swANTON] HAIDA TEXTS AND MYTHS 375 



Fight between the Kaigani and West Coast Haida 



[Told by Riohiirrt of the Micldle-giti'ns.] 



Thc}^ had occupied Thin-fort. There were many black cod there. 

 Then they saw portents. The black cod, the day after the}^ were 

 brought in. moved their mouths. And at one time a headless cormo- 

 rant came there. ^ Some time after that, they say that [the children] 

 who had a little fire in a cave below them and were picnicking there, ran 

 out of it. Some small being- with disheveled hair and a yellow-cedar- 

 bark blanket over its shoulder came out of the cave. It was Super- 

 natural-slave" who was among them, they sa3^ Its belly was big, they 

 say. Then they feared to play in the cave. 



After that the rotten gills lying about groaned. Another day Tia 

 flew over to the fort from the opposite side. He said ''Tia, tia,'' and 

 blood spurted out of his neck.' 



One day< while they were away fishing for black cod, the}^ (the 

 eneni}') came upon them. These were the Kaigani, Sta'stas, and 

 Middle-town people. Then they shot up at the fort. My grand- 

 mother was born among them. That was why they did not touch her 

 people.^ 



One man then shot from the fort. When his ammunition failed 

 they went up to the fort. They enslaved all of the Pebble-town peo- 

 ple. And, going out to those who were fishing, they destro3'ed half of 

 them also. Some escaped to Kaisun. 



When the wai'riors started ofl' the}^ were told about a child of the 

 Middle-giti'ns,* whose cousin was carr3^ing her on her back. They 

 would have tak(Mi her back, but were afraid. When they had recrossed 

 her friends adopted her."' At the end of the following autunm they 

 brought her back. 



After that they sent word by canoe that they want(xl to make peace. 

 They (the West Coast people) then went thither. When they arrived 

 at Tle*^ no attention was paid to them. And, since their food was 

 gone, they wanted to T)uy food from one who lived opposite. He was 

 stingy, and they laid hold of him. Although he was a chief they 

 enslaved him. They also fought the people of T!e. And they killed 

 matiy of them, and those they enslaved were man}'. The Pebble- 

 town people made matters even. 



And, after they had talked over where they should have a fort, the}^ 

 made one on the west coast. Two were staying at K liu'stA, After some 

 time had passed the Kaigani people came to make peace. When they 

 stopped in front they began to shoot at them. When they fled they 



