FRACHTENBERG] ALSEA TEXTS AND MYTHS 121 



made that hole larger. Aiid then when it became large, (Vulture) 

 himself tried it. Verily, it just fitted. So then he came out again 

 and went home. Then at last he came back. 



He did not stay (in the house) long when a man came telling that 

 a whale lay (on the shore). Thereupon the villagers went quickly 

 and arrived (there) . Work was started by all. They were not work- 

 ing together long when it was said (by one) : ''I lost hold of my knife, 

 my brother-in-law. Thou wilt go inside after it." And then, verily, 

 he did it and found it back (for him). Then again everybody went 

 back to work. "Put thyself farther down !" So then, indeed, he did 

 it. However, he was just watching himself all the time because the 

 whale would always turn over suddenly. Long afterward he was 

 again approached (by one of his brothers-in-law) . ' ' I have once more 

 lost hold of my knife." (This was repeated four times.) FinaU}', he 

 was told for the fifth time. "Again I have lost hold of my knife. 

 Thou wilt go inside after it." And then, verily, he did it. Right 

 away the whale closed (on him). He could do nothing to (help) 

 himself. 



Long afterward he came out again (from inside the whale). He 

 began to look in all directions. He saw nothing at all, only the ocean. 

 He was in the middle of the ocean. Thereupon he began to cry. 

 Every day he was sittmg outside and would go in again at night. (It 

 was a) long time before he looked (once more) at the shore. "Yes," 

 he thought in his mind, "(the Whale) will necessarily have to come 

 ashore again." Then he sat down outside watching the (whale). 

 And, verily, he kept on gomg ashore. However, when he came to the 

 breakers he drifted back into the sea. Thus he kept on going for a 

 long time. (Vulture) would now and then feel of his head, for his 

 hair kept on falling out. For exactly one year (the whale) was float- 

 ing with him back and forth in the sea. (Then one day) the weather 

 happened to be exceedingly calm. Thereupon (Vulture) espied (some 

 one) commg in a canoe just straight toward him, but it looked as if 

 he were going to be passed. (So he shouted), "Do you two take me 

 into your canoe!" — "No, our (dual) load is big. The two grand- 

 parents will take thee inside; they two are coming in a canoe behind 

 (us)." And then, indeed, agam he saw (some one) coming in a canoe. 

 However, he would be told the same thing as before. (This happened 

 four times.) And then for the fifth time he saw, indeed, a canoe 

 coming (and some one was) in it. So then, verily, he began to think 

 in his mind: "It is they two who are commg in a canoe. Do you 

 two take me in (your) canoe ! " — -"AH right." Tlien they two, indeed, 

 arrived in the canoe. He went in, and they went toward the shore 

 in the canoe. And then when they came to the breakers they two 



