swANTON] HAIDA TEXTS AND MYTHS 145 



and throw liiiii into the hitrine. On the following' day when his wife 

 went to defecate Kaven spit upwai'd at her genitalia. He took the 

 body and struck it again, and he took a largo stone and pounded it to 

 jelly. Then he threw it into the sea. It drifted a))out on the water. 

 One (hiy man}' people went out in their canoe. When they saw the 

 bod}' thoy remarked: " Why is that chief drifting about on the water?" 

 And the body replied, "A woman is the cause of this." 



After a while he thought, "I wish that a whale would come and 

 swallow me!'' Then the whale came and swallowed him. 



Here follows the story of the Kaven in the Whale. 



The whale stranded and was discovered by the people. They came 

 and cut it. Then Haven thought: "I wish that the chief's son would 

 open the whale's stomach, that I may get out again!" At once the 

 chief's son cut open the whale's stomach. Then Raven flew out 

 right against the 3'oung man's chest. The youth fell down dead. 

 Then the people were afraid, and ran away. 



Raveji flew into the woods, and assumed the shape of an old man. 

 Ho came back, leaning on a stafl, and asked the people: "'AYhy are 3'ou 

 running awa}'?" They told him what had happened. Then he said, 

 '* I heard that the same events happened long ago. At that time the 

 people left the town, leaving all their property behind. I think it 

 would be best for you to do the same." Then the people, who were 

 nuich afraid, left the village at once. Raven stayed behind, and ate 

 all their provisions. 



Reaver'"- was a chief who had his room in the rear of a very 

 l)oautiful house. Behind the house there was a large lake, where 

 Beaver went to play. Then he returned to his house. In the lake 

 there were many salmon, and on the shores were growing all kinds of 

 berries. When he returned home he carried a flsh, which he boiled. 



One day Raven, who desi]-ed to rob Beaver of his treasures, dis- 

 guised himself as a poor, ugly i)erson. In this shape he Avent to 

 Beaver's house. In the evening Beaver came home, bringing a flsh 

 and berries, which he intended to boil. Raven arranged it so that he 

 should meet him. Th(Mi Beaver asked: '' What are you doing here? " 

 Raven replied: "jVIy father has just died. He said that you are my 

 brother. We have the same ancestors. He told me to go to visit you 

 and to ask you for food." Then Beaver invited him to his house. 

 He boiled his flsh, and when it was cooked he let Raven partake of 

 the meal. He believed him and pitied him. 



Next day Beaver went to the lake. He told Raven to stay at home. 

 Toward noon he returned, carrying a salmon, and he spoke kindly to 

 Raven, i)romising to food him all the time. He told him that there 

 wcvo always fish in the lake and ripe berries on its shores. 

 17137— No. 29—05 10 



