long (before) there will be (too) many people 

 right here. (Therefore) I shaU send you (away) ; I shall send you 

 into different directions."* AU of those many people were listening 

 (carefully). "You are not to go right away. (Only) when I shall 

 want it, then shall you cross over to the other side." The people 

 were thinking mside their minds, "To what manner of country (we) 

 wonder are we going to come now?" (were) the thoughts (of) the 

 people. "Of me Creator is my name. I am the one who made you. 

 My name shall be Creator." (Thus) the people were told continu- 

 ally. And then when the second assembly (of) the people (took 

 place, and he told them) : "It will not be long (before) I will at last 

 separate you. As 1 will now send you (away), I will always send 

 (together two people) related as man and wife. I am now going to 



