48 BUHEAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 29 



The (!ikl who fed a raven 



[Told by Wi'nats, chiff of the Seaward (Jiti'ns] 



Her father came in from tishing'. Then her mother cut up the fish, 

 and she tore up the liver and fat of the halibut and ^ave it to a raven. 

 After she had done this for some time spring came, and they were 

 hungry. Then they began to get things that were exposed at low 

 tide/ " 



One time the raven sat in front of her and made motions as if it 

 were eating something. Then she went to it. Chitons were piled up 

 there. She picked them up and gave them to her uncles' wives. 

 And next day she again went after things that were exposed at low 

 tide and gave the things to one to whom she had not given them 

 before. The raven had begun helping her in return for what she had 

 done. 



After that they went out with her again. She found the tail of a 

 spring salmon. She took that to the house also. The pieces became 

 larger and larger each time until finally she found a whole one. Then 

 she went again for things that were exposed at low tide. She found 

 a porpoise's tail. She came in after finding it. During all that time 

 she gave food to her uncles' wives. 



One day she was coming in after getting things with them. As she 

 was walking along last in the trail in front of Tow hill two good- 

 looking men came to her. One came up on each side of her, and they 

 took her home with them. The}- came to a town and led her into the 

 house of the town chief. 



After she had stayed there a while she heard them say: "The 

 one hunting for things at North cape^ stays away a long time." 

 She understood their language plainly. After some time had passed 

 they said: "He is coming. Now he comes along, turning over at 

 intervals." She went out with them to look at him. "He comes 

 walking," they said. Still the raven came flying. It turned around 

 as it came. They call it "taking a basket ofl^ one's back.'' In that 

 way it communicated news every now and then. It came in and said: 

 "I cut up a whale which had floated ashore at North cape." 



Then the town chief said: "Give the woman you brought food 

 in exchange for the help she gave 3'ou." At once all of the town 

 people gave her food. They gathered for food halibuts' tails and 

 heads and berries. They gave these to the woman. 



