FRACHTENBERG] ALSEA TEXTS AND MYTHS 123 



told him repeatedly, "Thou shalt lie flat inside, thou shalt close thy 

 eyes, thou shalt not look around lest we two harm thee." Then they 

 started. They two asked themselves various questions. ' ' Thou shalt 

 begm (to smg) first, our (dual) grandson." — "No, thou shalt begin 

 first." So then, verily, the old man Sea-GuU began to sing his song. 

 And after he fuiished the Pelican began next to smg his song. (Then 

 Vulture) was gomg to look at what they two were doing. So he just 

 peeked a little quickly. "Hey, do thou not look ! We two will harm 

 thee." So then, mdeed, he did it. They were not going long m the 

 canoe when they came at last to the shore. "Now go thou out ! We 

 two have arrived with thee at the shore." Thereupon he went out, 

 indeed. They two took (the canoe) back into the water, (as) he was 

 watchmg them two. "Oh! so thus they two act. They two just 

 hold their (dual) paddles upward all the time." 



And then he came ashore and lay down flat on the shore. He did 

 not lie on his face very long when he saw two children approachmg; 

 they two were commg (and) shootmg. He' watched them two, and 

 when they two came nearer they two began to shoot again. Their two 

 arrows dropped right (near) him. So they two came to him. ' ' Where 

 are you two going?" — "We two are not (going) anywhere." — "Whose 

 children are you two?" — "Oh! our (dual) mother says that a whale 

 has gone with our (dual) father into the sea." — "Well, I am the (man). 

 Where does your (dual) mother stay? You two wiU go back to her; 

 you two will tell her to come to me." So they two did it, mdeed. 

 And when they two came back they two kept on telling their mother, 

 "Our (dual) father is callmg thee." — "What on earth are you two 

 domg ? You two are calling misfortmie down upon yourselves. Your 

 (dual) father died long ago." — "No! He told us two that he (was 

 alive). He was telling us two that a whale went into the sea with 

 him, (and that) he came ashore just recently. Thus he was telling 

 us two. Doest thou see this here? He gave us two this (piece of) 

 whale (meat)." Thereupon she began to ask lier two children, "Are 

 you two teUing the truth ? " — "Verily, we two are truthful." — "Where- 

 abouts does he stay?" — ''At the mouth of the river." So then, 

 indeed, she got ready and started out. And then she came to where 

 he was staying. She almost did not recognize him at once. Then she 

 went home with him. And then when she came back with him she 

 rubbed him with red paint. All over his head she put it, (for) really 

 his hair was simply gone. (This was caused) by the actions of the 

 grease. 



Only now (it ends) . 



