104 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bni.L.29 



War between the West Coast Haida and the Tlingit 



[Told by Richard of the Middle-Giti'ns] 



The Tlinofit destroyed Those-born-at-Stasaos ^ in Skide^ate channel. 

 For that reason ten canoes went to war from Gu'dAl,*^ and three canoes 

 of us came apart from the rest [when we were] among the Tlingit. 

 Then they (the others) plundered. They destroyed a fort. On that 

 account they had many slaves. 



Then we landed on a line beach, not knowing- where the Tlingit 

 lived, and we started a fire. We acted as if we were visitors. And 

 after we had had a big lire there for some time seven Tlingit came to 

 us in a canoe. They asked us: "What warriors are these?"" Then 

 SkA'ngwai's father said: "■ We are not warriors. We come to buy food 

 of 3^ou." And they said: "No; you are warriors." Then we denied 

 it. We told them to come near shore, and they entered the mouth of 

 the inlet. 



And after he (one of them) had talked for a while, he said: "Get 

 [into] the canoe. 1 do not understand their pronunciation."* As soon 

 as they got [into] the canoe they went off in fright. Then we pursued. 

 [The other canoes]- shot at them, one from each side, and we were 

 behind. And after we had shot for a while we upset them near an 

 island. One whom we had shot lay there, having fallen out into the 

 water. Then XA'nxogutg.as* and his brothers started to get out to 

 tight, and 1 stopped them. 



After that we went away and started across [to the Queen Charlotte 

 islands]. The wind blew strong from the north. In the middle of 

 the night a great wind arose. The canoe was split. I nailed the parts 

 together with some staples I had. We also tied ropes round the canoe. 

 Some of us cried from fright. We thought the other canoes had cap- 

 sized. This was the first time I experienced a strong wind since I was 

 grown. 



At daybreak we were in front of Paint mountain.'' And after we 

 had sailed from there for a while I shouted: " He he he he he; chiefs' 

 nephcAvs whom I have for sons-in-law, do not let your minds be down- 

 cast. We go out to have a warm time. Make your minds strong." 

 Then they stopped weeping. 



Some time after that our canoe came to Gwi'gwAii-ba}','' and there 

 was one canoe there. There we spent the night. When we left next 

 day another sail came in sight from Skidegate. Then we saw each 

 other. And we were glad to see each other. And when we came to 

 Gu'dAl the [other] warriors had taken thirty -eight slaves. We were 



