IXXX ETHNOGKAPHIC SKKTGH. 



iiuiiutaiuer of the universe. The Indians do not chiini that lie created 

 the world with all in it by one single and simultaneous act, but when he is 

 creating, metamorphosing, or destroying, his acts are always special, directed 

 towards certain objects only. After making the earth, the lakes, islands, 

 prairies, and mountains he gave a name to each locality (p. 142, 1 sqq.). 

 Some of these mimes must be regarded as giving indications as ft» the ear- 

 liest places inhabited by these Indians, especially when they designate fish- 

 traps and ceremonial sudatories. Thus on Upper Klamath Lake we find 

 Ku'mbat, Tukwa, Tulish, Kohashti as fishing places, Kta-i-Tupaksi and 

 Yulalona as fish-traps, the special gifts of the deity to the people. Other 

 places of this kind are Shuyake'kish and Kta-i=Tupaksi. In the old Modoc 

 country, on Lower Klamath Lake, there is a rock shaped like a crescent 

 and called Shapasli/e'ni, because "sun and moon once lived there." On 

 Sprague River there is a hill called "at K'mukamtch's Lodge" — K'mutcham 

 Latsashkshi. Other legendary residences of the deity were at Yfimsi, 

 " Northwind's residence," a high mountain east of Klamath Marsh ; others 

 on Tule Lake, at Nilakshi Mountain; and finall\' K'mukamtch was changed 

 into the rock Kta-iti, which stands in the Williamson River (q. v.). The 

 old people of both chieftaincies remember many localities alleged to have 

 been the theater of his miraculous deeds. 



K'mukamtch creates the Indians from the j)urplish berry of the service- 

 tree or shad-ljush {Amclanchier canadensis, in Kl. tchak), and the. color of 

 both has evidently suggested this idea. He also provides for man's suste- 

 nance by supplying him with game and fish and the means to capture them; 

 also with the necessar\' vegetal products. Olijects noticeable through their 

 peculiar shape are called after him, e. g., the thistle, the piercer of K'mii- 

 kamtch, K'mukamtcham ka'k. A peculiar haze sometimes perceptible in 

 the west or northwest, shnuish, is regarded as his ))recursor or that of his 

 son Aishish. 



Although but a passing mention is mad(^ of a wife or wives of his, 

 K'mukamtch has a family. The myths s})eak* of a father, of a daughter, 

 and of Aisinsh, his son "by adoption," as members of it. The name of his 



• Cf. Te.\t.s, pg'. 100, i.': skiiki'sli ])'tf.s Inlsliaiii. Mention is made of one-eyed wives 

 of Ske'l and of Tcluisl.kai. 



