8WANT0N] HAIDA TEXTS AND MYTHS 401 



Fight between Those-born-at-Qa'gials and Those-borx-at- 



Skedans 



[Told by Abraham of Those-born-at-QIa'dAsgo] 



They were encamped in (T.a'ogits ' to gather fish eggs. Those-born- 

 at-Qri'gials and Those-lioriiat-Skedans lived on opposite sides. 



Once Koa'gians- won from KusLxa's a hirge knife that his dead 

 father had owned. And he refused to give it to him. The}' wrangled 

 then with each other. Then Koa'gians went out and announced the 

 day that they had agreed upon for fighting. On the appointed day 

 they put on their armor. They used helmets, war coats, and gorgets. 



Then Koa'gians asked: *' Whom shall I use for my fighting skirt? "^ 

 And Sounding-property said: "You shall use me for your fighting 

 skirt." He was a youth. They even broke up their canoes to use the 

 pieces as gorgets. 



Presently, when the}" were read}^ they approached each other in 

 lines. Koa'gians acted as leader of Those-born-at-Skedans. Sounding- 

 property protected him below his breast. And Qagi't acted as leader of 

 Those-])orn-at-Qrrgials. He, too, was a brave man, and he determined 

 to fight with Koa'gians. As soon as they were all engaged in battle, 

 Qagi't speared Koa'gians. so that he fell. Then Qagi't pulled him 

 toward himself and stabl^ed liim with a knife. Sounding-property 

 also lay dead in front of him. 



And, aftei' they had fouglit for a while. Those-born-at-Skedans and 

 the Town-of-Djrgua* people were driven back. And they did not go 

 near the place where they used to live. They went instead toward the 

 woods. And Those-born-at-Qil'gials pursued them. 



Then the great chief South-east'^ rested on two strong 3'ouths, and 

 they helped him up the mountain. And he heard the Skedans people 

 calling from behind: "They are taking your beaver." But still he 

 went away. South-east owned a beaver dish. That was what they 

 meant when they called to him." 



AVhile they carried him along he repeated: "My beaver." And 

 when they reached the top of the mountain all the men and women sat 

 with him, and he l)egan to weep for his beaver: 



" I : I : Hi-l-i-i-i-i+ : | ] : \Yadikri'lAm tcilll'-i-I-I-i: 1 ' hl-T-T-H- : ] hl- 

 I-l-i + , hi hi hi." They then stjirted away from there. And they came 

 to Dju i'tga.* And, when he saw the inlet open out, he sang another 

 song: 



" I :Wa yl'a he e i c: | I look upon it, xe e e e 

 17137— No. 29—05 28 



