36 . BUKEAU OF AMEKICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 29 



The Canoe people who wear headdresses 



[Told by Walter McGregor of the Sealion-town people] 



There were ten of them, and they went to hunt with dogs. After 

 they had gone along for some time it became mist}" about them, and 

 they came to a steep mountain* and sat there. Tlieir dogs walked 

 about on the ground below. They yelped up at them. 



Then they started a fire on top of the mountain, and one among 

 them who was full of mischief put his bow into the fire. But, when 

 it was consumed, it lay on the level ground below. Then he also put 

 himself in. After he had burned for a while and was consumed, lo, 

 he stood on the level ground below. Then he told his elder brothers 

 to do the same thing. " Come, do the same thing. I did not feel it.-' 

 So they threw themselves into the fire. They were consumed and 

 stood at once on the level ground. 



And when thej'^ put the next to the eldest in, his skin drew together 

 as he burned. His eyes were also swollen by the fire. That happened 

 to him because he was afraid to be put in. When he was consumed 

 he also stood below. The same thing happened to the eldest. This 

 mountain was called "Slender-rock." 



Then they left it. After they had traveled about for a while a wren 

 made a noise near them. They saw a blue hole in the heart of the 

 one who was traveling nearest to it. And after the}^ had gone on a 

 while longer they came to the inner end of Masset inlet. When they 

 had traveled on still farther (they found) a hawk*^ feather floated 

 ashore. This they tied in the hair of the youngest. He put feathers 

 from the neck of a mallard around the lower part of it. It was 

 prett3^ 



Now they came to a temporary village. They camped in a house 

 in the middle which had a roof. They began eating mussels which 

 were to be found at one end of the town. He who was mischievous 

 made fun of the mussels. He kept spitting them out upward. By 

 and b}^ they set out to see who could blow them highest [through t]i(> 

 smoke hole]. One went up on the top of the house and held out his 

 blanket, which was over his shoulder. By and by he looked at it. His 

 blanket was covered with feathers. They did not know that this was 

 caused by their having broken their fast. 



And after they had walked about for a while in the town the}' found 

 an old canoe. Moss grew on it. Nettles were also on it. They 

 pulled these off, threw them away, and repaired it. Then the mis- 

 chievous one made a bark bailer for it. On the handle he carved 

 a figure like a ])ird. He carved it in a sitting posture. They tied a 



